Cook with Us #8 – Creole Pavilion

First of all I want to thank @cookwithus for this contest.
My country (Venezuela), is characterized by a wide gastronomy and, in spite of the deep economic crisis that we are going through, the favorite dish of most Venezuelans is the Creole Pavilion, which is, in fact, our typical dish. It is extremely nutritious, because it contains an excellent balance between protein and carbohydrates, which is not very light, but it is delicious. Our Creole Pavilion is made up of: black beans, minced meat (this is a word widely used in my country to refer to finely chopped meat), white rice and slices of banana. Here is how to prepare this delicious and popular dish from my country.

1) To prepare the black beans:

Ingredients:
250 grams of black beans
1 large onion
2 scallions
2 sweet peppers
5 cloves of garlic
Smoked bones
3 sprigs of celery
Salt, cumin and pepper

Procedure:

• First of all, the grains are selected to separate those that are broken or not of good quality.

• Then they are soaked in water for several hours, preferably from the night before.

• Chop the onion in two, one half is reserved for blending and the other half is chopped in small squares.
  Also, chop in small squares a scallion, a sweet pepper, the celery and the cloves of garlic.

• Place half a spoonful of oil in a pot and fry the onion and garlic previously chopped. Then add the sweet chili, the diced scallions and the smoked bones.

• Let the dressings fry for a few seconds and then add about a liter of water and the grains previously strained. Add the celery and chopped into small squares, salt, marinade and pepper to taste.

Blend the other half of the onion, chili pepper and chives. Then add it to the pot and leave it to cook over medium heat until the grains are softened and the water has been consumed, but not all of it, because they must be juicy.

2) For the preparation of the meat:

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo of meat to be minced
1 large onion
2 scallions
2 sweet peppers
1 red paprika
5 cloves of garlic
2 branches of celery
Salt, pepper and marinade

Procedure:

• Sancocha the meat with half a spoonful of salt and with the branches of celery until they are softened.

• Leave to cool and chop the meat into fine strands.

• The water is reserved to liquefy the rubs in it. Chop the onion and paprika in half, reserve one half and chop the other half into small squares. Also chop one of the scallions, one of the sweet peppers and the garlic in cubes.

• In a pot, fry the garlic, sweet pepper, onion, scallion and paprika. Wait a few seconds and add the minced meat. In the water in which the meat was boiled, liquefy the other half of the onion that was previously reserved, half of the paprika, the other half of the sweet pepper and the chives and add to the meat.

• Then add salt, marinade and pepper to taste and leave to cook until consumed, but should not dry completely, because it should be juicy.

3. To prepare the white rice.

Ingredients:

1 cup of white rice
2 cloves of garlic
2 cups and ½ water
½ spoonful of oil
Salt to taste

Procedure:

• Fry the 2 cloves of minced garlic for a few seconds, then add the rice and stir to combine the flavors.

Then add the water, salt and cook over medium heat until the water is consumed. To find out if the rice is ready, you put a knife in it, if it comes out dry, the rice is ready.

4. To prepare the banana slices:

Ingredients:

1 ripe banana

Procedure:

*Chop the banana into slices approximately 1/2 cm thick and fry in hot oil.

And ready to taste! As you can see it's a pretty complete dish, it's a bit of work, but it's worth it!

Enjoy your meal!