Arroz con Gandules (Puerto Rican Rice & Beans)
Arroz con Gandules (Puerto Rican Rice & Beans)
Ingredients
For the Arroz con Gandules
- 2 tablespoons achiote oil
- 2 tablespoons sofrito
- 1/2 cup onions, diced
- 1/2 cup peppers, diced
- 1/4 cup ham, diced (optional)
- 1 tablespoon garlic paste
- 1 tablespoon chicken or vegetable bouillon
- 1 teaspoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon sazón, (e.g., Healthy Rican or Loisa)
- 1 teaspoon adobo, (e.g., Healthy Rican or Loisa)
- 3 cups water or broth
- 5-6 Spanish olives, optional
- 15 ounces gandules, (pigeon peas), drained and rinsed
- 3 cups jasmine or white rice, rinsed thoroughly
- 3 green bananas, peeled and sliced (optional)
- 1 banana or plantain leaf, optional, for covering
Instructions
- 1
Heat the achiote oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
⏱️ 1 min
- 2
Add the sofrito, diced onions, diced peppers, and optional diced ham to the pot. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and fragrant.
⏱️ 7 min
- 3
Stir in the garlic paste, bouillon, tomato paste, sazón, and adobo. Cook for another 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, to toast the spices and deepen the flavors.
⏱️ 2 min
- 4
Pour in the water or broth, add the drained and rinsed gandules (pigeon peas), and optional Spanish olives. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
⏱️ 5 min
- 5
Add the thoroughly rinsed rice to the simmering liquid. Stir gently to combine, ensuring the rice is evenly distributed. If using, add the sliced green bananas now.
⏱️ 2 min
- 6
Once the liquid returns to a simmer, reduce the heat to low. If using, place the banana or plantain leaf directly over the rice, then cover the pot tightly with a lid.
⏱️ 1 min
- 7
Cook undisturbed for 25-30 minutes, or until all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Do not lift the lid during this time.
⏱️ 30 min
- 8
Once cooked, remove the pot from the heat and let it rest, still covered, for 5-10 minutes. This allows the rice to steam further and become fluffy.
⏱️ 5 min
- 9
Remove the banana leaf (if used) and fluff the rice gently with a fork before serving. Serve hot.
⏱️ 2 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Arroz con Gandules (Puerto Rican Rice & Beans)
Ingredients
For the Arroz con Gandules
- 2 tablespoons achiote oil
- 2 tablespoons sofrito
- 1/2 cup onions, diced
- 1/2 cup peppers, diced
- 1/4 cup ham, diced (optional)
- 1 tablespoon garlic paste
- 1 tablespoon chicken or vegetable bouillon
- 1 teaspoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon sazón, (e.g., Healthy Rican or Loisa)
- 1 teaspoon adobo, (e.g., Healthy Rican or Loisa)
- 3 cups water or broth
- 5-6 Spanish olives, optional
- 15 ounces gandules, (pigeon peas), drained and rinsed
- 3 cups jasmine or white rice, rinsed thoroughly
- 3 green bananas, peeled and sliced (optional)
- 1 banana or plantain leaf, optional, for covering
Instructions
- 1
Heat the achiote oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
⏱️ 1 min - 2
Add the sofrito, diced onions, diced peppers, and optional diced ham to the pot. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and fragrant.
⏱️ 7 min - 3
Stir in the garlic paste, bouillon, tomato paste, sazón, and adobo. Cook for another 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, to toast the spices and deepen the flavors.
⏱️ 2 min - 4
Pour in the water or broth, add the drained and rinsed gandules (pigeon peas), and optional Spanish olives. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
⏱️ 5 min - 5
Add the thoroughly rinsed rice to the simmering liquid. Stir gently to combine, ensuring the rice is evenly distributed. If using, add the sliced green bananas now.
⏱️ 2 min - 6
Once the liquid returns to a simmer, reduce the heat to low. If using, place the banana or plantain leaf directly over the rice, then cover the pot tightly with a lid.
⏱️ 1 min - 7
Cook undisturbed for 25-30 minutes, or until all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Do not lift the lid during this time.
⏱️ 30 min - 8
Once cooked, remove the pot from the heat and let it rest, still covered, for 5-10 minutes. This allows the rice to steam further and become fluffy.
⏱️ 5 min - 9
Remove the banana leaf (if used) and fluff the rice gently with a fork before serving. Serve hot.
⏱️ 2 min