Season 10 - Dinner / S10D09
Arroz Chaufa with Pernil (Puerto Rican-Peruvian Fried Rice)
Story
One quiet Sunday afternoon, Don Luis found himself staring at leftover pernil from the night before. That slow-roasted, juicy pork had too much soul to be forgotten in the fridge. Just then, his granddaughter ran into the kitchen, singing a song she learned in Spanish class—“Perú tiene arroz chaufa!” Don Luis’s eyes lit up like a stovetop on high heat! Y si los juntamos?” he said with a grin, tying his leather-accented jean apron tighter. A few dashes of sazón, a drizzle of soy sauce, and a sizzle of creativity later—Arroz Chaufa with Pernil was born. That night, three generations sat around the table, chopsticks in hand, taste buds dancing between Puerto Rico and Peru. 🌟
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked white rice (preferably day-old) 🍚
- 1½ cups chopped leftover pernil (Puerto Rican roast pork) 🐖
- 3 large eggs, lightly beaten 🥚
- 0.5 cup chopped green onions (plus more for garnish) 🌿
- 0.5 red bell pepper, finely diced ❤️
- 0.5 cup frozen peas 🟢
- 2 garlic cloves, minced 🧄
- 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce 🥢
- 1 tbsp sesame oil 🌰
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil or pork fat 🛢️
- Optional: a pinch of sazón or adobo for a Boricua twist 🇵🇷
- Lime wedges for serving 🍋
Instructions
- 1Heat 1 tbsp of oil or pork fat in a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped pernil and let it crisp up a little—about 3–4 minutes. Remove and set aside. 🔥
- 2Add another tbsp of oil to the pan. Pour in beaten eggs and scramble quickly. Once cooked, push to one side. 🍳
- 3Add garlic, red bell pepper, and peas. Stir-fry for 2 minutes until fragrant. 🌶️
- 4Add the cooked rice and stir everything together. Break up any rice clumps with a spatula. Toss in the pernil. 🍚🥢
- 5Add soy sauce and sesame oil. Mix well and stir-fry for 3–5 more minutes. 🌰
- 6Toss in green onions and optional sazón or adobo. Mix one last time. ✨
- 7Serve hot, garnished with more green onions and a wedge of lime on the side. 🍋
About the narrator
Don Luis · A character for three generations
Don Luis is the brand character and narrator for this catalog: a warm voice for Puerto Rican family recipes tested by the real creator behind the brand. The project carries three generations of flavor and writes each recipe step by step so any kid can follow it.
Read our mission →