Steamed Beef and Vegetable Pasteles

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

Traditional Puerto Rican pastries filled with seasoned beef and vegetables, steamed to perfection. This Caribbean recipe, ready in about 65 minutes, pairs Ground beef, Onion, and Green bell pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 8, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Build a week of meals around this recipe" 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

• 1 lb Ground beef
• 1/2 cup Onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup Green bell pepper, chopped
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup Cilantro, chopped
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Black pepper
• 1 cup All-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup Water
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 2 tbsp Shortening

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Instructions

1. Step 1: For dough: Mix 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 tsp salt, and 2 tbsp shortening in a bowl until crumbly. Add 1/4 cup water and mix until dough forms. Knead on floured surface for 2 minutes, wrap, and rest 30 minutes.
2. Step 2: For filling: Cook 1 lb ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until browned (8 minutes). Add 1/2 cup chopped onion, 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper, and 2 minced garlic cloves. Cook 5 minutes until vegetables soften. Stir in 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Cool completely.
3. Step 3: Divide dough into 8 portions. Roll each into a 6-inch circle. Place a spoonful of filling in center, fold over, and crimp edges to seal.
4. Step 4: Place pasteles in steamer basket lined with parchment. Steam over boiling water for 25 minutes until dough is cooked through.