Peruvian Arroz con Pollo (Peruvian Rice and Chicken)

Made with cilantro and aji amarillo paste, this Peruvian chicken and rice dish provides a flavorful meal that's easy to prepare.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 20 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 35 mins
• Calories: 501 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 2 cups uncooked white rice
• 3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut in half
• 1 tablespoon aji amarillo chile paste
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen peas and carrots
• 0.5 cup chicken broth
• 0.5 red onion, diced
• 0.5 cup vegetable oil, divided, or as needed
• 1.5 bunches cilantro leaves, lightly chopped
• 2.5 cups water, or more as needed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Season chicken with salt and pepper.

Step 2

Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat with enough oil to coat the bottom. Brown chicken in hot oil on all sides, 5 to 7 minutes total. Remove chicken onto a plate.

Step 3

Pour more oil into the saucepan and add onion; sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in cilantro, chile paste, salt, and pepper. Sauté until cilantro turns dark green, 3 to 5 minutes. Pour in chicken broth and deglaze, scraping browned bits off the bottom of the saucepan with a wooden spoon. Bring to a light simmer; let simmer for 3 to 5 minutes.

Step 4

Transfer mixture carefully to an electric blender and purée.

Step 5

Heat more oil in the same saucepan over medium-high heat; sauté bell pepper in hot oil until soft, about 5 minutes. Return puréed cilantro mixture to the saucepan and add chicken. Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 20 to 30 minutes. Remove chicken to a clean plate.

Step 6

Add water and rice to the same saucepan, adding more water if it doesn't look like enough. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat to low, and cook until all liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, 20 to 40 minutes. Stir in peas and carrots and chicken and cook until warmed through, 5 to 10 minutes.