Weeknight Puerto Rican Dinner | long grain rice, pinto beans w/ tocino, maduros, & chicken

pork

🥗Healthier: chicken

💰Cheaper: turkey

Chicken is leaner and more affordable than pork.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Vegetable oil is often less expensive.

pigeon peas

🥗Healthier: black beans

💰Cheaper: canned beans

Canned beans are convenient and budget-friendly.

plantains

🥗Healthier: sweet potatoes

💰Cheaper: regular potatoes

Regular potatoes are often cheaper and more available.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Spray a baking pan with cooking spray.

Season chicken drumsticks the night before and place them in the baking pan.

Bake the chicken for about 1 hour until crispy.

In a small pot over medium heat, add a dot of oil and 1/4 cup of chopped bacon.

Saute the bacon until golden.

Add 1.5 tablespoons of fresh homemade sofrito to the pot and saute in the bacon grease.

Add 1.5 tablespoons of tomato sauce to the pot.

Add 1 packet of Goya pork sauce (optional) and 1 packet of Goya Sasson to the pot.

Add 0.5 teaspoon of white granulated sugar and 0.5 teaspoon of dried oregano flakes to the pot.

Mix all ingredients in the pot to combine flavors.

Add 1 can of drained pinto beans to the pot and fill the can with water, adding that to the pot as well.

Cook the mixture over medium-low heat (about number 4 on an electric stove) covered for about 20 minutes.

In a rice strainer, rinse 2 cups of long grain white rice.

In a caldero over high heat (number 7), add the rinsed rice, 3 cups of water, 1.5 tablespoons of oil, and salt to taste.

Wait for the water to come to a boil, then stir the rice.

Once the water simmers, cover the caldero and cook on high heat for 5 minutes.

After 5 minutes, stir the rice gently to prevent sticking.

Reduce heat to low (about number 2.5) and cover the caldero, cooking without disturbing it.

Chop the ripe plantain and fry it until golden.

Check the rice after about 20 minutes; it should be fluffy and slightly sticky.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens