Cookbook:Rice Tamale (Pastel de Arroz)
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Cookbook | Ingredients | Recipes | Cuisine of Colombia
El Pastel de Arroz (rice tamale) is typical dish from Cartagena, Colombia. It is very common to find it on Sundays at the beach or as a Christmas Eve favourite.
Rice Tamale (Pastel de Arroz) | |
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Category | Colombian recipes |
Servings | 6 |
Time | Cook 1 hour |
Difficulty |
Ingredients[edit | edit source]
Rice[edit | edit source]
- 1½ cups of rice
- ½ cup of white vinegar
- 6 Tbsp of cumin
- 1 Tbsp of salt
- 2 Tbsp of onoto seeds
- ½ cup of corn oil or sunflower oil
- 1 Tbsp of garlic powder
Filling[edit | edit source]
- 6 chunks of tender pork
- 6 pieces of chicken (I recommend drumsticks or cutlets)
- 6 small Vienna sausages
- 6 small chorizos
- 6 slices of bacon
- Assorted pickles (carrot, green beans, cauliflower, red pepper, celery)
- 1 can (16 oz) Goya chickpeas
- 3 medium potatoes
- 3 red tomatoes
- 12 large cabbage leaves
- 24 large "lobster claw" leaves (can be replaced with banana plant leaves)
- capers, olives and pickled onions
Procedure[edit | edit source]
Rice[edit | edit source]
- Mix all the ingredients well in a large Pyrex baking dish.
- Let stand one day long under the sun (this is called orear).
Assembly[edit | edit source]
- Place one leaf of cabbage on top of a clean working area.
- Spread ⅛ cup of the rice mixture over the cabbage leaf.
- Place one unit of each meat evenly through the pastel.
- Place pickles, chickpeas, capers, pickled onions on top of the meats.
- Place two slices of potato and two slices of tomato. Cover with another ⅛ cup of rice mixture.
- Cover with one leaf of cabbage.
- Place one washed lobster claw / banana leaf in a plain working area. Carefully put the pastel over the leaf and roll firmly. Cover with a second leaf and roll firmly. Tie with thread.
- Cook in a large pan cover with water, vinegar and salt for two hours.
Notes, tips, and variations[edit | edit source]
- Onoto substitutes: pinch of paprika (for color not flavor); an equal amount of saffron; yellow food coloring; hot paprika; or equal parts turmeric and paprika.
- You can prepare your own pickles: For 6 pasteles boil 1½ cup or water, ½ cup of vinegar, 4 Tbsp of brown sugar and 1 large carrot cut into 6 sticks, 2 celery sticks cut in three pieces each, 6 green beans cut in half, one large red bell pepper cut into 12 sticks, and one small cauliflower. Let cool down and keep refrigerated overnight, before using it.