Directions: |
Directions:Make the spice blend and season the meat (Can be done a day ahead)
1. In a small bowl, combine the adobo, sazón, onion powder, granulated garlic, oregano, and black pepper. Stir together to combine well.
2. In a mixing bowl, sprinkle 1 teaspoon of the spice blend onto the chunks of pork. Toss to coat the meat in the spice blend and allow the seasoning to penetrate the meat for 30 minutes to 24 hours. Reserve the remaining spice blend for seasoning the rice.
Prepare the Arroz con Gandules
1. Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a 4 or 5 qt caldero (or heavy bottom dutch oven). When the oil begins to shimmer, add the seasoned pork chunks to the pot. Quickly brown the pork stirring frequently with a large spoon. Cook the pork for 3-4 minutes, or just until it begins to grow dark.
2. Stir the rinsed rice into the pot with the meat and sauté the grains of rice in the fat
rendered from the pork and the olive oil for about 3 minutes.
Toss, then toasting the grains in the fat for 3-4 minutes over medium-high heat, or until the grains of rice look glossy.
3. Add the sofrito to the mix. Sauté the sofrito for 2 minutes at the same temperature. (If you're using frozen sofrito, don't worry if it's not thawed completely at the end of this cooking time, it will continue to thaw as the rice cooks)
4. If the rice is beginning to stick or burn on the bottom of the pan, lower the heat to
medium. Add the tomato sauce and the remaining spice blend to the pot. Stir to make sure the rice in the spices and tomato sauce completely.
5. Add the water and the reserved liquid from the can of gandules, followed by the olives,
capers, and chicken base. Stir everything well to incorporate it into the rice mixture.
Finally, stir in the drained gandules and bring the water in the pot up to a boil.
Boil, then Steam the Rice
1. Allow the water boil until the surface of the rice peeks through: this can take anywhere from 8-10 minutes over medium to medium-high heat.
Once the water has evaporated and the top layer of rice peeks through the bubbling liquid, fold the rice from the outside of the pot to the center- all around the pot.
2. Spread the rice back into an even layer in the pot and reduce the cooking heat to low. Lay a square piece of aluminum foil, wide enough to overlap the sides- over the pot. Press the lid of the pot firmly onto the foil, sandwiching it between the pot and the lid, to create a tight seal which steams the rice more effectively.
3. Steam the rice for 20 minutes over low heat. Don't lift the lid until the 20 minutes of
cooking time is finished. After 20 minutes, fold the rice from the outside to the inside of the pot once again. Give it a little taste. The rice should be soft and tender.
4. If the rice is still hard after 20 minutes of steaming, pour in 1/4 cup of water and seal it again with the lid and foil. Steam for an additional 10 minutes over low heat.
If, on the other hand, the rice is mushy and clumps together, continue to cook it, uncovered, for another 10 minutes to dry it out a bit.
5. Once the rice is cooked, replace the lid, turn off the burner, and leave the pot to sit on the warm burner until ready to serve it.
When you're ready to serve, scoop the rice and dish it out. Serve as an entree with a side salad or as a side dish. |
This recipe for Arroz con gandules is from