The Arroz con Pollo Made by 6 Generations of the Sanchez Nazario Family

Arroz con pollo is the recipe that keeps on giving in Maya Ri Sanchez’s Puerto Rican family.

”My family’s arroz con pollo recipe has been passed down six generations,” says Maya, a biotech manager and mom of two, when she sent Familia Kitchen this recipe as part of our Your Family’s Favorite Arroz on Pollo Recipe Contest.

”From the hills of Sábana Grande, Puerto Rico, in the late 1800s to the suburbs of Germantown, Maryland,” where she lives now — this is the delicioso recipe her family cooks for family gatherings and celebrations.

It all started with Maya’s great-great grandmother Maria Isabel. Her beloved receta for rice and chicken then was passed down ”to my great grandmother Isabel (who I got to know, love and spend time with throughout my teens) to my Grandmother Virginia (miss her so much) to my mother Carmen (whom my daughter lovingly named Abby), to me: Maya, and now to my daughter Nysia, 15,” Maya explains.

”It’s with lots of love and pride that we share our family recipe with you. My ancestors and Mom never truly measured ingredients in their cooking, so there are our best approximations. It was done by taste, smell, available ingredients — and love. So as you give our arroz con pollo a try in your kitchen, make sure to add a heaping cup of love to the ingredients!”

Ready to Make This 6-Generations-Old Arroz con Pollo?

The Sanchez Nazario Family’s Arroz Con Pollo

Recipe by Maya Ri Sanchez

4.7 from 7 votes

Cuisine: Puerto Rico

Servings

8

servings

Prep time

20

minutes

Cooking time

45

minutes

Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken thighs, skinless

• 1 lb chicken breast, skinless, chopped

• 1 cup ham steak, cubed

• 1 Tbsp adobo

• 1 Tbsp garlic, minced

• 1 Tbsp oregano

• 1 Tbsp cumin

• 2 packets sazón with achiote

• 3 Tbsp olive oil (divided)

• 1 medium tomato, diced

• 1 medium onion, chopped

• 1 green bell pepper, chopped

• 1 cup green olives, pitted, with capers

• 1/2 cup sofrito

• 3 cups rice, medium grain, rinsed 3 times

• 2 cups chicken broth

• 2 cups water

• 8 oz tomato sauce

• salt and pepper, to taste

• 2 sprigs cilantro, 2 finely chopped and 2 for garnish

• 2 bay leaves

Directions

• Marinate the chicken in a bowl with 1 Tbsp of olive oil. Add garlic, cilantro, oregano, cumin, 1 to 2 packets of sazón, adobo, 3 Tbsp sofrito. Toss well. Set aside for 2 hours to overnight.
• Heat 1 Tbsp. of oil in a large pot, with the heat set to medium high. Add ham, onions, tomatoes and bell peppers for about 5 minutes.
• Add the marinated chicken and brown for about 5 minutes each side, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned.
• Once chicken is golden brown, set aside in a bowl.
• Add 1 Tbsp of oil in the same pot.
• Add the rice into the medium-hot oil and stir until it is evenly coated. Add a little more oil, if needed. Stir for 3 minutes while it lightly toasts.
• Add chicken broth and water to the pot.
• Add tomato puree, olives and 3 Tbsp. sofrito, and stir until well incorporated. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Adjust liquid as needed to cover rice, by adding extra water.
• Add the browned chicken back into the pot.
• Keep the pan uncovered and bring the rice to a boil. Lower heat to medium and simmer until liquid is mostly absorbed. Add 2 sprigs of cilantro on top of rice for extra flavor. Cover and lower heat , cook for 20 to 30 minutes.
• The rice done. Lightly toss the rice and chicken to mix them and you are ready. We recommend serving alongside a nice green salad with a simple oil and vinegar dressing.

Notes

• Remember to remove the bay leaves before serving!

Find more abuela-cooking family-famous recipes at FamiliaKitchen.com!