Puerto Rican–Style Plantain Steak Sandwiches (Jibarito)

Ingredients

• For steak:
• 1/2 lb flank steak
• 1 (1.41 oz) packet sazón seasoning
• 1 teaspoon adobo seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• Large zip-top bag
• 3/4 cup lager beer
• Cooking spray
• For plantains:
• 1 large, green plantain
• 2 cups vegetable oil, for frying
• Parchment paper
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• For assembly:
• 1 small tomato
• 2 slices American cheese
• 1 cup lettuce shreds
• 1/4 cup mayo-ketchup

Steps

1. Prepare steak. Pound steak with meat mallet until 3/4-inch thick. Coat with sazón, adobo, garlic powder, and pepper. Place in bag (wash hands) and pour in beer; seal and knead to coat. Let stand to marinate 20 minutes (or chill overnight). Preheat grill (or grill pan) on medium-high.
2. Remove steak from bag (discard marinade) and coat with spray. Grill 2–3 minutes on each side until grill-marked and 125°F (for medium rare; warm red center), 130°F (for medium; warm pink center), or up to 170°F (for well done). Transfer steak to cutting board and let stand 5–10 minutes before slicing; temperature will rise 5–10°F during this time.
3. Prepare plantain. Heat oil in Dutch oven to 350°F. Cut ends off plantain, cut into quarters, and peel. Fry plantains 6–7 minutes until fork-tender. Remove from oil; place between 2 pieces parchment paper and use heavy pan to smash carefully until 1/4-inch thick, leaving intact. Fry 2–3 more minutes until crisp and golden. Drain on paper towel–lined plate; sprinkle with salt.
4. Assemble sandwiches. Slice tomato thinly. Arrange 2 plantains on work surface. Top evenly with steak slices, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, mayo-ketchup, and remaining 2 plantain slices. Serve.
5. Note: The doneness temperatures for medium rare and medium stated above are traditional temperatures used for cooking steak, but are not recommended by the USDA. To maintain food safety, the USDA recommends an internal temperature of 145°F, as measured using a food thermometer, with a 3-minute rest time before slicing.