A Sunday-table Dominican tradition — Moro de Guandules is the festive rice cooked with pigeon peas, a Sunday and holiday staple that no Dominican buffet is complete without. The peas and rice are cooked together in a sofrito-rich broth so the rice turns a warm, savory brown and every grain carries the earthiness of the guandules. With coconut milk stirred in, it becomes the celebrated “moro de guandules con coco” of the coast.
Moro de Guandules
A Sunday-table Dominican tradition — Moro de Guandules is the festive rice cooked with pigeon peas, a Sunday and holiday staple that no Dominican buffet is complete without.

Step by stepInstructions
- Rinse the rice and drain well. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat and cook the sofrito until fragrant, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the tomato paste, sazón and oregano, then add the pigeon peas with their liquid and the water. If using the calabaza, add it now. Bring to a boil and season with salt.
- Stir in the rice, return to a boil, then lower the heat, cover, and cook undisturbed for 20 to 25 minutes, until the liquid is absorbed.
- Uncover, fluff the rice gently with a fork, and let it steam 5 minutes off the heat before serving.
- For the coastal version, stir ½ cup (120 ml) coconut milk into the pot just before covering, then proceed as usual.
💡 Chef tips & storage
Fresh or frozen guandules give the best flavor, but canned pigeon peas are the practical shortcut most homes use — just save their liquid to cook the rice. This rice loves a little concón: let it sit on very low heat for a few minutes before fluffing.

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