Arroz con Pollo Costarricense
A flavorful and comforting one-pot dish featuring tender chicken and rice simmered with aromatic vegetables and seasoned with traditional Costa Rican spices. It's a staple at family gatherings and celebrations.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1.5 lb Chicken thighs(bone-in, skin-on)
- 2 tbsp Vegetable oil
- 1 medium Yellow onion(chopped)
- 1 medium Red bell pepper(chopped)
- 2 medium Celery stalks(chopped)
- 4 cloves Garlic cloves(minced)
- 2 cups Long-grain white rice
- 4 cups Chicken broth
- 1 tbsp Achiote paste(or annatto powder)
- 2 tbsp Salsa Lizano(optional, for authentic flavor)
- 1 tsp Salt(or to taste)
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper(freshly ground, or to taste)
- 0.5 cup Fresh cilantro(chopped, plus more for garnish)
- 1 cup Frozen peas(optional)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion, red bell pepper, and celery. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
💡 Tip: This mixture of sautéed vegetables is called 'sofrito' and forms the flavor base of the dish. - 2
Add the long-grain white rice to the pot and stir to coat with the sofrito. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the rice is lightly toasted.
⏱️ 2 minutes - 3
Pour in the chicken broth, achiote paste, and Salsa Lizano (if using). Stir well to combine and dissolve the achiote paste. Season with salt and pepper.
💡 Tip: Achiote paste gives the dish its characteristic yellow-orange color. - 4
Add the bone-in chicken thighs to the pot, nestling them into the rice mixture. Ensure the chicken is mostly submerged in the liquid.
- 5
Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot tightly, and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the rice is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Avoid stirring too much to prevent mushy rice.
⏱️ 25 minutes💡 Tip: Check the rice halfway through cooking and add a little more broth or water if it seems too dry. - 6
If using frozen peas, stir them in during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 7
Once the rice is cooked and the liquid is absorbed, remove the pot from the heat. Let it rest, covered, for 5-10 minutes. Fluff the rice gently with a fork. Remove the chicken thighs, shred the meat, and return it to the pot, or serve the shredded chicken on top of the rice.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 8
Stir in the chopped fresh cilantro. Serve hot, garnished with extra cilantro.
💡 Tip: Traditionally served with a side of refried beans and potato chips.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a richer flavor, you can cook the chicken separately first, reserve the broth, shred the chicken, and then add it back to the rice.
- ✓Salsa Lizano is a popular Costa Rican condiment that adds a unique savory flavor. If you can't find it, you can omit it or use a dash of Worcestershire sauce.
- ✓Don't overmix the rice once it's cooking, as this can make it sticky.
🔄 Variations
- Add other vegetables like shredded carrots or corn kernels.
- Use boneless, skinless chicken breast for a quicker cooking time.
- For a spicier dish, add a finely chopped jalapeño pepper with the sofrito.