What’s a Jibarito? explained with a easy recipe & video

A Jibarito is a Puerto Rican sandwich that originated in Chicago. It typically consists of thinly sliced, fried green plantains (instead of bread) that serve as the "bread" for the sandwich. The filling often includes grilled meat, such as steak or chicken, along with traditional toppings like lettuce, tomato, cheese, and mayonnaise. The Jibarito is known for its unique and flavorful combination of ingredients, and it has gained popularity in various places beyond Chicago with Puerto Rican communities.

The below picture is from our time on WGN when we did Jibarito Bites, Gangster Style, a much easier way to make a Jibarito since you're not frying plantains (twice) rather using plantain chips.

Jibarito Bites, Gangster Style

Ingredients:

½ lb. beef for carne picada (minced beef)

salt, pepper and granulated garlic, as needed

1 bag of plantain chips, as needed

2 – 3 Tablespoons of Gangster Sauce

½ cup shredded lettuce, chopped fine

4 – 6 cherry tomatoes, cut in eighths

1/8 red onion, minced

2 Tablespoons crumbled Cotija

Directions:

Lie out the beef on a plate and season it generously with the salt, pepper, and granulated garlic.

Warm a large non-stick pan (without oil) over medium-high heat.\xa0 Once the pan is hot, add the beef and cook for roughly 2 – 3 minutes, stirring nearly
continuously, until the beef is basically totally cooked (don’t worry, it will continue to cook).\xa0 Remove from heat and reserve.

In a small bowl, mix together the Gangster sauce with the chopped shredded lettuce, tomatoes, and red onion, like you would a salad.\xa0

In the center of each plantain chip, add a small portion of the “gangster salad”.\xa0Add a small portion of beef over the top of each salad.\xa0 Top the beef with the cheese.\xa0