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Aguado de Pollo

A brothy, soupy chicken and rice stew scented with achiote and cilantro — Ecuador’s homey one-pot lunch that feeds a whole family.

⏱ 20 minPrep time
🔥 45 minCook time
🍽 8Servings
🏷 DinnerCategory
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Aguado de Pollo - Chicken and Rice Stew

Aguado de pollo is the everyday Ecuadorian home-cooking hero: chicken simmered with rice, potatoes, and a fragrant achiote sofrito until the rice is tender and the broth is rich and golden. ‘Aguado’ means watery, and the dish is meant to be soupy, spooned into bowls with avocado and lime.

The soupy one-pot that tastes like home

The broth turns golden and silky from the achiote and slowly cooked chicken, while the rice swells soft and the potatoes melt at the edges. It is gentle, savory, and comforting, brightened by a handful of cilantro and a squeeze of lime at the table.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Season the chicken with salt and half of the cumin, and brown it in the achiote oil over medium-high heat for 4 to 5 minutes per side; set aside.
  2. In the same pot, cook the onion and bell pepper for 5 minutes, add the garlic, oregano, and remaining cumin, and cook 1 minute more.
  3. Return the chicken to the pot, add the broth, and bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.
  4. Add the rice and potatoes and simmer for 18 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the rice is tender and the soup is golden and brothy.
  5. Stir in the cilantro, taste for salt, and rest for 5 minutes before serving.
  6. Ladle into bowls and serve with avocado slices and lime wedges.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Keep it soupy — add extra broth if it thickens, that is the whole point of 'aguado.' Leftovers thicken overnight as the rice swells; thin with broth when reheating and it keeps 3 days.

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Recipe details

Prep20 min
Cook45 min
Servings8
CategoryDinner
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →