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Arroz con Gandules

No Puerto Rican celebration is complete without Arroz con Gandules, the fragrant rice and pigeon pea pilaf that anchors every Christmas table.

⏱ 25 minPrep time
🔥 45 minCook time
🍽 8Servings
🏷 Puerto Rican KitchenCategory
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Arroz con Gandules

No Puerto Rican celebration is complete without Arroz con Gandules, the fragrant rice and pigeon pea pilaf that anchors every Christmas table. The rice is toasted in annatto oil with sofrito, ham and tomato sauce, then steamed until each grain is stained a sunny yellow. It is the dish Puerto Ricans measure home by.

Perfect rice is the foundation here — our How to Cook Perfect Rice Every Time covers ratios, rinsing, and resting.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. In a large caldero or heavy pot, cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp, then add the ham and cook 2 minutes more.
  2. Stir in the annatto oil, sofrito, tomato sauce, adobo, oregano, olives and capers, and cook until the sofrito darkens and smells fragrant, about 3 minutes.
  3. Add the rice and stir to coat every grain in the seasoned oil, toasting 2 to 3 minutes.
  4. Pour in the broth and gandules, stir once, and bring to a rolling boil. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook undisturbed for 20 to 25 minutes, until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender.
  5. Remove from the heat, fluff gently with a fork, and let rest, covered, 10 minutes before serving.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Let the pot sit off the heat for a few extra minutes to develop pegao, the crispy toasted rice crust prized at the bottom of the pot. For a vegetarian version, skip the ham and bacon and use vegetable broth.

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Recipe details

Prep25 min
Cook45 min
Servings8
CategoryPuerto Rican Kitchen
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 →