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La Bandera Dominicana

The Quirky Foodster Team

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20 min
Prep
40 min
Cook

Ingredients

  • 400 g (2 cups) White rice
  • 400 g (2 cups) Red kidney beans, cooked
  • 800 g (1.75 lb) Chicken thighs, bone-in
  • 120 ml (1/2 cup) Sofrito (onion, pepper, garlic, cilantro puree)
  • 30 g (2 tbsp) Tomato paste
  • 45 ml (3 tbsp) Vegetable oil
  • to taste Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Cumin

Method

  1. Season chicken with sofrito, salt and cumin; marinate 30 minutes.
  2. Brown chicken in oil, then stir in tomato paste and enough water to cover; simmer 30-35 minutes until tender and sauce thickens.
  3. Separately, simmer cooked beans with a little sofrito and oil for 10 minutes to build a light broth-like sauce.
  4. Cook rice by the absorption method until fluffy and separate.
  5. Plate rice, beans and stewed chicken side by side to form the 'flag'.

Introduction: Named ‘the Dominican flag’ for its three colors — white rice, red beans, and stewed meat — this plate is the quintessential Dominican lunch, eaten in homes and comedores across the country nearly every day.

Cultural Background: Named ‘the Dominican flag’ for its three colors — white rice, red beans, and stewed meat — this plate is the quintessential Dominican lunch, eaten in homes and comedores across the country nearly every day. It reflects the everyday rhythm of Dominican family cooking more than any single festival dish.

Tips: Reserve some bean broth to spoon over the rice for extra flavor. A side of tostones or salad often accompanies the plate as the ‘fourth color’.

Variations: Use stewed beef or pork instead of chicken. Substitute pigeon peas (guandules) for red beans. Replace chicken with braised jackfruit or mushrooms in the same sofrito sauce.

Storage: Refrigerate components separately in airtight containers for up to 3 days.

Reheating: Reheat each component separately on the stovetop or microwave until piping hot.

Nutrition: Calories: 610 | Protein: 38g | Carbs: 68g | Fat: 18g

FAQs

Q: Why is it called ‘the flag’?
A: The red beans, white rice and meat visually echo the layout of everyday Dominican comfort eating, nicknamed for its color blocks rather than the actual national flag’s design.

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