Recipes » Main Dish » Puerto Rican Rice with Pigeon Peas
T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies

Puerto Rican Rice with Pigeon Peas

By 1 vote, average: 5.00 out of 51 vote, average: 5.00 out of 51 vote, average: 5.00 out of 51 vote, average: 5.00 out of 51 vote, average: 5.00 out of 5(1)
Rice with pigeon peas is the most popular dish in Puerto Rico, particularly at Christmas. There are many variations on this traditional recipe, but most are made with lots of fat and pork. This healthy version uses brown rice and contains no oil or processed products. The fresh sofrito gives it a delicious touch! This rice contains all the traditional flavors without the cholesterol.
Prep: 15 mins Cook: 50 mins Yield: 6 servings
Gluten Free Low Sugar Nut Free Soy Free

Ingredients

Ingredients

  • 3 cups frozen pigeon peas
  • 2 cups water
  • ½ tsp sea salt
  • ½ tsp ground turmeric
  • ½ tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 2 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika or liquid smoke
  • 1 Tbsp homemade sazón
  • 6 olives, optional
  • 3 ½ cups liquid, combining reserved water from cooking pigeon peas and vegetable broth
  • 3 cups brown rice (see tips)
  • ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
  • 2 Tbsp sliced roasted bell pepper, for garnish

Sofrito

  • ¾ cup diced onion
  • ¾ cup diced red bell pepper
  • 5 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 4 small sweet peppers (“aji dulce”), diced
  • 1 Tbsp fresh culantro, chopped (optional, see tips)

Instructions

Instructions

  • 1. In a medium saucepan, add the pigeon peas, 2 cups of water, and sea salt and cook over medium-high heat for 10 minutes. Drain the pigeon peas and set aside, reserving the liquid for cooking the rice.
  • 2. Mix all the Adobo ingredients in a container and measure out 2 teaspoons for the recipe. Reserve the rest for future recipes.
  • 3. Preheat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the sofrito ingredients and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
  • 4. Add turmeric, cumin, oregano, pigeon peas, tomato paste, smoked paprika, Adobo, and olives. Cook for 3 minutes.
  • 5. Add the vegetable broth and liquid from the pigeon peas, then add the rice. Cover the saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to medium-low temperature and cook for 40 minutes.
  • 6. Stir-in cilantro. Decorate with the bell pepper strips.

Cooking Tips

Cooking Tips

  • 1. For fluffy rice that doesn’t take as long to cook, use Uncle Ben's whole grain parboiled brown rice. If you use regular brown rice, add an additional cup of water or broth and cook for 45 minutes.
  • 2. Culantro, also known as "recao" has a flavor similar to cilantro. If you don't get it, you can replace it with fresh cilantro.

You Might Also Like

Puerto Rican Root Vegetable Stew: “Sancocho”

Mangú (Dominican Mashed Plantains)

Bean & Rice Stew

Copyright 2025 Center for Nutrition Studies. All rights reserved.

Plant-Based Nutrition

Deepen Your Knowledge With Our

Plant-Based Nutrition
Certificate
  • 23,000+ students
  • 100% online, learn at your own pace
  • No prerequisites
  • Continuing education credits
Enroll today