All my life I’ve liked my Mother’s rice and beans. As most of you already know, my mother is absolutely Puerto Rican and so are my grandparents. After I was younger, we principally lived off rice and beans. Don’t get me improper, my mother made a whole lot of recipes, however that was the one I remembered essentially the most.
Years later, I found that cooking from your individual heritage was a good way to faucet into your roots, create nostalgia, and bear in mind these particular moments with your loved ones.
This Puerto Rican hen and rice recipe is simply a kind of comforting, nostalgic ones that I come again to time and time once more. I really like this recipe as a result of all the things is made in a single pan, is straightforward to cook dinner, surprises folks with its distinctive, scrumptious taste, and is ideal for meal prep.
Now it’s vital to do not forget that everybody’s model of arroz con pollo is totally different — the good half about cooking is that you would be able to actually make it your individual. That is our tackle it, and one I do know you’re going to like!
What’s arroz con pollo?
Arroz con pollo actually interprets to “rice with hen” in Spanish. It’s a conventional dish in Spain and Latin America and is one which I grew up on because of my Puerto Rican grandparents and mother! The hen and rice are cooked in a single pan or pot with an exquisite mix of spices and a do-it-yourself sofrito.
All the pieces you’ll have to make Puerto Rican hen & rice
You’re going to LOVE how scrumptious and nourishing this recipe is. My mother’s specific Puerto Rican tackle arroz con pollo includes a couple of particular twists:
- Rooster: I like to make use of boneless, skinless hen thighs as a result of they’ve the very best taste.
- Home made adobo seasoning: you’re going to toss the hen in adobo seasoning, which consists of 9 scrumptious spices (together with salt & pepper).
- Home made sofrito: We’re making the holy trinity of taste right here and the bottom for many Puerto Rican dishes: inexperienced bell pepper, cilantro (or culantro if you’ll find it!) and onion. Then you definately’ll add your sazon spices and tomato sauce and say hi there to DELICIOUSNESS.
- Home made sazon: sazon is a extremely widespread Puerto Rican spice and I really like making it from scratch with this recipe! It flavors the rice SO a lot and pulls the entire dish collectively.
- Tomato sauce: you’ll additionally want some tomato sauce (and water) to cook dinner the rice with the sofrito.
- Rice: I really like utilizing white basmati rice due to how fluffy the rice will get.
- Peas: inexperienced pigeon peas are one among my favourite issues. Sadly, they are often tough to seek out. I sometimes buy them within the Hispanic part of my grocery retailer, head to our native Hispanic retailer, or buy off Amazon. Don’t fear although — if you wish to use frozen peas as an alternative that’s completely an possibility and often what I do as a result of I usually have them available.
Can I swap the rice?
I extremely advocate utilizing white basmati rice for the very best texture, however you could possibly additionally use cauliflower rice or 2/3 cup quinoa. I might NOT advocate utilizing brown rice as a result of it takes for much longer to cook dinner.
The best way to make one pan Puerto Rican hen and rice
- Marinate your hen. Begin by tossing your hen in a bowl with olive oil and the adobo spices. Cowl and let the hen marinate for at the very least half-hour.
- Brown the hen. Subsequent, brown the hen in a giant skillet with olive oil, then switch the hen to a plate.
- Make the sofrito. In the identical skillet sauté the garlic, jalapeño, inexperienced pepper, onion, and cilantro. Add the sazon spices and cook dinner for 30 seconds, then stir within the tomato sauce and water.
- Add the rice. Convey the combination to a simmer, then fold within the rice, peas, and olives (if utilizing). Add your browned hen on prime.
- Simmer & serve. Scale back the warmth to low, cowl the skillet, and let all the things simmer till the rice is fluffy. Garnish with cilantro and a squeeze of contemporary lime juice and serve!
Serving & storing suggestions
- To serve: this arroz con pollo recipe is ideal for serving a crowd as a result of you may simply double the recipe.
- To retailer: merely retailer any leftover hen & rice in hermetic containers within the fridge for as much as 4-5 days. This recipe is ideal for meal prep!
Extra household recipes to attempt
Get all of my globally-inspired recipes right here!
In the event you make this Puerto Rican hen and rice recipe be certain and tag #ambitiouskitchen on Instagram or go away a remark beneath and price it so I can understand how you appreciated it. Thanks for being right here — have a stunning week! xo.
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Mama’s Puerto Rican Rooster and Rice (Arroz con Pollo)
My mama’s well-known Puerto Rican hen and rice, also called arroz con pollo, is made in a single pan with do-it-yourself adobo seasoned hen sofrito and savory rice. This comforting dish is straightforward to make and the right nourishing weeknight meal. You will make this recipe repeatedly!
Substances
- For the hen:
- 2 tablespoon olive oil, divided
- 1 ½ kilos boneless skinless hen thighs
- For the adobo seasoning:
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ¾ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon pink cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon coriander
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Freshly floor black pepper
- For the sofrito & rice:
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup finely diced inexperienced pepper
- ¼ cup finely diced white onion
- ¼ cup finely diced cilantro
- Elective: 1 jalapeno, diced
- ¼ teaspoon floor coriander
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon floor turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 ¼ cups water
- 1 cup basmati white rice (don’t use brown, it is going to take too lengthy to cook dinner)**
- ⅔ cup frozen peas (or rinsed and drained pigeon peas)
- OPTIONAL: ½ cup pitted inexperienced olives
Directions
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Add hen to a big bowl. Add in 1 tablespoon olive oil and your adobo seasoning: cumin, paprika, chili powder, cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, coriander, salt and pepper. Use clear arms to toss the hen within the combination. Cowl and permit hen to marinate for half-hour, or you may skip this utterly and start the cooking course of!
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Subsequent add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to a big deep 10 inch skillet and place over medium excessive warmth. (In the event you do not need a skillet a big pot will even work very nicely!) As soon as oil is sizzling, add in hen and season with a little bit extra salt and pepper. Prepare dinner till browned 4-5 minutes, then flip and and cook dinner an extra 4-5 minutes. Take away from pan and switch to a plate.
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In the identical skillet (it must be greased sufficient already for sauteing) you’ll make your sofrito by including in garlic, jalapeno, diced inexperienced pepper, diced onion and cilantro.
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Saute for 2-3 minutes, then add in your spices (also called do-it-yourself sazon spices): cumin, turmeric, coriander, garlic powder, oregano, salt and pepper and cook dinner for 30 seconds. Then add in tomato sauce and water and stir nicely to mix.
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Convey to a simmer then fold within the rice, peas and olive (if utilizing) ensuring they’re evenly distributed. Add browned hen on prime.
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Scale back warmth to low, cowl the skillet instantly and cook dinner for 20-25 minutes.
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After 20-25 minutes, many of the liquid must be absorbed and rice must be cooked. Serve instantly. Garnish with cilantro and serve with a squeeze of contemporary lime juice.
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To meal prep: This meal serves 4. Place rice in a meal prep containers and prime with 1 hen thigh. Garnish with cilantro.
Recipe Notes
In case you are searching for a grain various, I might advocate subbing about 2/3 cup quinoa. The cooking time and liquid ratio will keep the identical.
Diet
Serving: 1servingEnergy: 485calCarbohydrates: 46.8gProtein: 37.6gFats: 18.8gSaturated Fats: 4.1gFiber: 4.6gSugar: 5g
This submit was initially printed on April sixteenth, 2018, republished on March twelfth, 2022, republished on October fifteenth, 2023, and republished on Might 18th, 2024.
