The 5th of July is Independence Day in Venezuela.
Pabello Criollo
There are three elements to this dish. The dish is based around puled beef. I have attempted a vegetarian equivalent. Which was rather delicious if I might add.
1 – Black beans.
Ingredients
1/2 cup of dried black beans, soaked over night
1/2 red capsicum
1/2 onion,diced
1 chilli, finely diced
1 clove garlic
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon oregano
Directions:
1) Add the soaked beans to a pot. Cover with water (3 cm over the top of the beans). Add the capsicum and bring to a gentle boil. Cook until the beans are soft. (About an hour)
2) When the beans are almost done, heat the oil in a frying pan. Add the onion, garlic and chilli. Fry until golden. Add the cumin and oregano and remove from the heat.
3) Add the onion mix to the beans. Cook the beans uncovered until the liquid has reduced. You still want a little liquid left, but most should be absorbed or evaporated.
2 – Rice
Ingredients:
1 cup rice
1 tablespoon oil
1 clove of garlic, minced
1/2 onion, diced
5 strips of red capsicum
2 cups of water
Directions:
1) Heat the oil in a saucepan. Lightly fry the onion and garlic. Add the capsicum and rice. Fry until the rice is a little translucent.
2) Add the water. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook until the water has been absorbed.
3 Carne mechada (vegetariana)
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons canola oil
1/2 onion
1/2 green and 1/2 red capsicum
2 large mushrooms
1 1/2 cup sto1 carrot
1 potato
1 1/2 cup stock
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/2 Habanero, (This will be removed at the end, so use the end with a stem)
2 Tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste
1 or 2 sprigs of coriander
Directions:
1) Julienne the capsicum, mushroom, potato and carrot. Add to a saucepan. Cover with the stock. Add the habernero. Bring to a quick boil.
2) While the water is heating, in a frying pan heat the oil. Lightly fry the garlic and the onion. Remove the vegetables from the boiling water and add them to the hot frying pan. lightly fry. Add the crushed tomatoes and a 1/4 cup of the stock water. Continue to cook, until the liquid has been reduced. Salt and pepper to taste.
