Arroz con Gandules with Roast Chicken

Ingredients

• For the Arroz con Gandules:
• 2 cups long-grain white rice 🍚
• 1 can (15 oz) gandules (pigeon peas), drained 🫘
• 2 tbsp olive oil 🫒
• 0.5 cup sofrito (cilantro, culantro, peppers, garlic, onion) 🌿
• 0.5 cup tomato sauce 🍅
• 0.5 tsp smoked paprika 🌶️
• 0.5 tsp ground cumin ✨
• 1 tsp sazón (with annatto) ✨
• 1 tsp adobo seasoning 🧂
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 0.5 cup green olives with pimientos (optional) 🫒
• 3 ½ cups chicken broth 🍲
• For the Roast Chicken:
• 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs 🍗
• 2 tbsp olive oil 🫒
• 1 tbsp white vinegar 🍶
• 2 cloves garlic, minced 🧄
• 1 tsp adobo seasoning 🧂
• 1 tsp sazón (with annatto) ✨
• 0.5 tsp oregano 🌿
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 0.5 tsp smoked paprika 🌶️
• For Garnish & Serving:
• Fresh cilantro, chopped 🌿
• Lime wedges 🍋
• Tostones or maduros 🍌

Instructions

1. 1Prepare the Chicken:
2. 21️⃣ Marinate the Chicken – In a bowl, mix olive oil, vinegar, garlic, adobo, sazón, oregano, black pepper, and paprika. Coat the chicken well and let marinate for at least 30 minutes (overnight for deeper flavor). 🍗✨
3. 32️⃣ Roast the Chicken – Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the chicken on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roast for 45-50 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. 🔥
4. 4Make the Arroz con Gandules:
5. 53️⃣ Sauté the Sofrito – In a caldero or heavy pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add sofrito and cook until fragrant (about 2 minutes). Stir in tomato sauce, paprika, cumin, sazón, adobo, and black pepper. 🍅🔥
6. 64️⃣ Simmer the Rice – Stir in the rice, gandules, olives (if using), and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Cook for 25 minutes, without stirring, until rice is tender. 🍚✨
7. 75️⃣ Fluff & Serve – Let the rice sit for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork. Garnish with fresh cilantro. 🌿🔥
8. 8Plate & Enjoy!
9. 96️⃣ Serve the crispy roast chicken over a generous portion of arroz con gandules. Garnish with lime wedges and tostones for the perfect Puerto Rican feast! 🍋🍗🍚