Vegetarian Arroz con Gandules: A Modern Take on Puerto Rican Rice and Beans
By theclevercat
Although more complicated than an ordinary white rice side dish, Puerto Rican arroz con gandules can be a meal in itself. It's an inexpensive, perfect mix of protein and carbohydrates with some veggies thrown in. Learning how to make this dish is rewarding, because cooking rice and beans is a gentle art.
Once you've mastered this recipe, it will become a go-to, fast, and filling meal. One thing is for sure -- your family and friends will be stuck on this recipe like white on rice!
If you are feeding a crowd, go ahead and double the recipe, but add about 1/4 cup extra rice. You want to be able to tell anyone who wants seconds (or thirds!), "Sure. There's more in the pot!"
Buy the Ingredients for Rice and Beans
 | Never run of rice when you get the 20-lb. bag! Amazon Price: $16.89 |
 | Achiote seeds - the redder, the better. Amazon Price: $10.30 |
 | I use the green gandules and my mom and sister use the brown ones. I prefer my way! ;^) Amazon Price: $29.39 |
 | Five pounds of olives will provide you with quite a few pots of rice and beans. Amazon Price: $22.99 |
Ingredients for Arroz Con Gandules
1/2 cup vegetable or olive oil
One medium onion, chopped or diced
One medium green pepper, chopped or diced
2 1/2 cups long-grain white rice
One small can (7.5-8 oz.) tomato sauce
One 13.5 oz. can gandules (pigeon peas)
2 cups water
1/4 cup salad olives, or more if you prefer (sliced green olives, with pimientos) and one tablespoon of the brine
Spices: 2 tbsp. granulated or three cloves fresh garlic, minced; 1/4 cup dry achiote seeds (annatto); 1 tsp. dried oregano; 1 tbsp. adobo; 2 tsp. black pepper; one packet of Sazón Goya con achiote (probably located in the ethnic food aisle of your supermarket)
Imitation bacon bits (one capful, or to taste)
Heat the oil in a large, heavy pot or caldera. Add the achiote seeds and heat for about three minutes over medium heat. The achiote will flavor and color the oil and this is what you will use to cook the sofrito (seasoned vegetable base).
As the oil warms the achiote seeds they will give off a slightly smoky smell and tiny bubbles will rise around them. Do not overheat as the seeds will turn black and the oil will taste bitter.
Heat the oil until it turns a warm orangey-red. Strain the oil with a tea strainer (reserve for future achiote use, or your tea will taste like this dish) or scoop out the achiote seeds with a spoon and discard.
Rest the spoon on a glass or ceramic plate; do not rest the spoon on the stove or counter as the achiote oil will stain.
Add the onion and green pepper. Saute until soft and translucent, about five minutes. Diced veggies will cook slightly faster and you will end up with fewer bits of vegetables showing in the final dish.
Add the adobo, black pepper, garlic, oregano, Sazón, and vegetarian bacon bits. Stir to coat with the oil, and cook over low to medium heat for another 3 or 4 minutes, stirring frequently. The veggies will turn a deeper orange and smell ever so slightly smoky.
Add the rice and fry, stirring occasionally, until the rice is slightly opaque. This will take about 4 minutes.
Add the water. It will sizzle! Add the canned goods: the tomato sauce, gandules, olives and pimientos, and brine. Stir several times, making sure nothing is stuck on the bottom.
Let it come to a boil. This is a simmer.
This is the right type of boil. Not a rolling boil for cooking pasta, but not a simmer either. See the size of the bubbles? They are about 1/2-3/4 inch in diameter.
Stir once more, very gently so as not to disrupt the boil.
And that's it! You're done. Put a lid on it and simmer 25 - 40 minutes or until the rice is dry. Do not lift the lid, or your rice will turn out gummier than it should, and you will be disappointed.
This part really depends on the flame level, amount of rice you are cooking, and type of pot you are using, so use a glass lid if you are concerned.
When ready, the rice will be fragrant and the beans will have risen to the top. Serve with a green salad and sliced avocado.
Please note: this picture at the top is of another batch of rice made in a different pot, with different lighting, on a different stove. (My family ate the original batch before I had remembered to take a photo!)
A Word About Pegado
And that word is YUM!
Pegado (pronounced pegao or pega'o) is the prized, crispy rice bits that stick to the pot, and it is fought over at the table. But making pegado takes practice, and is not scientific. After the first half hour or so, raise the heat ever so slightly and cook a little longer than necessary (try about 8 to 10 minutes). But keep your eye on it and don't walk away! You don't want the pegado to burn, because in addition to not tasting as good as it should, it will make cleanup really difficult.
Proper pegado requires scraping to get all those delicious bits. Don't use a fork (unless you want to scrape your pot); employ a plastic dough scraper instead.
The first time I managed to make pegado was a happy accident. I immediately took notes. (And I keep them in a safe place!) But if the charred bits of grilled foods and the end of the roast isn't really your thing, pegado probably isn't for you. So don't sweat it. The rice will be perfectly yummy without it.
Comments
What great step by step pictures. Thank you! I love knowing how a recipe is supposed to look along the way.
Thanks so much, Jason! If you think you like the way it looks, you will love the way it tastes. ;-) I appreciate the kind comment and your stopping by.
I really enjoy the look of this article, and I found that you've complemented the step by step instructions and pictures nicely with additional useful information about preparing Arroz con Gandules. I agree, this looks like a meal all its own.
Hi, KrisL! I make this every couple weeks, but I could eat it every day. :^) I hope you like it!
This looks so tasty - I'll definitely have to try it!
Doc Sonic, I hope you like it. It's delicious (if I do say so myself)! ;^) I don't eat pork so I revamped my grandmother's recipe and my dad loves it! It does taste different than the original, but not in a bad way. Please let me know if you meet with success.
This sounds reminiscent of a recipe my grandmother used to make, which I haven't had in many years. I'm going to try it. Thanks for the recipe.
Hi, Happyboomernurse and thanks so much! I'm loving HubPages and I have a great time figuring out my Hubs To Be. I'm so glad Bunny got me into it.
Let me know how the rice turns out. I hope you enjoy!
Came here after reading your sister, Brainybunnie's hub about the Hub Retreat you did together.
Welcome to Hub Pages and congratulations on earning the Hub of the Day Accolade so quickly. You're off to a great start.
This looks like a delicious dish that should be easy to make following your illustrated directions. Am bookmarking for future reference.
A, hahaha! I agree. :^)
They should have a button up there called "tasty"!
Thanks, Suzie! Enjoy, and please let me know if you like the flavor.
Sounds good! I bookmarked your hub to try out the recipe in the near future! Thanks for sharing! :)
Hey, tirelesstraveler and thanks! I pretty much DO live on rice and beans, all different types. I hope you try this recipe.
Yummy! I could live on beans and rice. Thanks for the new idea. Welcome to HubPages and congratulations on your nomination.
Thanks, Bail Up for the welcome and the compliment. Yes, I love adding Sazón since it gives that pretty pop. Try the rice with achiote... it's different and the veggies really look beautiful in there.
Thanks, urmilashukla23! Indian food is actually my favorite when I eat out and I have been trying to collect the spices but I must admit I often just buy the ready-to-eat packets and boil them! I can make basmati rice really well, though... I really do like rices, I guess. :^)
Looks delicious and healthy. Similar to our Indian rice and beans. Loved this recipe. Voted up!
What an excellent hub! Your writing and pictures to demonstrate the cooking process of arroz con gandules is right on. I have to say it I have never made it with achiote but do use the goya seasoning ready made packets that include the achiote. This dish really is as delicious as it sounds here. Congrats on the Hub of the Day and welcome, looking forward to enjoying more of your writing.
Peggy W, yup! These ethnic flavors brighten up ordinary rice in a way I love. I hope you try it. And thanks for the compliments!
techygran, thanks for the compliment and the up-vote. Photos can really make a hub.
ripplemaker, thanks!
Marturion, mmm! If you do try the recipe, please let me know how it works out.
This made me hungry for home!
Yummmy, I will have to bookmark this and try it out one of these days. :)
Congratulations on your Hubnuggets nomination. To all who would like to read and vote, join the Hubnuggets team and their adventures right here: http://enellelamb.hubpages.com/hub/HubNugget-Myste
Hello Clevercat.. this looks so delicious... it's late at night and I salivate as I look at your very nice photos. Congrats on the Hub of the Day award! voted up!
I love rice and beans and these extra ingredients (some of which I have never used) undoubtedly lend some extra flavor. Sounds good! Will have to go hunting in the ethnic aisle of the grocery store. Congrats on the Hubnugget nomination and also being selected as Hub of the Day. Well deserved!
CloudExplorer, thanks for the advice (and the compliment!) I am also concerned about the health risks involved with types of metal in calderas -- I actually don't use one myself. My family is convinced that my grandmother's Alzheimer's was caused by high levels of iron in the cheap pots available in PR back in the day. I actually use a double-bottomed 18/10 Lusterware pot and it cooks the rice like a dream.
BlissfulWriter, ananceleste, RTalloni, randomcreative, MeanGreen, John Sarkis, Vega y Vargas, iiimusicfreak27, Faceless39, and jakefranco, thank you! :^)
Jennifer Essary, what are some successful mixes? I'd love to know.
rob_allen, athena2011, Peter Allison, gmwilliams, creativelycc, and Cyndi10, I would love to know how it works out for you!
DougBerry, thanks for the shout out for the HubNugget nom. I had wondered how the HOTD and the HN noms happen, and now... well, I still don't know, since it all took place with no once telling me! Lol. So much for standing in awe... ;^)
This recipe looks great. I could smell it cooking as you took us through the steps. I love rice and pigeon peas and I can't wait to try this since some of the spices I'm unfamiliar with. Congrats on Hub of the Day and welcome.
Great hub,I love this rice dish, I make it quite often. I like the idea of adding bacon bits, I bet it makes the rice more delicious. I'll have add it to my rice the next time I make it. Thank you and welcome to hubpages!
Delicioso and looks kinda healthy too.
To clevercat: Now, THAT is what I call MUY DELICIOSO. On the days when I feel like cooking, I shall try this delectable recipe. Thank you very much!
Great Hub! I love the pix and the recipe looks delicious - I'm going to try it out this weekend!
Hey, congratulations on your HubNugget nomination. You can vote and view the other nominees in the Food and Cooking Topic here:
http://hubpages.com/topics/food-and-cooking/1491
Another Hub of the Day and HubNugget nomination. You guys must have some super "cooking" secret initiation that gives you the keys to HubPages or something. I stand in awe. Or maybe not.
Rated up, useful, and awesome! So nice to see a vegetarian dish, and I've gotta say, this is a thoroughly wonderful hub.. and Great pictures! Congrats.
DzyMsLizzy, pigeon peas and gandules are the same thing -- little brown or green round beans that look like larger, plump lentils. You can find them in the ethnic aisle or with canned beans (I like Goya, but my grandma swore by El Jibarito.)
Modgirlok, mary615, dipless, pstraubie48, amilypitt -- I would love to know how it works out for you!
I'm Puerto Rican and still don't know how to make this, haha, but it sure tastes good!
Great hub:)
Well I don't feel so badly now that others mentioned not having heard of the achiote stuff before. I do know about Pigeon Peas (delicious).
I'm not much of a cook but your pictures and explanations make me feel that I could make this dish. It sounds delicious so thanks for sharing the recipe.
Oh this is great! Reminds me of the stuff Abuelita and Mom used to make. I didn't like pega'o when I was young, but I've come to look for it. Super job!
Wow, looks really delicious. Thanks goodness, one recipe hub that is laden with pictures in every step! I will try this at home. I would love to savor the taste of Puerto Rico at the comfort of my home here in the Philippines :) Voted Up! :)
Great article clevercat. I'm all for it. Being Cuban myself, I love to replace traditional foods using "veggie alternatives," since most ethnic foods are oftentimes not good for you, in terms of health.
Voted up and Congrats!!!
John
Very nice recipe. I will have to try this out!
Great recipe! Congrats on getting Hub of the Day!
This hub is an example of why it is IMPORTANT to check and see what the Hub of the Day award is. Congrats, and thanks for sharing the details of how you make this rice and beans recipe.
Hey, everyone! Thanks so much for the comments, up-votes, compliments, other good stuff, and the Hub of the Day!
Wow, what a wonderful surprise. A great present to start the day with. :-) More hubs are coming. Also, I will respond to everyone in kind, but can't until later today. So please be patient. Thanks again!
Hi clevercat! Wow! I love it! As a puertorrican that loves to cook, I am so proud of how others entoy our food.Superb!!! Voted up.
Whenever I make beans and rice I haphazardly throw things into a pot. Sometimes I am successful and other times not so much. I've never used achiote or bacon bits in mine but it sounds delicious. Voted up, useful, awesome, shared, and pinned.
Great step-by-step photos.
Oh almost forgot, I think your an awesome writer & welcome to hubpages.
Exceptional hub here I love the visual displays, my mom use to make this all the time, it taste awesome to. She always made arroz con pollo, and rice & beans all the time.
One thing though, she actually contracted breast cancer & we lost her unfortunately back in 2006, and I'm truly wondering now if it had something to do with the foods she ate all the time, and so I've investigated into it all a great deal, and found that white rice & many of the supermarket products, oils and processed foods are very harmful for our digestive system, and ultimately our blood circulation.
I've recently gotten into eating more healthier, organic food products from organic food stores, to limit the amount of contaminants, toxins, and acidic foods. Even the cooking, or should I say frying of foods, destroys the vital nutrients our blood cells need for a better health condition to follow suit.
Congrad's on the hub of the day, I just like to add these health tips I found, and hope you all can think about it, we need to improve our health awareness everywhere, and share with everyone we can. The true issue is blood PH, and alkalinity vs acid levels.
Awesome job here, just do some research to find out whats been going into our foods, and read all food labels, its super important today to do so. Good Luck!
I even wrote a hub on how to make white rice, but I'm going to add the health risk & warnings to it about the usage of such, now that I'm becoming more aware of things on a daily basis, in actuality. I got some learning to do as well.
I am loving food and loving this hub. Looking very yummy ..I seriously become hungry to see this recipe. I definately gonna try it.
This looks really yummy. I have a friend from Puerto Rico who introduced me to her favorite dishes. I will share this one with her. I look forward to giving this a try. Congratulations on Hub of the Day!!!
This looks awesome,so glad it was HOTD otherwise I would have missed it, going to make this for my girlfriend when she is hear next week, thank you for sharing what looks to be a very tasty recipe :)
Congrats on Hub of the Day! I am in Puerto Rico now, and am enjoying their food. I intend to try this recipe. I've book marked it so I can go back. Looks a little complicated, but I'll try!
Thanks for sharing this great recipe! I plan to head to the grocery store and try it soon.
Oh, this sounds yummy. I think I've seen that Soya stuff on a supermarket shelf--but I don't know what "pigeon peas" are. That will take some research.
Excellent photos, well laid-out recipe, and well-deserved Hub of the Day! Congratulations! Voted up, awesome, beautiful, interesting, useful, shared and bookmarked!
(P.S.--LOVE your kitty cat picture for your profile!)
Hey, Simone! You are quite welcome. I love sharing recipes, especially the ones that are tried and true. I'd love to hear how it came out for you and I hope you add it to your rice and beans arsenal.
Oh wow... this looks fantastic. I'm HUGE on rice and beans, and am always looking for ways to be a bit less boring with my plain defaults (as delicious as they may be). Thanks for sharing your modern take on the dish!
Hi, Gina! I thought it was spelled that way, but obviously my Spanish spelling leaves much to be desired. I'll update the article. Thank you!
Pegao? Did you mean "pegado" or "pega'o?" Great pronunciation, Miriam-esque spelling!
Thanks, Michele! I'm happy to give more pointers on making this dish. It's always a crowd pleaser! :^)
I can't wait to try this, I've never cooked with achiote seeds so will be an adventure :)
theclevercat 12 hours ago
Thank you, Natasha! In all the old cookbooks that always bothered me, too. I appreciate the comment. :^)