Put on some rubber gloves, really do it, plantains stain your skin and nails black.
Chop ends off plantains.
Score ,with sharp knife, the plantains down each rib, about four lines.
Wedge your fingers or a spoon between plantain and the peel ,then slide down until each scored section of the peel comes off.* might take a little practice.
Chop Plantains into small slices, and add to a stock pot.
Pour chicken broth over plantains in pot.
Add 3 cloves chopped Garlic to broth, and bring pot to a boil.
turn heat down to medium, cover pot and boil for 25 to 30 minutes, or until plantains are really soft.
while Plantains are cooking, Fry Bacon slices till crisp.
Remove bacon from pan and set on paper towels.
Add 4 cloves of minced Garlic to bacon grease in pan, and saute until softened.
Chop bacon into crumbles.
Add: bacon, garlic with a little bacon grease, chopped cilantro, and olive oil to a food processor.
Process until a paste forms, remove paste and put in a bowl, and set aside.
Drain cooked plantains in a colander.
Place plantains back in the warm pot and mash with a potato masher or electric hand beater.
Mash or beat until it forms a "lumpy mash potato" consistency.
Add the bacon cilantro paste to your mashed plantains, and stir in well.
Separate mashed plantains into 4 lumps.
Mold each lump on a plate with your clean hands, (sorry, o.c.d moment).
you can do a dome shape, or I make a dome then flatten the top ( like a plateau shape)
Put marinated meat over top for main dish, or leave plain for a side dish.