Alcapurrias

This one of my top favorite finger foods that you can find at any spanish restaurant..

The Masa: (Batter)

5 green bananas (Chiquita Bananas)

1 lb. taro root (yautía)

2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vinegar

1 tbsp. vegetable oil

1 small envelope sazón with annatto (achiote) coloringLots of vegetable cooking oil for deep frying

The Filling:

1/2 lb. chopped meat (your choice i like to use chopped up pork or ground beef)1 tbsp. sofrito

8 oz. tomato sauce

1/2 tsp. salt

1 small envelope sazón

6-8 chopped olives

1 tsp.of capers

1 medium garlic clove

2 oz. chopped cooking ham

1 tsp. dried oregano1/

4 tsp. vinegar

Optional:6-8 prunes2 tsp. raisins

Directions
The Masa:

Thoroughly wash the yautías then peel.Peel the green bananas and wash with salted water.Grate the bananas and yautías then add the salt, vinegar, oil and sazón.Mix well and set aside.The Filling:In a deep pot, fry your ground meat until all red is gone.Drain most of the grease and add the garlic, ham, oregano, vinegar salt, olives, capers, sazón, sofrito and tomato sauce.Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and cover the pot.Cook covered for 15 minutes.Uncover and cook another 15 minutes, stirring ocassionally.On the palm of your hand (or if you are lucky enough to have plantain leaves), spread about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the mixture and make a shallow well. (You may also use wax paper)Spread 1 1/2 teaspoons of the filling mixture and cover the filling (meat) with the banana mixture all around. (At this time of the recipe, you can fry the alcapurria or store in the freezer for later use.)In a deep fryer or deep frying pan, heat lots of vegetable oil to cover the alcapurrias. Fry until slightly crispy.Drain the alcapurrias on a paper towel and let them cool off.RICAN WARNING:DO NOT TRY AND EAT THE ALCAPURRIA IMMEDIATELY. IT WILL BURN YOUR (BEMBAS) MOUTH FOR SURE.

Buen Provecho...