Pabellón Venezolano: Shredded Beef with Black Beans and Fried Plantains

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

Venezuela's iconic dish featuring tender shredded beef stewed with spices, served alongside black beans, white rice, and sweet fried plantains. This latin american-inspired beef ready in about 140 minutes pairs cut into chunks beef flank steak, medium, diced onion, minced garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 120 min Serves 4 Latin American cuisine 550 cal/serving
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Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add 1 diced onion and 4 minced garlic cloves; sauté for 4 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
  2. Step 2: Add 1 lb beef flank steak chunks, 2 tbsp tomato paste, and 1 tsp ground cumin; cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently to brown the beef.
  3. Step 3: Pour in 1 cup beef broth, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for 1 1/2 to 2 hours until beef is fork-tender and shreds easily.
  4. Step 4: Meanwhile, rinse 1 cup uncooked white rice under cold water. In a saucepan, bring 2 cups water to boil, add the rice and a pinch of salt, reduce to low heat, cover, and cook for 18 minutes until water is absorbed and rice is fluffy.
  5. Step 5: Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Peel and slice 2 large ripe plantains diagonally into 1/2-inch slices. Fry for 3 minutes per side until golden and caramelized; drain on paper towels and season lightly with salt.
  6. Step 6: Warm 1 1/2 cups canned black beans in a small saucepan, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Step 7: Shred the beef with two forks and stir in 2 tbsp chopped cilantro if desired. Serve shredded beef alongside white rice, black beans, and fried plantains on a large plate for a traditional Venezuelan meal.

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Frequently asked questions

How long does Pabellón Venezolano: Shredded Beef with Black Beans and Fried Plantains take to make?

Total time is about 140 minutes (20 min prep + 120 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.

How do I store leftover Pabellón Venezolano: Shredded Beef with Black Beans and Fried Plantains?

Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep medium, diced onion from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in Pabellón Venezolano: Shredded Beef with Black Beans and Fried Plantains?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale Pabellón Venezolano: Shredded Beef with Black Beans and Fried Plantains for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

What goes well with Pabellón Venezolano: Shredded Beef with Black Beans and Fried Plantains?

Latin American beef like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.

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