Name: Venezuelan-Style Arepas With Pulled Pork (Arepas Rumberas) Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 2 h 50 min
Total time: 2 h 55 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Latin
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon vegetable oil; 1 1/2 pounds boneless pork shoulder, cut into 2-inch cubes; 1 small onion, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup); 2 medium cloves garlic, grated on microplane grater (about 2 teaspoons; 1 roasted poblano or hatch chili, fresh, frozen, or canned, finely chopped; 2 cups low sodium homemade or store-bought chicken broth; 2 bay leaves; 1 cup finely crumbled queso fresco, cotija, or feta; 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves; Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper; Double recipe Venezuelan-style Arepas

Venezuelan-Style Arepas With Pulled Pork (Arepas Rumberas) Recipe

Made with pork shoulder stewed in stock with roasted chiles and onions, this is my own take on arepas rumberas—"Party Arepas," so-called because they're the kind of thing you want to eat after a night of drinking.

2 hr 55 min total 5 min prep 2 hr 50 min cook 8 524 cal

Instructions

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1 Heat vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven over high heat until smoking. Add pork shoulder and brown on all sides, about 10 minutes total. Transfer to a large plate.
2 Reduce heat to medium-high. Add onions and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned, about 4 minutes. Add chile and chicken stock and scrape up browned bits with a wooden spoon. Return pork to the pot along with bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a bare simmer. Cover and cook until pork is completely tender, about 2 1/2 hours.
3 Remove pork from pot with a slotted spoon and transfer to a medium bowl. Discard bay leaves, and increase heat to high. Boil until liquid is reduced to 1/2 cup. Meanwhile, shred pork with 2 forks. Add liquid to pork and season to taste with salt and pepper (it may not need any salt).
4 Set aside while you make the Venezuelan-style arepas . Split arepas, stuff with pork, top with crumbled cheese and cilantro, and serve with lime wedges and avocado slices if desired.