4 ripe Dole plantains

300g beef or vegetarian mince

3 capsicums (red, orange and green)

1 onion (chopped)

2 cloves garlic (chopped)

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp mixed Italian dried herbs

2 tbl tomato paste

1 cup mozzarella cheese

1 cup chopped flat leaf parsley

Salt and pepper to taste

1. Heat a fan forced oven to 180 degrees Celsius.

2. Peel the ripe plantain by cutting the tips of each one, then cut each plantain in half.

3. Fill a pot with oil to a level that is half the height of a plantain piece. Heat the oil over a medium to high heat.

4. Deep fry the plantain until golden brown all around. Remove and set aside on paper towels to drain away access oil. Be gentle with the plantain so it holds its shape. Place the plantains in the fridge to cool a little.

5. In a separate pan, heat some oil over a medium heat.

6. Fry the onions and garlic until they turn soft.

7. Add the chopped capsicum to the onion and garlic mix and continue to sweat all of it out over a medium heat. Add ½ tsp of salt at this point to get the seasoning going.

8. Add the mince and combine well.

9. Add the tomato paste, cumin and dried herbs.

10. Cook the mince for about 15 mins on a medium heat. Once cooked turn off the heat. *Note: If you are using vege mince, cook for 8-10 mins and remove. Don’t dry it out.

11. Finely chop the parsley. Leave a ¼ cup aside for garnish.

12. Mix the finely chopped parsley into the mix. Set the mix aside.

13. Prepare the plantain as follows:

1. Use a knife and slit each plantain piece down the middle, but not to the ends. It’s more of a slit in the middle. And don’t go all the way down. You don’t want to go through the plantain.
2. Then use two forks and prise apart the sides of the plantain to create a well.
3. Gently press the flesh in the well down to create a base.

14. Place oven proof paper on the bottom of a baking tray.

15. Place the plantain pieces evenly on the oven paper.

16. Put ½ tbl of mozzarella into each well. Then fill the well with the mince mix. Then top with the rest of the mozzarella. Do this to all the pieces

17. Cook the plantain parcels in the oven until the cheese is melted. Then remove from the oven.

18. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve.