Picture yourself in the vibrant streets of Caracas, the sun dipping below the horizon, as the scents and sounds of a bustling city fill the air. Nestled among the colorful stalls of a local market, you find a dish that embodies the very essence of Venezuela: Pabellón.
This culinary masterpiece, lovingly crafted with a harmony of flavors, textures, and colors, is a true testament to the rich cultural heritage and history of the Venezuelan people.
In this article, we embark on a culinary adventure to explore the origins, ingredients, and cultural significance of Pabellón. From the tender shreds of seasoned carne mechada to the earthy warmth of caraotas negras, and from the comforting embrace of buttery arroz blanco to the sweet surprise of fried plantains, every component of this iconic dish weaves a vibrant tapestry of Venezuelan culinary tradition.
As we delve into the heart and soul of Pabellón Criollo, prepare to be swept away by the passion and warmth that has made this dish a national treasure and an unforgettable experience for all who taste it.
Pabellon Origin and Curiosities
It’s not every time you get to enjoy a meal that is filled with history in every bite. But that’s precisely what you get with the Pabellon. In Venezuela, this is known as the Pabellon Criollo or simply creole.
At first glance, what you’ll be staring at in the plate set before you is a mixture of white rice, black beans, plantains, and shredded beef. However, it’s a huge symbol of the history and culture of Venezuela. So, what exactly is the origin of the Pabellon?
Based on stories passed down over the years and a rich mix of speculations based on faint historical evidence, we can trace the origin of Pabellon Criollo to the 16th century. This was the colonial era when we had Spanish colonizers in Venezuela.
They made the indigenous people enslaved, forcing them to farm livestock and mine gold for them. These were only a few of the numerous laborious tasks the enslaved people were subjected to.
About a century later, the Spanish merchants decided to take advantage of the physical superiority of Africans and imported them as enslaved people into Venezuela. Most times, the indigenous people and enslaved Africans were deprived of food.
On some days, they were lucky enough to get leftovers which symbolized their struggle. Fortunately, Venezuela became independent by the 19th century. Still, many Spanish families chose to settle down in the country as they had successfully mixed with the locals.
Eventually, Pabellon Criollo became the go-to dish in Venezuela. This national dish is a reflection of the cultural mix in the country. Where you see a delicious plate of food, native Venezuelans see a sumptuous meal that mirrors the national flag and all the different races you can find in this culturally rich country.
Pabellon Empanada Vs Pabellon Criollo
Although the Pabellon Empanada and Pabellon Criollo are famous Venezuelan dishes that share part of their names, they are obviously not the same. The most significant difference lies in the primary ingredient used to prepare each meal.
While the Pabellon Criollo combines rice, beans, and shredded beef, the Pabellon Empanada is prepared entirely differently. The fillings in an empanada are plantains, sauteed onions, tomatoes, and beans, all wrapped up with crispy corn dough.
Usually, they are wrapped up in a half-moon shape and can be eaten solely as a snack without extras. And of course, they are absolutely delicious. You can choose to stuff the Pabellon Empanada with cheese, meat, cazon (shark), or chicken.
When this is deep-fried, the results are excellent. Thanks to the texture of the corn dough, the friend empanadas don’t soak up as much grease as they would with flour dough.
There are various empanada versions, and apart from the one we already explained, there is another filled with cheese. One of the best elements in Pabellon Empanadas is the sauce.
This is the perfect time to include some condiments, especially Guasacaca, a traditional Venezuelan avocado sauce.
Pabellon Recipe
Ingredients
Meat
- 2 pounds of steak
- 1 tablespoon of salt
- 1 tablespoon of black pepper
- 1 tablespoon of turmeric
- 1 tablespoon of ground cumin
- Olive oil
- 1 chopped onion
- 2 cans of tomato paste
- 1 large green bell pepper
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 2 tomatoes
Black Beans
- 2 pounds of black beans
- 1 tablespoon of chili powder
- 1 chopped onion
- 1 tablespoon of cumin
- A sprinkle of bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon of salt
- Water
White Rice
- 2 cups of white rice
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 chopped garlic
- Water
Plantains
- 2 ripe plantains
- 5 tablespoons of olive oil
Directions
For the meat
- Mix a tablespoon each of salt, black pepper, turmeric, and cumin into a large bow
- Make it into a liquid marinade by sprinkling some olive oil
- Cover the beef up with the marinade and refrigerate for at least 12 hours
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a Dutch oven. Set the heat at medium-high
- Remove the beef as soon as it turns golden brown. This should take about 5 minutes for each side.
- Saute one sliced onion in the Dutch oven using olive oil until the onion becomes translucent
- Cook this for five more minutes with one sliced red bell pepper and chopped garlic cloves
- Add chopped tomatoes and tomato paste
- Return the beef to the Dutch oven and submerge with broth
- Leave this to simmer for about two hours and then shred the beef
For the black beans
- Soak the black beans in water for about 12 hours to get them soft enough before cooking
- Add some chili powder, chopped onions, cumin, and bay leaves to add some flavor, but this is optional
- Garnish with salt
- Add more water as necessary to keep the beans simmering
- Remove the beans from heat as soon as it is soft enough to squish down with a spoon
For the rice
- Wash the grain of rice properly
- Heat three tablespoons of olive oil
- Saute the chopped garlic and pour the rice in
- Pour in about four cups of water and leave the rice to cook until it absorbs all the water
- Remove from heat as soon as it is soft enough
For the plantains
- Peel the plantains and cut them into 1-inch-thick slices
- Heat five tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan
- Fry each side of the plantain slices in the pan over high heat
- Lower the heat to medium-high as soon as the bottom edge of the plantain turns golden brown
- Move them into a plate with paper towels as soon as the slices are evenly fried
- Drain the excess oil and place it on a dry plate
A tip for the plantains is to buy the blackish-yellow ones since they are just the right level of ripeness for this meal. Now that all parts of the Pabellon Criollo are complete, you can arrange them in whichever order you like.
You should have the rice, beef, plantains, and black beans on your plate, all carefully prepared. All that’s left is to enjoy this Venezuelan Pabellon Criollo with its authentic flavor.
You can also choose to boil, fry, grill, or bake an unleavened cornmeal patty to eat alongside the Pabellon. The beauty of this Venezuelan Pabellon is that there are ways to customize it to your taste without doing too much.
Most Venezuelans love Pabellon with some grated white cheese on the black beans. If you’re lucky, this will also come with a slice of avocado. It would be a crime to visit Venezuela without getting a taste of this national dish.
Pabellon Calories and Nutrition
This meal is more than an explosion of various flavors in your mouth. For every serving of Pabellon Criollo, you get a heavy dose of nutritional value. This traditional Venezuelan dish contains protein, carbs, and fat, alongside more than 300g of calories.
Therefore, it comes with several health benefits, thanks to its high nutrient content. The carbohydrates in Pabellon Criollo help keep you full after a great meal. This is perfect for preventing you from overeating or getting hungry just a short time after your meal.
Apart from keeping those hunger pangs at bay, the carbs help your digestive system work better. Many Venezuelans eat this meal daily because it gives them the strength to function daily. Definitely an affordable and filling meal worth trying out.
So, if you need a huge burst of energy from a great meal, you can get your daily calorie content from a serving of Pabellon Criollo.
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