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Pabellón Criollo

Venezuela

Venezuela's national dish. The four colours — white rice, black beans, brown beef, yellow plantain — represent the nation.

Venezuela's national dish — a four-part plate of shredded beef, black beans, white rice and sweet fried plantain. The colours of the Venezuelan flag on a single plate.

Authentic Venezuela Pabellón Criollo recipe
Prep
30 mins
Cook
60 mins
Difficulty
Medium
Calories
470 kcal
Serves
4
Calories are an estimate based on ingredients used

Ingredients

600gbeef flank steak, boiled and shredded
300gblack beans, cooked
300gwhite rice, cooked
2ripe plantains, sliced and fried
1onion, diced
4 clovesgarlic
400gtinned tomatoes
1 tspcumin

Method

1

Make carne mechada: fry onion and garlic, add shredded beef and tomatoes. Cook until dry and flavourful.

2

Season black beans with cumin and salt.

3

Fry ripe plantain slices in oil until golden.

4

Arrange all four elements separately on a plate.

Chef's Tip

Each element should be distinct on the plate — pabellón is about the harmony of four separate things.

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Some recipe photos courtesy of Openverse and Wikimedia Commons contributors, used under Creative Commons licenses.
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