Venezuelan Hallaca Soup with Plantain Dumplings

Name: Venezuelan Hallaca Soup with Plantain Dumplings
Prep time: 3 h
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 3 h
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: Chicken; Chicken stock; Onion; Garlic; Tomatoes; Bell pepper; Cumin; Oregano; Salt and pepper; Beef; Pork; Green olives; Raisins; Capers; Ripe plantains; Cornmeal; Butter; Salt; Fresh cilantro; Lime wedges

A Hearty Tradition in a Bowl

Taste the Venezuelan tradition with this flavorful soup, generously filled with aromatic Hallaca flavors and soft plantain dumplings.

3 h 30 min
6
Advanced

Ingredients

For the Soup Base

Chicken

1 whole — cut into pieces

Chicken stock

3 quarts

Onion

1 large — diced

Garlic

2 cloves — minced

Tomatoes

2 large — chopped

Bell pepper

1 — diced

Cumin

1 tsp

Oregano

1 tbsp

Salt and pepper

to taste

For the Hallaca Filling

Beef

½ lb — diced

Pork

½ lb — diced

Green olives

½ cup — sliced

Raisins

½ cup

Capers

¼ cup

For the Plantain Dumplings

Ripe plantains

3 — peeled and mashed

Cornmeal

1 cup

Butter

2 tbsp — melted

Salt

pinch

For the Garnish

Fresh cilantro

chopped

Lime wedges

Preparation

Marinating the Hallaca Filling

Combine Ingredients

In a bowl, combine the beef, pork, olives, raisins, and capers.

Add Spices

Add cumin and oregano; mix well.

Chill

Let it marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour.

Preparing the Plantain Dumplings

Mix Dough

In a mixing bowl, combine the mashed plantains, cornmeal, butter, and salt.

Dip your hands in water while forming the dumplings for smoother texture.

Knead

Knead until a dough forms.

Shape Dumplings

Roll into small dumplings of 1-inch diameter.

Ensure dumplings are well-formed; poorly shaped dumplings can disintegrate in the soup.

Cooking Process

Soup Base

Sauté onions, garlic, and bell pepper in a large pot over medium heat until soft.

Add Ingredients

Stir in tomatoes, chicken, and stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer.

Adding Dumplings

After 1 hour of simmering, add plantain dumplings and hallaca filling; cook until dumplings rise to the surface.

Plating & Serving