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Quinchoncho guisado
Quinchoncho guisado: pigeon peas stewed with sofrito and pumpkin, eaten in Lara and the East
In Lara and across eastern Venezuela, quinchonchos (pigeon peas) are cooked during Holy Week and on ordinary weekdays alike, stewed with a sofrito of onion, sweet ají dulce and garlic and thickened with pumpkin that melts into the broth. It's eaten with white rice, arepas or a wedge of fried plantain, and many homes add pork; this version keeps it meat-free. The common mistake is adding the pumpkin too early so it disappears. Chef's tip: put the pumpkin in for the last 20 minutes, then mash a few pieces against the pot to thicken the stew.
- Total time
- 105 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 14 oz dried pigeon peassoaked overnight in cold water
- 8 ¼ cups water
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tsp ground annatto (onoto)
- 1 onionfinely chopped
- 1 red pepperfinely chopped
- 4 ají dulce (sweet chilli peppers)seeded and chopped
- 3 cloves garliccrushed
- 3 spring onionssliced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 14 oz pumpkinpeeled, 3 cm chunks
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- ½ oz fresh corianderchopped
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Drain 14 oz dried pigeon peas, put them in a large pot with 8 ¼ cups water and simmer, partly covered, for 60 minutes, until tender and creamy inside.
60 minStep 2: Meanwhile heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a frying pan over a medium heat, stir in 1 tsp ground annatto (onoto), then fry 1 onion, 1 red pepper, 4 ají dulce (sweet chilli peppers), 3 cloves garlic and 3 spring onions for 8 minutes, until soft and sweet. Stir in 1 tsp ground cumin.
10 minStep 4: Mash a few pumpkin pieces against the side of the pot and stir until the stew thickens. Scatter with ½ oz fresh coriander.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 310 kcal
- Protein
- 17 g
- Carbs
- 48 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 14 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does quinchoncho guisado take?
- About 105 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 90 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of red pepper?
- Any colour of bell pepper, same amount.
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