Tacacho con Cecina (Amazonian Plantain Cakes with Cured Pork)
In short: Mashed green plantain mixed with crisp bacon and pan-fried into golden cakes, served with salty smoked, cured pork. It takes about 1 h 10 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 45 min
- Total
- 1 h 10 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 660 kcal
Tacacho con cecina is a classic breakfast and supper from the Peruvian Amazon. Green plantains are cooked, mashed with pork fat and crisp bits of bacon, shaped into patties and fried. They are served with cecina, a salted and smoked pork that is grilled or fried. The plantain cakes are dense and savory, with a toasty crust, and the salty meat goes well with their mild flavor.
Instructions
- Cut the ends off the plantains, slit the skins lengthwise and peel them. Boil in salted water for 25 minutes, until a knife slides in easily. Drain.
- Fry the bacon in a skillet over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes until crisp. Lift out the bacon and measure the fat in the pan. Add lard or oil if needed to make 3 tablespoons.
- Mash the hot plantains with the 3 tablespoons of fat and the salt into a thick, slightly lumpy dough. Fold in the bacon bits.
- Shape the dough into 8 patties, about 2 cm (3/4 in) thick.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat and fry the patties for 4 minutes per side, until golden and crusty.
- Pan-fry the cecina in 1 tablespoon of oil for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until hot and lightly browned. Slice it.
- Serve the tacacho and cecina together with the onion salad and hot sauce.
Tips
- Use firm green plantains. Ripe yellow ones are sweet and will give a very different, softer result.
- If you cannot find cecina, use thick-cut smoked pork chops, ham steaks or thick bacon.
Questions and answers
What is cecina?
Cecina is salted, smoked, dried pork typical of the Peruvian Amazon. It tastes like a smoky ham, and smoked pork chops are an easy substitute.
Can I bake the tacacho instead of frying?
Yes. Brush the patties with oil and bake at 200°C (400°F) for about 20 minutes, turning once, until crusty.
What do you serve with tacacho and cecina?
A red onion and lime salad, hot sauce, or slices of fried sweet plantain.
How long does it take to make Tacacho con Cecina (Amazonian Plantain Cakes with Cured Pork)?
About 1 h 10 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 45 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Tacacho con Cecina (Amazonian Plantain Cakes with Cured Pork)?
About 660 kcal per serving, with 33 g of protein, 62 g of carbohydrates and 34 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 660 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 33 g |
| Carbohydrates | 62 g |
| Fat | 34 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 1900 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
