Spinach-Cheese Vegetarian Pastelón

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-23 · Updated 2026-04-23

A layered casserole with plantain, creamy spinach, and melted cheese, baked until golden and comforting. This Puerto Rican-inspired vegetarian recipe, ready in about 65 minutes, pairs plantains, olive oil, onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 4 large, peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick plantains
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 large, finely chopped onion
• 2 cloves, minced garlic
• 2 cups, chopped fresh spinach
• 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup, shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly oil a 9x13-inch baking dish.
2. Step 2: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 5 minutes until soft. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Step 3: Add chopped spinach, cook until wilted (about 2 minutes), then remove from heat and cool slightly. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Step 4: Arrange half of the plantain slices in the baking dish. Spread half of the spinach mixture over plantains, then top with half of the tomato sauce and half of the mozzarella. Repeat layers with remaining plantains, spinach mixture, tomato sauce, and mozzarella.
5. Step 5: Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 10 minutes more until cheese is golden and bubbly.