Puerto Rican Chicken & Rice (Arroz con Pollo)

Many of my friends enjoy when either my mom or myself have get togethers and they always seem to ask for the same thing Spanish rice. This rice comes in many styles and is served many ways, but there seems to be a favorite with my friends and family, and that is chicken with rice, arroz con pollo. Now this is probably one of the easiest dishes to cook and it is prepared in a single pot. These pots are usually made of heavy aluminum, but any heavy pot will do. First there are a certain list of ingredients that are required:

The base of all Puerto Rican foods is something called Sofrito, a mixture of peppers, onion, garlic, and several other Spanish herbs and spices, cant give away the family secrets.

The items can also be purchased at your small markets or one that has an isle for international foods. Look for the Goya sign.

You will need:

2 to 3 drum sticks
3 cups of rice
1 packet of Goya Sazon
1 can of tomato sauce
1 tablespoon of salt
olives
1/2 cup of oil
for every cup of rice you add one cup of water.(6)

You begin by adding the oil to the pot under low temp slowly you add all the other ingredients starting with the chicken to give it time to simmer. Lastly, you add the rice, water and stir. You cook this mixture on high until you get a rolling boil at which time you cover and bring the temperature down low. Wait about 15 minutes until the water is gone you may stir the first time. At this time you can sort of ball the rice up in the pot by going around and making the shape of a ball this ensures that the rice in all areas is getting properly cooked. You then cover and wait another 20 minutes. At this time the smell in your home should be calling your family to the kitchen to find out what this wonderful smell is. In about another 5 minutes dinner is served.

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