Puerto Rican Rice Recipe: Best, Authentic Flavor

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Puerto Rican rice is a flavorful, vibrant dish that brings a taste of the Caribbean to your table.

This popular recipe combines fluffy rice with pigeon peas, sofrito, and sazon for a deliciously savory side or main course. Whether you’re cooking for a family dinner or a festive gathering, this dish is sure to impress.

A large pot simmers on a stovetop, filled with fragrant sofrito, rice, and savory seasonings. Steam rises as the rice cooks to perfection

One of my favorite things about Puerto Rican rice is its versatility. You can customize it with different ingredients like vegetables, beans, or meat to fit your taste.

Plus, the aromatic sofrito and sazon blend enhance the rice with an irresistible aroma and flavor that everyone will love.

Ready to try making this delicious dish yourself? Follow my easy steps, and you’ll have a pot of perfectly cooked Puerto Rican rice in no time. Check out the simple recipe and discover how adding this colorful and tasty dish to your meal rotation can brighten any day.

Key Takeaways

  • Puerto Rican rice is a versatile, flavorful dish.
  • Follow the recipe to combine rice, sofrito, and sazon.
  • Customize with vegetables, beans, or meat.

Ingredients List

In making Puerto Rican Rice, it is important to gather both primary ingredients and essential spices to capture the dish’s authentic flavor. Here, I will also mention a few optional add-ins that can enhance the taste and bring in extra layers of complexity.

Primary Ingredients

  1. Rice: I prefer using medium grain rice for its texture, but you can also use Basmati or Jasmine rice if you like.
  2. Water: Water is essential for cooking the rice, ensuring it’s fluffy and perfectly cooked.
  3. Pigeon Peas (Gandules): These add a distinct flavor and are a key component. If unavailable, use green peas or beans.
  4. Sofrito: This is a blend of onions, garlic, peppers, and cilantro, providing a robust base for the rice. Store-bought or homemade will work.
  5. Tomato Sauce: A small amount adds depth and richness to the dish.
  6. Oil: Olive oil or vegetable oil is used for sautéing ingredients.

Spices and Seasonings

  1. Sofrito Seasoning: In addition to sofrito, I often add fresh cilantro, culantro, and recao for added freshness.
  2. Sazón Seasoning: This spice blend often contains ground cumin, dried oregano, and ground annatto for color.
  3. Adobo Seasoning: A mix of garlic powder, ground cumin, and other spices that provide a savory kick.
  4. Salt and Pepper: Essential for balancing flavors. Add to taste.
  5. Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves provide pungent and aromatic qualities.
  6. Cilantro: Fresh cilantro adds a bright, citrusy note.
  7. Olives: Spanish or pimento-stuffed green olives add a bit of briny tanginess.
  8. Bay Leaves: These are great for adding a subtle earthy flavor.

Optional Add-Ins

  1. Pork or Ham: Diced ham or salted pork adds a savory depth. Bacon can also be used for a smoky flavor.
  2. Chicken Broth: Replacing water with chicken broth enhances the richness.
  3. Capers: These provide small bursts of salty flavor.
  4. Tomatoes and Peppers: Freshly chopped for extra texture and color.
  5. Bay Leaves: These can enhance the aroma.
  6. Annatto Seeds: Used to make Achiote oil, for imparting a beautiful yellow hue to the rice.
  7. Vegetable Broth: A vegetarian-friendly option that replaces chicken broth.

These ingredients blend beautifully to create a flavorful, vibrant Puerto Rican rice dish that delights every palate.

Cooking Instructions

A pot simmers on a stovetop with rice, water, sofrito, and seasoning. A wooden spoon stirs the mixture as it cooks. Onions, peppers, and herbs are nearby

To cook Puerto Rican rice perfectly, follow these steps to prepare the ingredients, cook with precision, and add those final touches that make the dish truly special.

Preparation of Ingredients

First, gather all necessary ingredients. You will need long grain rice, sofrito, pigeon peas (gandules), bay leaf, and various spices.

Start with 2 cups of rice and rinse it well in cold water to remove excess starch.

For the sofrito, you can either make it fresh by blending peppers, onions, garlic, and cilantro, or use store-bought. Heat oil in a caldero, which is the traditional pot used in Puerto Rican cooking.

Next, have your spices ready: 1 teaspoon each of turmeric and cumin, and a pinch of salt. Also, dice some Vienna sausages if you wish to add meat.

Prep any additional vegetables like bell peppers and onions, which you will sauté to deepen the flavor of the dish.

Cooking Process

Start by heating oil in the caldero over medium heat. Add the sofrito and sauté until it’s aromatic, then add bell peppers and onions. Cook until these vegetables are softened.

Mix in the spices—turmeric, cumin, and salt. Once the mixture is fragrant, pour in about 4 cups of water and bring it to a boil. Add the pigeon peas and stir them in.

Add the rinsed rice, ensuring it’s fully submerged.

Then, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it cook for about 25-30 minutes. It’s important to resist the urge to stir the rice too much. You want it to remain fluffy and not mushy.

Monitor the water level, and when it’s almost absorbed, reduce the heat to a very low simmer and cover the pot tightly. If using meats like Vienna sausages, add them now, so they cook through evenly.

Finishing Touches

Once the rice is cooked, fluff it gently with a fork. Be careful not to break the grains. If you wish, you can garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley for an extra burst of freshness.

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container and kept in the freezer for up to a month. Simply reheat in a microwave or on the stove with a bit of water.

For a complete Puerto Rican meal, serve your rice alongside carne guisada or tostones. This rice also pairs well with dishes like arroz con pollo, habichuelas guisadas, or potato salad. Whether it’s for Christmas, a family dinner, or just because, this recipe fits any occasion.

Puerto Rican Rice Recipe
Print

Puerto Rican Rice Recipe

Recipe by thisrecipelifeCourse: DinnerCuisine: Puerto RicanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

30

minutes

This traditional dish is full of rich flavors and easy to prepare.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups long-grain rice

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped

  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped

  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped

  • 3 garlic cloves, minced

  • 1/2 cup tomato sauce

  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1 packet Sazón seasoning with achiote

  • 4 cups chicken broth

  • 1/2 cup green olives, sliced

  • 1/4 cup capers

  • 1/2 cup frozen peas

  • Salt and pepper to taste

  • Fresh cilantro for garnish

Directions

  • Prepare the Rice:
  • Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Drain well and set aside.
  • Sauté the Vegetables:
  • In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, green bell pepper, and red bell pepper. Sauté until the vegetables are soft, about 5-7 minutes.
  • Add the minced garlic and sauté for another 1-2 minutes, until fragrant.
  • Cook the Rice:
  • Stir in the tomato sauce, ground cumin, dried oregano, and Sazón seasoning. Cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
  • Add the rinsed rice to the pot and stir to coat the grains with the seasoned vegetable mixture.
  • Pour in the chicken broth, bringing the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.
  • Add Final Ingredients:
  • Stir in the sliced green olives, capers, and frozen peas. Cook for an additional 5 minutes, or until the peas are heated through.
  • Serve:
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve hot.

Frequently Asked Questions

A steaming pot of Puerto Rican rice sits on a colorful tablecloth, surrounded by vibrant ingredients like sofrito, pigeon peas, and sazón seasoning

Puerto Rican rice dishes come with their unique flavors and traditional ingredients. Here’s a breakdown of some common questions.

What ingredients are needed for a traditional Puerto Rican rice dish?

You typically need rice, sofrito (a blend of peppers, garlic, onions, and cilantro), tomato sauce, pigeon peas (gandules), pork, and a variety of seasonings like sazón and adobo. Some recipes call for olives or capers for extra flavor.

How do you make a simple Puerto Rican rice?

Start by heating oil in a pot. Add sofrito and sauté until fragrant. Mix in rice, sazón, and tomato sauce. Add water and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover, and cook until the rice is tender. For exact details, refer to this easy recipe.

What meats are commonly used in Puerto Rican rice dishes?

Common meats include pork, chicken, and ham. Pork shoulder or salted pork is often used. Sometimes seafood like shrimp is added to enhance the flavor.

Can you include olives in Puerto Rican rice, and if so, how?

Yes, olives are a common addition. Simply add them along with the other ingredients before you start cooking the rice. They add a tangy flavor. For specifics, check out this Puerto Rican rice recipe.

How do you prepare Puerto Rican rice and beans with pork?

Start by cooking the pork in a pot until it’s browned. Add sofrito, beans, rice, and seasonings. Pour in water and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover, and simmer until the rice is fully cooked.

What’s the difference between Mexican rice and Puerto Rican rice?

Mexican rice often uses tomatoes, onions, and peppers for a reddish color and milder flavor.

Puerto Rican rice, on the other hand, uses sofrito, sazón, and sometimes tomato sauce. This gives it a more robust and seasoned taste.