Flaka Gourmet showing us how she cooks her gourmet rice with Pigeon Peas (Arroz con Gandules).
Any special occasion meal in Puerto Rico would not be complete without arroz con gandules, or rice with pigeon peas. After all, rice with pigeon peas is one of Puerto Rico’s national dishes. The recipe is seasoned with sofrito, a blend of herbs and spices popular in Latin Caribbean (and some Latin American) cuisine, and is studded with diced ham and pigeon peas. Pigeon peas are legumes that have a nutty flavor and are frequently paired with rice and other grains. They are sold dried, canned, or ground into a flour.
This Puerto Rican rice recipe calls for canned pigeon peas, and those can be found in most large grocery stores, specialty groceries, or online. Arroz con gandules can be served alone or with a variety of sides such as pollo guisado (chicken stew), tostones, and a light salad.