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Jorge Ayala’s Arroz con Pollo

5.0

(1)

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 4

Ingredients

4 cups long-grain white rice
2 tablespoons granulated garlic
1 tablespoon granulated onion
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Juice of 2 limes
4 bone-in, skinless chicken drumsticks (about 1 pound)
4 bone-in, skinless chicken thighs (about 1 pound)
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons annatto seeds
1 small white onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 small green bell pepper, chopped
1 small red bell pepper, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons chopped fresh recao leaves
1/4 cup diced dried Spanish chorizo (about 2 ounces)
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/4 cup pimento-stuffed Spanish olives
3 bay leaves
5 cups homemade chicken stock (see page 220)
1 (12-ounce) bottle light beer

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Swish the rice in a bowl of cold water and drain; repeat until the water is clear. Set aside.

    Step 2

    Combine the granulated garlic, granulated onion, cumin, oregano, 1 1/2 tablespoons salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper in a small bowl. Rub about 3 tablespoons of this adobo mixture and the lime juice into the chicken pieces. Reserve the remaining adobo mixture.

    Step 3

    Heat the olive oil in a large, wide Dutch oven over low heat, and add the annatto seeds. Cook, stirring frequently, until the oil has turned orange, about 5 minutes. Be careful not to burn the seeds or the oil will be bitter. Strain, discarding the seeds.

    Step 4

    Return the oil to the pot. Raise the heat to medium and cook the chicken, in batches if necessary, until golden brown on both sides, about 8 minutes total. Remove to a platter.

    Step 5

    Add the onion, garlic, green and red bell peppers, cilantro, and recao to the pot and cook for another 5 minutes; season generously with salt to taste. Stir in the chorizo, tomato paste, olives, bay leaves, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and 3 tablespoons adobo mixture. Cook, stirring, for 1 to 2 minutes. Then return the chicken and any juices on the platter to the pot. Continue cooking, turning to coat the chicken in the sofrito-chorizo mixture, for 2 to 3 minutes.

    Step 6

    Stir in the rice. Then stir in the chicken stock and beer, raise the heat to medium-high, and bring to a boil. Boil, uncovered, until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, give the ingredients a stir, cover, and cook until the rice is tender and the chicken is cooked through, about 10 minutes. Remove the bay leaves.

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