Pabellón criollo is the quintessential Venezuelan meal. The various components of the dish are a balance of flavors and colors that make a Venezuelan’s heart sing: shredded beef, simmered black beans, fried plantains and hot rice. Sometimes a fried egg is thrown on the top for good measure.
Pabellón Criollo
Course: MeatsCuisine: Venezuela4 to 6
servingsPabellón criollo is the quintessential Venezuelan meal. The shredded beef, rice and beans in the dish give a balance of flavors and colors that make a Venezuelan’s heart sing.
Ingredients
Oil — 1/4 cup
Beef sirloin or flank steak — 2 pounds
Onion, chopped — 1
Salt — 2 teaspoons
Pepper — 1 teaspoon
Water — to cover
Onion, finely chopped — 1
Red bell pepper, finely chopped — 1
Garlic, minced — 3 or 4 cloves
Tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped — 2 to 3 cups
Salt and pepper — to taste
Cooked black beans — 1 recipe
Cooked white rice — 4 cups
Fried plantains — 1 recipe
Directions
- Heat the oil in in a skillet over medium-high flame. Sear the meat on both sides to brown well, about 4 or 5 minutes per side.
- Remove from heat and place the meat in a large pot with the chopped onion, salt, pepper and enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until meat is very tender.
- Remove the meat from the pot and set aside to cool, reserving the broth. When cool, shred the meat with your fingers or two forks.
- Reheat the skillet, adding more oil if necessary. Add the finely chopped onion, peppers and garlic and sauté until the onions are translucent.
- Stir in the shredded meat, chopped tomatoes, salt and pepper. Add a little of the reserved broth to moisten and simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Serve with black beans, white rice a couple of fried plantains.
Pabellón Criollo Notes and Variations
- Pabellón a Caballo: Serve with a fried egg on top.
- During Lent, when eating meat is avoided, pabellón criollo is sometimes made with fish, caiman or even capybara (chigüire), a large rodent that has been classified by the Catholic Church as a fish.
- A little cumin seed can be added to the sauteing onions and peppers if you like.
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