Gourmet Arroz Con Pollo

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 3 tablespoons achiote seeds
• 1 -2 whole chicken, cut into parts or 5 boneless chicken breasts, cut into chunks
• 2 large onions, diced
• 10 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 green peppers, diced
• 1 red pepper, diced
• 1 yellow pepper, diced
• 1 jar capers
• 3 cups long grain brown rice or 3 cups long grain rice
• 1/2 bunch cilantro leaf, cut up (can substitute parsley)
• 6 basil leaves, cut into strips
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 jar green olives, pimento stuffed or 1 jar black olives
• 3 bay leaves
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 can baby peas
• pimiento
• fresh asparagus

Recipe

• 1 place 1/2 cup of olive oil in small pan and add the achiote.
• 2 heat on medium heat until bubbles form, then remove from heat and let steep.
• 3 drain achiote seeds from oil (should be a vibrant reddish-orange color).
• 4 place oil in large stockpot.
• 5 heat oil on high and place chicken pieces in pot and brown; this is done just to brown chicken not to cook it.
• 6 remove chicken from pot.
• 7 place diced onions, garlic, and peppers in pot with the achiote.
• 8 saute until soft (do not burn garlic).
• 9 put capers in pot and cook for a while with the onion mixture.
• 10 add rice to the pot with garlic, peppers, garlic and capers, then swirl rice into the mixture.
• 11 let the rice cook for just about a minute.
• 12 place cut up cilantro (or parsley) and basil in pot.
• 13 add in chicken broth and make sure you scrape the pot.
• 14 add chicken pieces back in.
• 15 put olives in and mix.
• 16 place bay leaves in pot.
• 17 check for seasonings (please note: add salt and pepper at the end).
• 18 let the mixture cook on medium heat until the rice is done.
• 19 add peas just before serving.
• 20 in another medium pot place peeled asparagus in water and boil until they turn bright green.
• 21 place in ice bath to stop the cooking process.
• 22 to serve, place rice and chicken in a large platter.
• 23 arrange chicken pieces around platter and rice in the center.
• 24 place cooked asparagus around the platter and then place pimentos in the center.
• 25 enjoy!