by Elizabeth Morrison

Created on: March 14, 2009   Last Updated: March 16, 2009

This is a very soulful Spanish rice called "Arroz con Pollo", meaning Rice with Chicken. It is a complete meal in one! It consists of flavorful chicken, rice, onion, peppers, garlic, cilantro, Spanish olives, tomato sauce, chicken broth and is colored and flavored with true authentic seasonings.

This dish brings out the bold flavors of Spanish culture!

Ingredients:

1 lb. of boneless, skinless chicken thigh meat, diced

1/4 cup of vegetable oil

2 tablespoons of Achiote seeds for coloring (they are red and seed-like and can be found in a Hispanic foods store)

1 medium onion, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

1/2 cup of fresh cilantro, chopped

3 cloves of fresh garlic, minced

salt and pepper to taste

2 tablespoons of Pollo Asado seasoning (comes in a reddish-orange powder and can be found in a Hispanic foods store)

1 jar, or 8oz. of Spanish Manzanilla olives or pimientos

8 oz. can of tomato sauce

4 oz. can of tomato paste

4-6 cups of chicken broth

2 cups of jasmine rice (Do not use instant rice or quick-cooking rice)

1. in a small saucepan, combine 1/4 cup of oil and 2 tablespoons of Achiote seeds. heat on low for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Oil will turn a deep-red color. Remove from heat.

Note: you will only be using the colored oil, not the seeds. Be sure that you have a wire mesh strainer to strain seeds out.

2. In a large pot, combine chicken, diced onion, bell pepper, cilantro, garlic, salt, pepper and Pollo Asado seasoning. Using a wire mesh strainer, strain colored oil from small saucepan through strainer into the larger pot, being sure not to let any seeds get into food.

Saute these ingredients on med-high until chicken is fully cooked. Mixture will be a vibrant reddish-orange color.

3. Reduce heat to med-low and stir in spanish olives, tomato sauce and tomato paste. Next, stir in chicken broth and the rice.

4. Cover and simmer on med-low for 25-30 minutes or until rice is cooked through and is tender, stirring occasionally. For the last 5 minutes of cooking, remove lid, so that remaining moisture evaporates. Stir before serving. Enjoy!

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