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Asopao de pollo
Soupy chicken and rice
Asopao de pollo: Puerto Rican soupy chicken and rice
Somewhere between a soup and a risotto, asopao is the pot Puerto Rican mothers put on for a rainy Sunday, a cold, or a hangover after a long party night, and it is spooned straight from deep bowls with tostones on the side. Bone-in chicken is seasoned with garlic, oregano and lime, simmered in a sofrito broth, then rice goes in until the whole pot turns thick and brothy, finished with olives, capers, peas and strips of roasted pepper. The common mistake is making it ahead: the rice keeps drinking the broth and turns stodgy, so cook it just before eating, or keep extra stock to loosen leftovers. Chef's tip: take the pot off the heat while the rice is still a touch firm; it carries on cooking in the bowl.
- Total time
- 75 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the chicken
- 2 ¼ lb bone-in chicken thighsskin removed
- 4 cloves garliccrushed
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tsp salt
For the pot
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onionfinely chopped
- 1 green pepperfinely chopped
- 4 ajíes dulceschopped (or 0.5 red pepper)
- 4 tbsp culantro or corianderchopped
- ¾ cup tomato sauce (passata)
- 8 ¼ cups chicken stock
- 9 oz medium-grain ricerinsed
- 2 ⅛ oz pimento-stuffed olives
- 1 tbsp capers
- 4 oz frozen peas
- 2 ⅞ oz roasted red pepper strips
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Rub 2 ¼ lb bone-in chicken thighs with 4 cloves garlic, 1 tsp dried oregano, 2 tbsp lime juice and 1 tsp salt. Cover and marinate in the fridge for 30 minutes.
30 minStep 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large heavy pot over a medium heat. Fry 1 onion, 1 green pepper, 4 ajíes dulces and half of 2 tbsp culantro or coriander for 5 minutes until soft.
5 minStep 3: Add the chicken and turn for 5 minutes until it changes colour. Add ¾ cup tomato sauce (passata) and 8 ¼ cups chicken stock, bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 25 minutes, until the chicken reaches 165°F at the bone and is tender.
30 minStep 4: Lift the chicken out. When cool enough to handle, pull the meat from the bones in large shreds and discard the bones.
Step 5: Bring the broth back to the boil and add 9 oz medium-grain rice, 2 ⅛ oz pimento-stuffed olives, 1 tbsp capers and the rest of 1 tsp salt. Simmer uncovered for 15–18 minutes, stirring now and then, until the rice is just tender and the broth looks creamy.
17 minStep 6: Stir in the chicken and 4 oz frozen peas and cook for 3 minutes until the peas are hot. Add more stock or water if it is too thick; it should be soupy.
3 minStep 7: Ladle into bowls and top with 2 ⅞ oz roasted red pepper strips and the rest of 2 tbsp culantro or coriander.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 460 kcal
- Protein
- 31 g
- Carbs
- 46 g
- Fat
- 16 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does asopao de pollo take?
- About 75 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 55 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
- What can I use instead of dried oregano?
- Dried thyme or marjoram, same amount.
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