How to Make Puerto Rican Rice with Chicken

For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by Puerto Rican culture and the many similarities between it and my own African-American heritage. My next-door neighbor delighted me when she offered to show me how to make Puerto Rican rice. She used pork in her dish but, since I am not a big pork-lover, I changed it up with some chicken and my own variety of seasonings. Here is my version of this popular dish, Arroz Con Gandules y Pollo (Rice with Pigeon Peas & Chicken).

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 lb chicken breast (cubed)
• 2 tsp Adobo all-purpose seasoning
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp crushed coriander seeds
• 3 Tbs olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 bell pepper (finely chopped)
• 1 yellow onion (diced)
• 2 stalks celery (finely chopped)
• 1 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves (minced)
• 1 can pigeon peas (drained)
• 4 cups white rice
• 2-3 packets of Sazon Goya con culantro y achiote
• 7-1/2 cups water

1. Heat olive oil in a large sauce pan over medium flame. Meanwhile, season chicken with Adobo, garlic powder and coriander.

2. Sauté seasoned chicken in heated oil until there is no more pink. Remove chicken from sauce pan using a ladled spoon and set aside. Allow the reserved oil and chicken stock to continue heating.

3. 

   Add garlic cloves, cilantro, onion, celery and green pepper to the reserved oil. Sauté until onion is translucent.

4. 

   Turn flame up to medium-high and stir in rice. Continue heating until rice is a golden brown. Stir in peas and, lastly, the Sazon Goya packets until rice is evenly coated with the reddish coloring.

5. Add in water and bring rice to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer for fifteen to twenty minutes being careful not to scorch rice. Allow to stand for five minutes then combine prepared chicken with rice. Serves eight.

Tips & Warnings

• You can toss the Sazon Goya packets out altogether by using annatto oil instead of the olive oil and/or add crushed annatto seeds along with the other seasonings.
• To save time, use frozen blends of onion and bell peppers.
• Do NOT add too much water or rice will be mushy.
• Sazon Goya contains MSG (monosodium glutamate), a food additive connected with cancer
• ALLERGY ALERT: Annatto has been linked as a probable cause to some food-related allergies. It is the only known natural food coloring that may cause allergic reactions.

Resources

• More Awesome Rice Dishes
• Get All Your Herbs & Spices

[yourbodycraves]

on 6/21/2009 I'm craving this recipe!

[ladyt06]

on 6/17/2009 Recipes sound like it is going to be taaaaaaasty! Similar to the way my Bahamian family makes peas and rice...Will be sure to try!

[westernmom]

on 6/15/2009 We had some wonderful rice and chicken in Jamaica. I wonder if this is will be like that! Thanks for the great recipe. 5*

[goodselfme]

on 6/13/2009 Great recipe for Puerto Rican rice dish. TX 5*

[coachcaliconnor]

on 6/12/2009 I will have to try this soon.