Puerto Rican Party Rice Food

ARROZ CON GANDULES (PUERTO RICAN RICE)

Steps:

• Rinse rice well in water and set aside.
• In a medium caldero or large pot (about 6 quarts or so), heat oil and sauté sofrito until softened. Add tomato sauce and simmer for 2 minutes.
• Stir in gandules, alcaparrado, all of the spices and 4 cups of water. Taste and readjust seasonings, adding additional salt 1 teaspoon at a time. Broth should be heavily seasoned and on the salty side.
• Bring to a rapid boil, then add rice and stir. You may need to add more water to ensure rice is covered by 1 inch of water. Reduce heat to a soft boil and let most of the liquid absorb and evaporate, stirring occasionally, very gently, so rice does not turn gummy.
• Carefully mound rice towards center of pot, top with foil and cover with lid. Reduce heat to simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Stir by folding rice from the bottom up, but do not disturb bottom of pan. Cook for another 20-30 minutes, testing after 20 to see if rice is tender and cooked through.

PUERTO RICAN WHITE RICE

Steps:

• Stir rice and water into a medium pot with lid. Bring to a boil.
• Add salt and oil. Keep mixture at a gentle boil until rice is dry (it will not be tender). Use a mixing spoon to form a heap with the rice in the center of the pot.
• Cover and reduce heat to medium-low.
• Remove lid every 5 minutes to stir and sample rice. Rice will form a crust on the bottom of the pot if not stirred often.
• When rice is steamed to your liking, stir one last time to fluff; serve.

"PUERTO RICAN STYLE" FRIED RICE

Steps:

• ***NOTES***.
• Have all of the ingredients ready to add to your pan before you start.
• For the annato oil, in a small saucepan, heat 1/4 Cup of oil or lard over low heat until it is hot. Add 3 Tbls. of Annato Seeds, and stir, for one minute. Let this cool, stirring occasionally, while you gather your ingredients. Strain when it is cool.
• Preheat a non-stick pan or wok, over high heat for one minute.
• Add to your pan the Annato oil, heat for 30 seconds.
• Add the pork, and toss this in the hot oil for 30-45 seconds.
• Add the pigeon peas, the olives, and the peppers, toss for 45 seconds - 1 minute.
• Add the rice, garlic, Adobo, and the black pepper.Toss and mix, coating all of the rice w/the oil, and breaking up any clumps of rice. Continue tossing it until it is heated through.
• Plate it up, and garnish with a fresh sprig of Cilantro.
• This rice is very hearty, and if you want to make this a meal, just add some extra pork, fry up a few tostones, and get a tub of potato salad from the Deli!

AUTHENTIC PUERTO RICAN RICE AND BEANS

Steps:

• Made by Goya brand and can be found in the Spanish/Latin section of your grocery store Cook white rice as instructions on package of rice say to (5 minute rice is perfectly fine).
• make sure when you are done cooking to let excess water out of rice.
• In saucepan, heat oil on low-medium heat and put in the ham, salted pork, or Canadian bacon.
• once it starts to sizzle, add the garlic powder and Adobo seasoning.
• Then add the Sofrito and Sazon con Azafran seasoning, stir.
• Next add red beans (drain most of liquid, just a little bit is needed to pull the sauce together).
• Mix and serve.
• (in Puerto Rico, it is traditional to serve rice and beans with almost every meal, but mainly with pork chops (cooked with a little sofrito and adobo seasoning) on the side).
• Enjoy (a wonderful recipe straight from the island).