Venezuela

 Welcome to Venezuela!  With everything going on in the news, I thought this may be an appropriate time to make their national dish.  So, we took a detour from Slovenia and went here instead!  Venezuela is home to the world's tallest uninterrupted waterfall, which is Angel Falls (and it looks stunning!).  It is home to the world's largest rodent, the capybara, and has more land dedicated to conservatorship than any other country.  According to Google, the population is 28.5 million people and the capital is Caracas.  Their national dish is...

Pabellón Criollo!

It's a rice and beans meal with some meat.  To go with Pabellón Criollo, we made Chicha, which is similar to Horchata.  Let me tell you, this meal took some time to prep and had a lot of different components!  I had to read and re-read the recipes to get things figured out and then time everything out to make it.  I also made fried plantains to go with it, as I read that this is a common addition to the meal.  Here's what I did:

PABELLON CRILLO

Black Beans

1 small package of black beans

6 C water

2 bay leaves

Sofrito

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, chopped

4 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp cumin

1/2 tbsp  paprika

Salt and pepper to taste

Shredded Beef 

4 lb flank steak

6 C water

1 onion, cut in quarters

1 carrot, chopped

1 bell pepper

1 celery stalk, chopped

1 bunch of cilantro

1 bunch of parsley

Salt, to taste

Sauce of The Beef 

2 tablespoons avocado oil

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced

1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced

14 oz can of diced tomatoes and 1/2 tsp cumin

1/2 tbsp curry

1 tsp paprika

Meat broth (left from boiling the beef)

Chili flakes, to taste

Salt and pepper, to taste

1. In a large container, wash the beans very well under running water and discard any beans that float.
2. Put the black beans in a large pot, add the water and the bay leaves, and cook over medium heat for 1 hour and a half or until you see that the beans are soft. 
3. Meanwhile, prepare the sofrito. 
4. Put the sofrito ingredients in a blender and blend until well mixed and the consistency of salsa.
5. Place this sauce in a pot with a lid and cook for about fifteen minutes over low heat.
6. Remove from heat and set aside.
7. When the beans have softened, add the sofrito to the beans and cook over low heat for about 30 more minutes so that the broth thickens a bit, add salt and pepper to taste.
8. Place the meat in a large pot.
9. Add the pieces of onion, carrot, celery, the chopped peppers and the bunches of cilantro and parsley to the pot with the meat.
10. Cover with water, cover the pot and cook for 2 hours over medium heat, or until the meat is fall-apart tender. 
11. Remove the meat from the pot and let it rest for about 5 minutes before shredding it. 
12. With the help of two forks, shred the still hot meat into thin and long strands.
13. In a frying pan, brown the onion and garlic in avocado oil until they are translucent.
14. Add cumin, curry, paprika and stir.
15. Add a little of the meat broth.
16. Add the shredded meat, the bell peppers, and the chopped tomato, and mix all the ingredients. 
17. If you see that the meat is a bit dry, add more broth.
18. Let cook covered and over low heat for about 15 minutes so that all the flavors mingle. 
19. Season with salt, pepper, and chili flakes to taste.
20. Serve with white rice and fried plantains, and enjoy!

(Source: Pabellón Criollo)

CHICHA

1/2 C rice

3 C water

1 C milk

1/2 can condensed milk

1 cinnamon stick

1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1. Soak the rice in 1 cup of water from 2 to 12 hours.
2. Rinse the rice and cook it in a pot with 3 cups of water. 
3. Cook it for 40 minutes with the cinnamon stick until the rice is extremely soggy and can’t absorb more water. 
4. Let it chill and remove the cinnamon stick.
5. Blend the rice, milk, condensed milk, salt, ground cinnamon and nutmeg. 
6. Blend on high speed for 5 minutes. You can add more milk if you feel that the chicha is too thick.
7. Top with extra sweetened condensed milk and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon.
8. Enjoy!

(Source: Chicha)

The verdict?  It was OK.  This is one of very few South American dishes that we didn't just love.  The meat was quite chewy, which made it hard and unpleasant to eat.  The flavors were good, but the texture not so much.   I think it would have been better if the meat was barbequed or cooked another way.  Boiling it didn't make it great.  I used the extra meat broth to make the rice - this was a good move!  It was delicious!  I couldn't eat the beans, so Handsome Husband will have to speak to the beans.  I wasn't a fan of the chicha - I don't think that I blended it long enough.  It was quite grainy.  All in all, the meal was OK, but not one we plan to repeat.

The beans -- they were beans. Nothing special and pretty bland, which was disappointing after sampling the sofrita and really liking the vibrant flavors. But even plain beans always manage to be at least a little bit good, so they still get a decent rating.

ME

Taste of Pabellón Criollo (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 6

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 5

HANDSOME HUSBAND

Taste of Pabellón Criollo (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 6

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 6

ME

Taste of Chicha (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 3

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 3

HANDSOME HUSBAND

Taste of Chicha (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 6

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 4

Another South American country down!  Join us next time (for real) in Slovenia!

Mali

 Welcome to Mali!  Or maybe not, as US citizens are no longer permitted to go to Mali!  Mali is home to the largest mud-brick building in existence - it looks amazing!  Every April, residents reconstruct the walls of this building (a mosque) with mud during a festival.  Mali also houses part of the Sahara Desert.  According to Google, the population of Mali is 21.99 million people and the capital is Bamako.  Their national dish is...

Tiguadege Na!

Literally translated it means, "meat in peanut butter".  It is a peanut butter stew.  Seems to be a theme of Africa...To go with the Tiguadege Na, we just ate rice.  A very simple meal!  Here's what I did:

TIGUADEGE NA

1 lb chicken thighs, in large chunks

1 onion, chopped

5 garlic cloves, minced

4 tbsp peanut butter

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can tomato paste

2 tbsp avocado oil

2 celery sticks, chopped

2 carrots, chopped

2 potatoes, chopped

1 large sweet potato, chopped

1 green cabbage, shredded

1 green pepper, diced

1 jalepeno, minced

Chicken stock, enough to cover ingredients (I used about 8 cups)

Pepper and salt, to taste

1. In a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat and fry the chicken until slightly browned.
2. Set aside and fry the onions, garlic, celery, and bell pepper in the same pot.
3. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, chili, and peanut butter.
4. Cook for a few minutes and then add the chicken stock and chicken pieces.
5. Allow to boil for about 10 minutes then add your veggies, salt and pepper
6. Allow to cook for 20 minutes, or until veggies and potatoes are tender.
7. Serve with rice, and enjoy!

(Source: Tiguadege Na)

The verdict?  This stew was very much like many of the other peanut butter soups or peanut butter chicken dishes we have had.  However, we really liked the addition of a sweet potato to the dish.  It brought a sweetness that worked very well with the rest of the stew.  If you make this, know that it makes A LOT of stew, and you will probably have leftovers!  All in all, a very pleasant and yummy dish!

ME

Taste of Tiguadege Na (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 7

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 2

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 7

 

HANDSOME HUSBAND

Taste of Tiguadege Na (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 7

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 7

Join us next time in Venezuela!

Paraguay

 Welcome to Paraguay!  We thought it was a good time to do another South American country, and boy were we right!  Well, kinda right.  Some interesting facts about Paraguay: there is a dam called Itaipu Dam that borders Brazil.  This dam produces almost all the power for Paraguay and is owned by both Paraguay and Brazil.  Also, the flag of Paraguay is the only country to have a double-sided flag!  According to Google, the population of Paraguay is around 7 million people, and the capital is Asunción, Their national dish is...

Sopa Paraguaya!

It literally translates to the Soup of Paraguay.  However, the dish is not soup at all! It is actually a cornbread!  That didn't stop us from making soup though...To go with sopa paraguaya, we made Paraguayan Dumpling Soup.  While I was reading recipes from Paraguay, many of them talked about how people of Paraguay use cassava or corn in some form for almost every meal.  Well, we had corn as part of both our dishes!  Here's what we did:

SOPA PARAGUAYA

8 oz corn flour

2 large onions, sliced thinly

4 tbsp avocado oil, divided

4 eggs, yolks and whites separated

1 tsp salt

10 oz. mozzarella cheese

1 1/2 C milk

1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a small skillet, heat two tablespoons oil over medium-high heat. 
3. Add two sliced onions and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. 
4. Remove from heat and let cool.
5. In a mixing bowl, whisk four egg yolks with 10 oz cheese and a teaspoon of salt. 
6. Mix in the sautéed onions and one cup of milk. 
7. Add corn flour and whisk until incorporated. 
8. Pour in the remaining milk and mix with a tablespoon of chopped fresh rosemary.
9. In a separate bowl, beat the four egg whites on high speed until foamy and stiff peak forms. 
10. Fold into the cornmeal mixture.
11. Grease a 9" non-stick round or square baking dish. 
12. Pour in the mixture and bake until golden brown, for 30-35 minutes. 
13. Let cool and slice into wedges or squares.
14. Enjoy!

(Source: Sopa Paraguaya)

PARAGUAYAN DUMPLING SOUP

Dumplings

1/3 C yellow cornmeal

1/3 C grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 C gluten free flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

Pinch of black pepper

2 eggs, lightly beaten

2 tbsp minced scallions, white portion only

2 tbsp oil

Soup

2 tbsp oil

1 lb stew meat

Salt, to taste

Pepper, to taste

8 C beef broth, plus as needed

1 onion, finely chopped

4 small carrots, finely chopped

3 stalks celery, finely chopped

2 tsp minced garlic

1 bay leaf

3 whole cloves

2 or 3 crushed saffron threads

1/4 C grated Parmesan cheese

1. Make the dumplings: Combine the cornmeal, Parmesan, flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, egg, scallions, and oil in a mixing bowl. 
2. Cover the batter and let it rest at least 45 minutes and up to 3 hours before shaping and cooking the dumplings.
3. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a soup pot over medium-high heat. 
4. Season the stew meat with salt and pepper and add it to the hot oil. 
5. Sear the beef on all sides, turning as necessary, until browned, 7 to 8 minutes.
6. Add the broth and simmer over low heat until the beef is tender, 45 to 50 minutes. 
7. Remove the beef to a plate and let cool. 
8. Strain the broth through a fine sieve and reserve.
9. Return the soup pot to medium-high heat. 
10. Add the remaining oil and heat over medium-high heat. 
11. Add the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic and sauté, stirring frequently, until the onion is tender and translucent, 8 to 10 minutes.
12. Add the strained broth to the soup pot along with additional broth, if needed, to make 8 cups.
13.  Bring the broth to a simmer and add the bay leaf, cloves, and saffron threads. 
14. Simmer until the vegetables are tender and the broth is flavorful, 30 minutes.
15. Trim the cooled beef and cut it into medium dice. 
16. Return the beef to the soup. 
17. To form the dumplings, pinch off small pieces of dough (about 1 teaspoon) and roll them into balls. 
18. Add the dumplings to the soup and simmer until the dumplings are cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes. 
19. Serve immediately in warmed soup bowls sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.
20. Enjoy!

(Source: Paraguayan Dumpling Soup)

The verdict?  The soup was really good.  It was a hearty, filling soup.  It was very much like a traditional beef stew, but for some reason had a bit more flavor. The dumplings in the soup were interesting - they were good to start off, but then they just fell apart, and then the texture was a bit odd.  But overall, it was really good!  The sopa paraguaya wasn't great.  That could be because the power went out halfway through cooking, but it tasted more like an egg bake than cornbread.  The flavor profiles were good, but it was just too dense and eggy. Not one we would like to make again.

   

ME

Taste of Sopa Paraguaya (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 4

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 5

HANDSOME HUSBAND

Taste of Sopa Paraguaya (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 4

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 5

ME

Taste of Paraguayan Dumpling Soup (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 7

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 8

 

HANDSOME HUSBAND

Taste of Paraguayan Dumpling Soup (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 7

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 7

Hope you had fun in Paraguay!  Join us next time in Mali!