Arroz Con Gandules--Holiday or any special occasion rice for Puerto Ricans

Arroz Con Gandules
It's easy - give it a try

Ingredients:

2 cups medium grain rice (rinsed) - long grain will work too

4-5 cups of hot water

1 pound of chopped up pork stew meat

4 cloves of garlic

1 teaspoon of parsley

1 teaspoon of oregano

1 plantain (grounded) I normally grind it in my food processor

appx.½ cup ready made sofrito

16 ounce can of gandules (cooked green pigeon peas)

2 tablespoons of alcaparrado (cappers and olives mixed together)

1 packet of Sazon with achiote

1 can tomato sauce

4 tablespoons of oil Salt & pepper to taste

Preparation

In a medium size caldero add the oil, tomato sauce, alcaparrado,garlic sofrito, sazon and pork meat. Cook over medium heat for 4 minutes. Add all other ingredients, and enough water to cover the rice 1" above the rice line. Start with 1 teaspoon of salt stir and keep adding and mixing well until you are satisfied with the taste. Bring to a boil and cook over high heat until most of the water is absorbed. Once the water has been absorbed, stir gently from bottom to top - once or twice only, cover and turn the heat down to low. Cook for 30 minutes or until the rice is tender.
Stirring the rice after it has begun cooking may cause it go get sticky or "amogollao."
Any rice that sticks to the bottom of the pot is called "pegao" and is crispy and tasty and a favorite of all true Puerto Ricans. However, not everyone is skilled is making pegao - it is an art. To make great pegao make sure to use plenty of oil. Cook for about 10 minutes longer so the pegao gets crispy and keep your eye on it. Each time you cook rice - check to see how long it takes to make pegao just the way your family likes it. Finally - if you want a lot of pegao - use a bigger caldero which, of course, will have a larger bottom surface.

This rice you can serve it with just about anything but in PR its typically served with Pernil (pork Roast) and a side of potatoe salad... I know too much starch but it is so yummy!