Side DishMain Course

Arroz con Gandules (Puerto Rican Rice with Pigeon Peas)

Name: Arroz con Gandules (Puerto Rican Rice with Pigeon Peas)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: caribbean, puerto_rican
Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 pcs yellow onion diced; 0.5 pcs red bell pepper diced; 3 clove garlic minced; 0.5 cup tomato sauce; 425 g pigeon peas canned, drained and rinsed; 1 pcs bay leaf; 0.5 tsp dried oregano; 0.25 tsp cumin; 2 cup long grain white rice rinsed; 3 cup vegetable broth; 1 tsp salt; 0.5 tsp black pepper freshly ground; 0.25 cup cilantro fresh, chopped (optional)

Arroz con Gandules is a classic Puerto Rican rice dish featuring pigeon peas, sofrito, and aromatic spices. It's often served as a side dish for holidays and special occasions, but easy enough for any weeknight meal. This vegan version captures all the traditional flavors.

An original recipe by Forkin

Total time: 1 hr 5 min
Serves: 6
Difficulty: Medium
Per serving: 362 kcal

VeganVegetarianGluten-free

Mise en place

Ingredients

2 tbspolive oil
1 pcsyellow onion, diced
0.5 pcsred bell pepper, diced
3 clovegarlic, minced
0.5 cuptomato sauce
425 gpigeon peas, canned, drained and rinsed
1 pcsbay leaf
0.5 tspdried oregano
0.25 tspcumin
2 cuplong grain white rice, rinsed
3 cupvegetable broth
1 tspsalt
0.5 tspblack pepper, freshly ground

garnish

0.25 cupcilantro, fresh, chopped(optional)

Equipment

measuring cups · measuring spoons · large pot · dutch oven · knife · cutting board

The method

Step by step

1
Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
About 1 min
2
Add the yellow onion and red bell pepper to the pot and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
About 7 min
3
Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
About 1 min
4
Pour in the tomato sauce, pigeon peas, bay leaf, dried oregano, and cumin. Stir to combine.
About 1 min
5
Add the rinsed long grain white rice to the pot and stir to coat all the grains with the sauce.
About 1 min
Cook’s note: Rinsing the rice helps prevent it from becoming too sticky.
6
Pour in the vegetable broth, then add the salt and black pepper. Stir gently.
About 1 min
7
Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot tightly, and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender.
About 25 min
Cook’s note: Do not lift the lid during this time to allow the rice to steam properly.
8
Once cooked, remove the pot from the heat and let it rest, still covered, for 10 minutes.
About 10 min
Cook’s note: This resting period allows the rice to finish steaming and become fluffier.
9
Fluff the rice with a fork, remove the bay leaf, and garnish with fresh cilantro if desired before serving.
About 1 min

Per serving

Nutrition

70%Score

Calories: 361.6kcal
Protein: 9.8g
Carbs: 67.3g
Fat: 6.2g
Fibre: 4.8g
Sugar: 4.7g

Estimated from the recipe’s ingredient quantities. Values can vary with brands and substitutions.

Keep it good

Storage

Store leftover Arroz con Gandules in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Reheating

Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop with a splash of water or broth until warmed through.