La Bandera Dominicana
A Dominican lunch of white rice, stewed red beans, and braised beef. Serves 4; times are estimates and allow some components to cook in parallel.
La Bandera brings together white rice, red beans, and stewed meat. This version cooks the three components separately and serves them together as a complete meal.
Method
- 01
Prepare and marinate the beef
Put the beef in a bowl and cover it with water. Add the white vinegar and soak for 15 minutes. Drain, rinse, and pat dry. Mix with the soy sauce, lime juice, adobo, half the garlic, and 1 teaspoon of the oregano. Cover and refrigerate for at least 60 minutes.
75 min - 02
Braise the beef
Heat the vegetable oil and sugar in a large pot. When the sugar turns brown, add the beef and brown it on all sides. Stir in 2 tablespoons of tomato paste and enough water to keep the beef from drying out as it cooks. Simmer gently, adding more water if needed, until tender. Add the yellow onion and Cubanelle and red peppers; cook until tender but still slightly firm. Stir in half the fresh cilantro.
60 min - 03
Make the bean base
In a second pot, heat the olive oil. Add the yellow onion, Cubanelle pepper, and remaining garlic; sauté until the vegetables soften. Add the red beans with their liquid, squash, sazón, the remaining teaspoon of oregano, bouillon cube, bay leaf, and 1 tablespoon of tomato paste. Add enough water to cover the beans and bring to a gentle simmer.
10 min - 04
Thicken the beans
Cover the pot and simmer the beans over low heat for 25 minutes. Remove about 1½ cups of beans and a few pieces of squash with a little broth; mash them and return them to the pot. Stir and cook covered for another 10–15 minutes. Stir in the remaining fresh cilantro.
40 min - 05
Cook the rice
Rinse the long-grain white rice until the water runs clear, then drain well. Heat the vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pot. Carefully add 2½ cups of water and the optional salt; bring to a boil. Add the rice and stir until the water evaporates. Cover, turn the heat to the lowest setting, and cook for 20 minutes without lifting the lid.
30 min - 06
Rest and serve
Turn off the heat and let the rice rest, covered, for 5–10 minutes. Fluff it with a fork and serve with the stewed beans and braised beef.
10 min
Ingredients
Sources and review
Content researched, cross-checked and automatically validated. Sources consulted:
- Higiene de los alimentos www.aesan.gob.es/seguridad-alimentaria/higiene-alimentos
- How to Cook Like a Local: Traditional Dominican Recipes You Can Try at Home dominicatours.org/insights/how-to-cook-like-a-local-traditional-dominican-recipes-you-can-tr…
- Dominican dishes: The most traditional Caribbean flavors www.barcelo.com/guia-turismo/en/dominican-republic/dominican-republic/things-to-do/dominican…
- Dominican Dishes | Traditional Food & Recipes | Dominican Republic 365 dominicanrepublic365.com/dishes
- Seven typical Dominican Republic dishes you must try- Princess Hotels www.princess-hotels.com/en/blog/dominican-republic-typical-dishes/
- Bloomsbury Food Library - Sancocho (Dominican Republic and Panama) doi.org/10.5040/9798216171638-0048
- 100s Traditional Dominican Recipes with Video www.dominicancooking.com/recipe-index
- Dominican Republic Foods & Culture | Local Dining Guide | Real Estate DR www.realestate-dominicanrepublic.com/travel-guide/dominican-republic-foods-and-culture-disco…
- International Cooking: Food from the Dominican Republic - The Flavor Vortex www.theflavorvortex.com/international-cooking-food-from-the-dominican-republic/
- Dominican Recipes: 103+ Authentic Dishes | Kelvin's Kitchen kelvinskitchen.com/dominican-recipes/
- La Bandera Dominicana (Traditional Dominican Lunch) - Crumb-Snatched www.crumbsnatched.com/la-bandera-traditional-dominican-lunch/
- The Ultimate Guide to Dominican Food | Celebrity Cruises www.celebritycruises.com/blog/dominican-food
- Dominican Republic cuisine - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominican_Republic_cuisine
- 20 Platos Dominicanos Poco Comunes que Quizá no Conoces - Tia Clara www.cocinadominicana.com/platos-dominicanos-no-comunes
- Antes de ir a YouTube www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbtULDqj9TOSNfx7IXIrEcQrlv4tqkhpL
State: Published after documentary validation; no “Tested” label is shown.