Caribbean rice with chicken (arroz con pollo)

6 Servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
SEASONING MIX--- -- grind in
Mortar
2Peppercorns
2Cloves garlic -- peeled
1teaspoonOregano
teaspoonSalt
2teaspoonsOlive oil
1teaspoonVinegar -- or fresh lime
Juice
1tablespoonVegetable oil
1ounceSalt pork -- washed and
Diced
2ouncesCured ham -- diced
1Onion -- chopped
1Green pepper -- seeded and
Chopped
3Sweet chile peppers --
Seeded and chopped
1Tomato -- chopped
6Fresh cilantro leaves
½teaspoonSalt
10Olives -- pimiento stuffed
1tablespoonCapers
¼cupTomato sauce
½teaspoonSaffron
3cupsRice
1canGreen peas
Chicken broth
1canPimientos

Directions

I love Puerto Rican Food!... It's usually simple, yet rich with lots of cilantro and garlic!!. Enclosed are examples of 4 dishes that can be simplified to taste. I always add mucho mas cilantro, peppers and garlic with fresh ingredients (I never used canned foods).

I prefer to also add a pinch of red chili powder just to make it interesting (not a traditional ingredient in Puerto Rican food).

Wash chicken pieces, dry and rub with Seasoning Mix. Set in refrigerator for several hours or overnight.

In heavy kettle, brown pork and ham in oil. Reduce to moderate heat, add chicken pieces, and cook for 5 minutes.

Reduce heat to low, add onion, peppers, tomato, and cilantro, and saute for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile, drain liquid from can of peas into a measuring cup and add enough water or chicken broth to measure 2½ cups if regular rice is used, or 3 ½ cups if long grain rise is used. Reserve peas.

Add to kettle salt, olives, capers, tomato sauce, saffron, and rice, and mix over moderate heat for 2 minutes.

Add reserved liquid to kettle, mix well, and cook, uncovered over moderate heat until rice is dry.

With a fork, turn rice from bottom to top.

Cover kettle and cook over low heat for 40 minutes. Halfway during this cooking period, turn rice over again.

Add peas, mix rice once more, cover, and cook for 15 minutes over low heat.

Garnish rice with pimientos.

Tammie K Nakamura <nakamurt@...> Recipe By : From Puerto Rican Cookery ISBN 0-88289-411-0 From: Western Mexican Cookbook