Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/3 cup country ham or bacon diced (optional)
- 1/3 cup sofrito
- 3 cups water or low sodium chicken broth
- 1 ½ teaspoon sazón con achiote y culantro
- 1 cube chicken bouillon or more if needed
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste or 1/3 cup tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning or oregano either one works
- 2-3 bay leaves
- 15 ounce can Gandules (Pigeon Peas) drained and rinsed
- 2 cups parboiled rice
Instructions
- Heat your caldero or Dutch oven to medium heat, and add your olive oil, bacon/ham (if using) and sofrito. Stir constantly until fragrant and tender, but not browned, about 4 minutes.
- Next add in the Sazon, tomato sauce or paste and chicken bouillon. Stir to combine.
- Add in the drained pigeon peas, Italian seasoning or oregano, bay leaves, and water/broth. Add the cilantro and/or olives, if using. Allow the liquid to come up to a boil, and taste it for salt. If it needs more saltiness, add in another chicken bouillon cube. You want this liquid to be highly seasoned, as it will determine the final seasoning of the rice.
- Once the mixture is boiling, add the rice. Stir the rice to get it submerged and distribute the pigeon peas throughout.
- Cover and allow the rice to absorb all the visible liquid. Once most of the visible surface liquid is absorbed, stir the rice, and cover again. Lower the flame to low, and allow it to steam for 20-25 minutes. It’s done with all the liquid is absorbed and the grains are fluffy and fully cooked.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!