Go Back
–+ servings
Vegan Arroz con Gandules in Pot
Olga

Vegan Arroz con Gandules

5 from 3 votes
Arroz con gandules – Puerto Rican rice with pigeon peas, cooked with sofrito, sazon, and adobo. This vegetarian version comes together in one pot and is perfect with tostones.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Puerto Rican
Calories: 98
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 can Pigeon Peas
  • 3 cups Rice
  • 3 tbsp Tomato Paste
  • 3 tsp Sazon
  • 1/2 tsp Adobo
  • 8 tbsp Recaito
  • 3 tbsp Coconut Oil
  • 5 Leaves Bay Leaves
  • 1/2 tsp Oregano
  • 1/8 tsp Salt
  • 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
  • 3 cups Low-Sodium Vegetable Broth
  • 10 whole Green Olives Optional
  • 1/2 bunch Cilantro Optional

Equipment

  • 1 Cast Iron Dutch Oven
  • 1 Spatula
  • 1 Fine Mesh Strainer

Method
 

  1. Rinse the rice – Use a fine mesh strainer and rinse the rice at least three times. The water won’t run completely clear, but this helps remove excess starch. Set aside.
    Rinsing Basmati Rice
  2. Sauté the sofrito – Heat a cast iron Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the coconut oil and sofrito, cooking for 2–3 minutes until slightly caramelized. Stir in the spices and tomato paste and cook for 4 minutes.
  3. Cook the gandules – Add the canned gandules with the liquid and green olives (optional). Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The gandules should absorb the sofrito mixture and stay slightly firm since they will continue cooking.
  4. Add the rice & broth – Stir in the rice until fully coated. Pour in the broth and lemon juice (optional) and cook on medium-high heat until the liquid evaporates. Lower the heat to very low, cover, and let cook for 25 minutes.
    Tip: Every stovetop is different. Use the burner with the lowest heat setting to prevent burning.
  5. Let it rest – After 25 minutes, turn off the heat but keep the lid on. Let the rice sit for 15–20 minutes before uncovering.
  6. Finish & serve – Mix in chopped cilantro (optional) before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 98kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 2gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 314mgPotassium: 112mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 292IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 1mg

Notes

A hint of lemon juice will brighten up the recipe. However, this is entirely optional. 

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!