Let's Make Dominican Republic's National Dish, La Bandera!

After searching for a recipe that covered all the main parts of La Bandera I came across this one by Clara Gonzalez. She does a great job representing all the parts that make up this great dish!

Try the recipe and let us know what you think.

Arroz Blanco (White Rice)

• 5 tablespoons of vegetable oil

• 1¼ teaspoon of salt

• 6 cups water

• 4 cups of rice

Habichuelas Guisadas (Stewed Red Beans)

• 2 cups of dry pinto, , cranberry, or red kidney beans

• 1 tablespoon of olive oil

• 1 pinch of oregano

• 1 bell pepper, , chopped

• 1 small red onion cut into four quarters

• 2 cloves of garlic, , crushed

• 1 cup of diced Auyama, (West Indies pumpkin)

• 1 cup of tomato sauce

• Leaves from a celery stalk, , chopped (optional)

• 4 sprigs of thyme, (optional)

• ½ teaspoon of chopped fresh cilantro

• 1 teaspoon of salt, (or more, to taste)

Pollo Guisado (Stewed Chicken)

• 2 lbs [0.9 kg] of chicken cut into small pieces

• 2 limes cut into halves

• A pinch of oregano

• 1 small red onion chopped into fine strips or eighths

• ½ cup of chopped celery, (optional)

• 1 teaspoon of salt, (more may be necessary)

• ½ teaspoon of mashed garlic

• 2 tablespoons of oil, (corn, canola or peanut)

• 1 teaspoon of regular white sugar

• 2 cups of water

• 4 plum tomatoes cut into quarters

• 2 green bell or cubanela, (cubanelle) peppers

• ¼ cup of seedless olives cut into halves, (optional)

• 1 cup of tomato sauce

• A small bunch of fresh coriander leaves

• ¼ teaspoon of pepper

Res Guisada (Stewed Beef)

• 2 lb [0.91 kg] of beef, (round or skirt) cut into small pieces

• Juice of 1 lime

• A pinch of sun-dried oregano

• A pinch of pepper

• 1 teaspoon of salt, (or more, to taste)

• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, (corn, canola or peanut)

• 3 cups of water, (may need more)

• 1 red onion cut into slices

• 2 tomatoes cut into quarters

• 2 bell peppers, , cut into small pieces

• 3 cloves of garlic, , mashed

• 1 cup of tomato sauce

• 1 sprig of cilantro, , chopped

Ensalada Verde (Green Salad)

• 2 tomatoes, , diced or sliced

• ½ lettuce, (or ¼ cabbage chopped finely)

• 1 cucumber, , sliced or diced

• 1 bell pepper cut into thin strips

• 1 small onion, , cut into thin slices (optional)

• 1 beetroot, , boiled and sliced (optional)

• 3 tablespoons of fruit vinegar

• 3 tablespoons of olive oil

• 1 teaspoon of salt, (or more, to taste)

www.dominicancooking.com

La Bandera Dominicana, or “The Dominican Flag”, is also what Dominicans call the national standard lunchtime dish of rice, beans, and meat.