What’s Cooking in Venezuela: The Secrets Behind Perfect “Pabellon Criollo” | PART 1 | SLICE

black beans

🥗Healthier: lentils

💰Cheaper: pinto beans

Lentils offer a similar texture with fewer calories.

shredded beef

🥗Healthier: chicken breast

💰Cheaper: ground beef

Chicken is leaner and ground beef is often less expensive.

plantains

🥗Healthier: sweet potatoes

💰Cheaper: bananas

Sweet potatoes provide similar sweetness and texture.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: canola oil

Canola oil is often less expensive and neutral in flavor.

Cook the meat in 500 ml of seasoned water; let it boil for at least 1 hour.

Cook the black beans in a pressure cooker; add garlic and the seasoned water; cook for at least 30 minutes.

While the beans and meat are cooking, cut and grate the tomatoes using a mandolin.

Chop the onion and leeks.

Combine all the chopped ingredients in a pan; season with salt, pepper, turmeric, and half a crumbled chicken stock cube.

Pour in 150 ml of white vinegar and some oil.

Remove fatty bits from the cooked meat and tenderize it by hitting it with a meat pounder.

Separate the meat along the direction of the fibers.

Chop the shallot, the rest of the leeks, grate another tomato, and onion, and do the same with the sweet pepper.

Start cooking the black bean sauce and add other beans to it; mix with the meat juices.

Let it simmer for at least 30 minutes.

Garnish with the beans, meat, slices of fried plantains, and a slice of fresh cow's cheese.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: