Arroz Con Salchichas y Maíz

What’s Arroz con Salchichas y Maíz (Puerto Rican Yellow Rice with Sausage and Corn)?

Arroz con salchichas [pronounced ah·rowz kon sal·chee·chaz] y maíz [pronounced mah-eez] is a one-pot dish of fragrantly spiced yellow rice and sausages with corn. In Puerto Rican houses, arroz con salchichas is most frequently made with Vienna sausages, related in texture to sizzling canines. Corn is an optionally available ingredient on this recipe; I add it to make it extra of a one-pot meal.

Let’s Hold It Actual

Whereas I’ll reference this dish’s authenticity, it’s essential to acknowledge its heavy colonial affect. This arroz con salchichas recipe’s taste and cooking fashion are what make it authentically Puerto Rican. It’s simmered in Puerto Rican beer and seasoned with spices and herbs widespread in Puerto Rican criollo delicacies. Together with canned sausages on this recipe was probably the results of social “welfare” applications just like the Meals Stamp Program (now SNAP) to Puerto Rico in 1974, and later, the Vitamin Help Program (NAP), which facilitated the introduction of canned meals from america into the Puerto Rican eating regimen. 

After I requested mates what they’d name this recipe, “It’s a wrestle meal” was the consensus. I’ve to agree with that. This straightforward, cheap recipe sustained me till the following paycheck. I don’t wrestle as a lot as I used to, however this recipe holds area in my thoughts as a comforting dish.

I’d be mendacity if I mentioned this recipe was created by the indigenous or African descendants of Puerto Rico. It’s as genuine because the individuals who ready it and ate it no matter their financial statuses had been.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

You’ll love making and consuming this arroz con salchichas as a result of the recipe is easy and simple but offers a well-balanced meal. I didn’t say a “tremendous wholesome” meal as a result of I at all times need to hold it actual with you. There’s processed meat on this recipe, in any case.

This recipe is filling and hearty however gained’t break the financial institution. I’m remaining true to the intent of this recipe by chopping out the “frilly” components. I grew up making arroz con salchichas with the naked minimal components, nevertheless it by no means lacked taste. I’ll present optionally available add-ins, nonetheless.

Substances You’ll Want

The components in my arroz con salchichas y maíz are Vienna sausages (I favor the Carmela hen Vienna sausage, however you possibly can exchange them with pork), olive oil, lengthy grain white rice, sofrito (or recao), hen inventory, gentle beer (ideally a Puerto Rican beer), sazón con azafrán, dried oregano go away, black pepper, and corn kernels.

Make sure you rinse the rice in chilly water no less than 3 occasions, draining the water after every rinse. This removes starches that can trigger the rice to be mushy or gummy after cooking. I save the rinse water and use it when washing my hair or to water our houseplants.

I’ll present just a few substitutions all through the recipe put up so you possibly can adapt it to your dietary wants. This can be a incredible one-pot meal, so seize a caldero and a picket spoon.

A caldero [pronounced cahl-deh-roh] (often known as an olla)is a cooking pot historically utilized in Puerto Rican cooking. The heavy-bottomed pot is commonly handed down by way of generations very similar to forged iron skillets are right here within the States. As a result of it’s forged in a single piece, it’s extra sturdy. Calderos additionally go from stovetop to oven as long as the highest deal with is fabricated from steel.

Warmth the olive oil in a 4 1/2-quart caldero over medium-high warmth. As soon as the oil begins shimmering within the caldero, slide the sliced salchichas into the pot. Brown the sausages barely for 3-4 minutes. When you’re making arroz con salchichas with pork and beef sausage, you’ll render extra fats into the pan.

Stir within the rice and corn kernels, tossing them into the salchichas and sofrito. Be at liberty to make use of frozen corn while you’re making arroz con salchichas. I go away mine out whereas getting all the pieces prepared to offer the kernels an opportunity to thaw out. Even when the corn thaws fully, you possibly can add any liquid to the pot with the corn. Drain the liquid first in case you’re utilizing canned corn for this recipe. When you plan to make use of recent corn, add 1/4 cup of hen inventory (or water’s high quality right here) with the beer.

Pour within the beer and hen inventory. Stir the liquids into the rice and sausages. I don’t like including tomato sauce to my arroz con salchichas as a result of it finally ends up giving me heartburn. If you need so as to add tomato sauce, lower the hen inventory to three/4 cup. Add the tomato sauce with the liquids. 

Making yellow rice with beer is one thing I obtained from Mami’s aspect of the household. For some motive, they at all times added beer to their yellow (and generally purple) rice. After tasting the finished dish, it is smart, however I assume it is a Caribbean factor. I favor to make use of Medalla, a Puerto Rican beer, however you should use any gentle beer you want. You may also exchange the beer on this arroz con salchicha with extra hen inventory.

Can I Add Substances?

I hold my arroz con salchichas easy to stay true to the humility of the recipe. Listed here are some extra components to make it extra fancy:

• Add 1/2 of a small yellow onion, diced, and a couple of teaspoons of minced garlic to the pot with the sofrito. Improve the hen inventory by 1 1/4 cups.
• Add 1/2 of a medium inexperienced bell pepper or purple bell pepper, diced, with the sofrito.
• Slice 12 Manzanilla olives and a tablespoon of capers and stir into the arroz con salchichas with the corn and rice.
• Substitute the long-grain rice with jasmine rice or basmati for a extra floral taste.
• Stir in 1 can of drained and rinsed beans (pinto, gentle purple kidney, or garbanzos). Improve the hen inventory to 1 1/2 cups to compensate for the drier beans.

How Lengthy Does It Take To Cook dinner Arroz Con Salchichas?

Deliver the liquid within the pot to a boil, then lay a bit of aluminum foil excessive. Press the pod’s lid onto the foil to create a tighter seal. This seal will assist steam the rice extra evenly and effectively.

We’ve spent 11 minutes on this recipe thus far (not together with prepping the salchichas and rinsing the rice).

When you cowl the pot, lower the warmth to low and prepare dinner the arroz con salchichas for 20 minutes. It solely takes 31 minutes to make arroz con salchichas, excluding the time it takes to slice the salchichas and rinse the rice.

How Do I Repair Improperly Cooked Arroz Con Salchichas?

After twenty minutes, flip the warmth off and fluff the rice with a spoon or fork. A skinny layer of pegao [pronounced peh-gah-oh] will kind on the underside of the saucepan. This coveted crispy rice is filled with nutty umami, so give it a pattern. If, sooner or later you need to keep away from pegao in your rice, cowl and reduce the warmth when the liquid within the pot involves a simmer, to not a boil.

In case your arroz con salchichas has crunchy rice grains while you pattern it, stir in a 1/2 cup of water or hen inventory into the rice. Cook dinner the rice over medium-low warmth for an extra quarter-hour or till the rice is tender.

If the rice is mushy, attempt to dry it out by persevering with to steam it for an additional quarter-hour, uncovered. Including an excessive amount of liquid is what causes mushy arroz con salchichas. Drying it out might assist, however typically doesn’t, so attempt to keep on with the measurements.

When you fluff you’re rice, modify the seasoning with somewhat kosher salt or adobo, as wanted. Now you’re able to serve it. You may garnish it with chopped cilantro or sliced pimientos (roasted purple bell peppers), however that’s not a should.

What To Serve with Arroz Con Salchichas

I like to recommend serving arroz con salchichas with a backyard salad and avocado or one among these aspect dishes:

When you’re serving arroz con salchichas as a aspect dish, serve it with grilled or steamed proteins or:

I like to recommend retaining the recipes that you simply serve with this dish easy so that you don’t create extra work for your self when making ready it.

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