Sofrito! I love it! It's so good to step outside of your comfort zone and try your hand at some different ingredients and different recipes.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Puerto Rican
Prep Time 20 minutesminutes
Cook Time 1 hourhour
Total Time 1 hourhour20 minutesminutes
Servings 10Servings
Ingredients
Red Sofrito
1Green bell pepperall I had was a poblano
1Red bell pepper
1/2onion
6clovesgarlic
2roma tomatoNorma told me to never add tomato to sofrito, oops! The second attempt is more accurate.
1/3cupcilantrono culantro where I live, so I added cilantro
1teaspoonthyme
1teaspoonof oregano
Green Sofrito
1cupfresh recao leaves
1/2cupfresh cilantrooptional
1green bell pepperagain I used poblano
1yellow sweet pepper
1/2cupgarlic cloves
1small white onion
2teaspoonsthyme
3teaspoonsoregano
salt and pepper to taste
1/3 to 1/2cupwater
splash of vinegaroptional
Instructions
Directions
For either sofrito, red or green you will: Coarsely chop all of the ingredients and place in processor or blender. Pulse to blend until desired finish. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
For First Rice Recipe: Heat oil in large caldero style pot to medium heat. Add the annatto powder, onions and Spanish chorizo. Season lightly with salt and pepper and saute for 3 to 5 minutes.
Add the red sofrito and Sazon packets to the pan. Stir well to combine and taste for saltand pepper. Let sauce cook out for a good 15 minutes or until it reduces and thickens slightly.
Add the broth or water, rice and gandules. Gently stir to combine. Bring to a boil and taste for salt. Reduce heat to a low simmer, cover and continue cooking until most of the liquid is absorbed.
Fluff with fork. Cover rice with foil paper, cover with lid and place back on heat at lowest setting. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes, checking to make sure that bottom of rice does not burn. You want golden, crispy and brown, not black, lol! Cover and let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
This printable recipe only includes the first rice recipe where I used the red sofrito. Go down further on the blog to see the green sofrito version which is more like my friend Norma's.