Arroz Con Axiote Food

YELLOW RICE - ARROZ AMARILLO CON ACHIOTE

Steps:

• Infusing Annatto Oil:.
• Heat the seeds and oil in a small saucepan over low heat, swirling pan frequently, until the oil turns bright red-orange in color. Simmer for 1 to 2 minutes and then remove from heat. Let it cool for about 10 minutes and then strain the oil. Discard the seeds.
• Reheat annatto oil and butter in a skillet. Saute the onions, celery and garlic with salt, pepper and cumin to taste until soft. Add the bell peppers and cook for another 2-3 minutes until the peppers are lightly cooked.
• Next add the rice and stir into the mixture.
• Saute it until the rice turns opaque.
• Add the stock or water and cook covered for about 15 minutes in medium heat until cooked.
• Garnish with cilantro, lime slices and Pimentos.

PIGEON PEA RICE: ARROZ CON GANDULES

Steps:

• Place a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the oil and bacon. Fry, stirring, until the bacon is crisp. Add the onion and cilantro. Continue to cook for 5 minutes until the onion is soft. Add the rice, tomatoes, oregano, cumin, salt, achiote, and pigeon peas. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes until the rice is opaque. Stir in the tomato paste and water and bring to boil. When all the water is absorbed, cover tightly and reduce the heat to low. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes until tender. Serve on a decorative platter and garnish with cilantro.

ARROZ CON POLLO A LA TICA

Steps:

• Cook carrot and green beans in salted water until tender, drain and set aside.
• In a wok-type pan, saute onion and red pepper in 2 tbsp olive oil until pepper is tender and onion is translucent. Set aside in small bowl.
• Heat remaining 3 tbsp oil in the wok until hot, then add the cooked rice, stir-frying for several minutes.
• Add the onion/pepper mixture and mix well to incorporate.
• Add the Lizano sauce, soy sauce and achiote powder. Mix well to incorporate.
• Add chicken and mix well to incorporate.
• Add salt and pepper to taste then remove from heat.
• Add cilantro and parsley.
• To serve in a typical manner, fill a serving-sized bowl with the Arroz con Pollo, tamp down, then unmold it onto the dinner plate. Served with a side salad and fried plantains. Here in Costa Rica, it would be served with french fries - a carbohydrate overload!

ARROZ AMARILLO

Steps:

• For the achiote oil: Heat the oil and achiote seeds in a saute pan over low heat for 5 minutes. Strain the oil and let cool. Set aside 3 tablespoons for the refrito, and reserve the remaining oil for another use.
• For the refrito: Place the peppers, tomatoes, cilantro and onions in a food processor and pulse until blended. Add in 3 tablespoons of the achiote oil and season the mixture with salt and black pepper. Stir everything together and chill until needed. Set aside 1/2 cup for the arroz amarillo, and then reserve the rest for another use.
• For the arroz: Heat the oil in a pot over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup refrito, achiote powder and turmeric and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the rice until evenly coated with the refrito mixture. Stir in the hot chicken stock and bring to a boil. Boil for about 10 minutes, and then reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the pot, and continue to cook the rice for 20 minutes. Chill the rice before serving.

ARROZ CON POLLO

Steps:

• Place 1/2 cup of olive oil in small pan and add the achiote. Heat on medium heat until bubbles form, then remove from heat and let steep. Drain achiote seeds from oil (should be a vibrant reddish-orange color). Place oil in large stockpot. Heat oil on high and place chicken pieces in pot and brown - this is done just to brown chicken NOT to cook it. Remove chicken from pot Place diced onions, garlic, and peppers in pot with the achiote. Saute until soft (do not burn garlic). Put capers in pot and cook for a while with the onion mixture. Add rice to the pot with garlic, peppers, garlic and capers, then swirl rice into the mixture. Let the rice cook for just about a minute. Place cut up cilantro and basil in pot. Add in chicken broth and make sure you scrape the pot. Add chicken pieces back in. Put olives in and mix. Place bay leaves in pot. Check for seasonings (Please note: add salt and pepper at the end). Let the mixture cook on medium heat until the rice is done. Add peas just before serving.
• In another medium pot place peeled asparagus in water and boil until they turn bright green. Place in ice bath to stop the cooking process.
• To serve, place rice and chicken in a large platter. Arrange chicken pieces around platter and rice in the center. Place cooked asparagus around the platter and then place pimentos in the center.
• Serve with tostones (recipe follows).
• Peel plantains and cut at an angle. Place in cold water with salt. In a large frying pan put in 1/2 cup oil (preferably peanut oil ). Place plantains in pan and cook until somewhat soft (they will turn a lovely pale yellow color). Take them out of the pan and smash each one between 2 pieces of foil (folded 2 or 3 times to make a thick pad - place 2 paper towels on top of foil so that you don't burn yourself). Return to frying pan (you may have to add more oil). Fry until crisp and then season with salt. Serve with rice and chicken - or just about anything!

CHICKEN WITH RICE (ARROZ CON POLLO)

Steps:

• In a paella pan or wide, shallow pan with a tight-fitting lid, heat the Achiote Oil over medium-high heat until the oil is rippling. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and add as many pieces skin side down to the pan as fit without touching. Cook, turning as necessary, until well browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Remove the pieces as they are done and set aside. Adjust the heat under the pan, especially after you start removing chicken, so the chicken browns without the oil darkening.
• When all the chicken is removed from the pan, add the Sofrito and alcaparrado. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Raise the heat to high and boil until most of the water is evaporated from the Sofrito. Add the cumin and cloves.
• Stir in the rice until coated with oil. Return the chicken to the pan, pour in enough broth to cover the rice by the width of 2 fingers (about 1-inch), and bring to a boil. Cook over high heat until the level of liquid reaches the rice. Stir gently and reduce the heat to low. Cover the pan and cook until the liquid is absorbed, the chicken is cooked through, and the rice is tender but firm, about 20 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork. The arroz con pollo can be brought to the table right in the pan or transferred to a large serving platter. Either way, garnish with the red pepper before serving.
• Heat the oil and annatto seeds in a small skillet over medium heat just until the seeds give off a lively, steady sizzle. Don't overheat the mixture or the seeds will turn black and the oil will turn a nasty green. Once they're sizzling, remove the pan from the heat and let stand until the sizzling stops. Strain and reserve in a jar with a tight-fitting lid at room temperature for up to 4 days.
• Chop the onion and Cubanelle or Italian peppers in the work bowl of a food processor until coarsely chopped. With the motor running, add the remaining ingredients 1 at a time and process until smooth. The sofrito will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It also freezes beautifully.

ARROZ MAMPOSTEAO

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium high. Add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions begin to soften, about 1 minute 30 seconds. Add the sofrito, tomato sauce, tomato paste and sazón and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly brown, about 2 minutes. Stir in the plantains, then the beans with their liquid and 1/2 cup water. Season to taste with salt and pepper, reduce the heat to medium low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the flavors meld, about 10 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to low, add the rice and cook, stirring continuously, until combined and the flavors meld, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and fold in the cilantro.

PUERTORICAN ARROZ CON POLLO (RICE WITH CHICKEN)

Steps:

• In a 5 qt pot, heat olive oil and sofrito.
• Add chicken, cook until light golden.
• Add water, sazon, adobo, chicken bouillon, tomato paste and cilantro.
• Cover and cook until chicken is done.
• When chicken is done, remove from pot and set aside.
• Add rice to same water you cooked chicken inches
• Cook rice as normal.
• When done, add chicken and cover. Leave for about 10 minutes.
• garnish with cilantro leaves. You can also add roasted bell peppers for garnish.

ARROZ CON POLLO AL ACHIOTE

Steps:

• Mezcla la mayonesa con la pasta de achiote. Agrega la mitad al pollo en un tazón grande; revuélvelo para recubrirlo bien.
• Cocina el pollo, dándole vuelta de vez en cuando, en una sartén honda grande o en una olla pesada tipo Dutch Oven a fuego medio-alto durante 5 min. o hasta que se dore de forma pareja. Retíralo de la sartén; deshazte de la grasa. Tapa el pollo para mantenerlo caliente.
• Agrega a la sartén el arroz, la cebolla, el pimiento, el ajo y el resto de la mezcla de mayonesa; cocínalos a fuego medio-bajo 3 min. mientras los revuelves constantemente. Agrega el agua y el caldo; revuélvelos. Pon el pollo por encima. Hazlos hervir; pon la tapa. Mantén un hervor suave de 22 a 25 min. o hasta que el pollo esté cocido (165ºF) y se absorba el líquido.
• Pon las aceitunas y el cilantro por encima.