Go Back
+ servings
Pigeon peas and rice in a large pot served on a wooden table.
Print Recipe
4.85 from 46 votes

Arroz con Gandules (Pigeon Peas Rice)

This delicious rice is the side dish of choice at every Dominican and Puerto Rican holiday dinner. Made with pigeon peas and a mixture of Latin seasonings, this popular rice dish is perfect for Nochebuena. 
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Dominican, Puerto Rican
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 375kcal
Author: Vanessa

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup red onion , chopped
  • 1/2 cup green bell pepper , chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic , minced
  • 2 tablespoons cilantro
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons tomato sauce
  • 2 cubes chicken bouillon (caldo de pollo)
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • ½ teaspoon adobo
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon alcaparrado
  • 15 oz can gandules verdes (green pigeon peas), with liquid
  • 2 cups water
  • 3 cups rice

Instructions

  • In a food processor, pulse the onion, bell pepper, garlic and cilantro until all is chopped very small to make the sofrito.
  • In a large cast-iron pot, heat oil over medium heat. Saute the sofrito mixture, tomato sauce, chicken bouillon cubes, sazon, oregano, adobo, black pepper and alcaparrado for about 2-3 minutes until vegetables begin to release aroma.
  • Add the pigeon peas with it's liquid and 2 cups of water. When the water begins to boil, add the rice, stirring occasionally to avoid from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
  • Once the rice has soaked up all the water and begins to dry up, lower the heat to low. Cover and let cook for 25 minutes. Then, stir the rice carefully and cover for an additional 5 minutes.
  • Serve warm.

Notes

  • If you can't find pigeon peas, you can use black beans or kidney beans in their place.
  • Leftovers can be kept for up to 3 days covered in the fridge. Reheat gently on the stovetop. You may want to add in a little extra stock when reheating as the rice will have absorbed a lot of the excess liquid.
  • Serve with stewed and roasted meats for a wonderful feast!

Nutrition

Calories: 375kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 100mg | Potassium: 332mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 57IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 1mg