Vegan Arroz con Gandules

Elevate your weeknight dinner with this vibrant and flavorful Vegan Arroz con Gandules, a plant-based spin on the classic Puerto Rican dish! This one-pot recipe combines tender long-grain white rice, hearty pigeon peas, and a medley of aromatic spices like cumin, oregano, and annatto for an authentic taste. A base of sofrito and tomato sauce infuses the dish with bold, savory flavor, while capers add a delightful tangy kick. Prepared in under an hour, this vegan arroz con gandules is perfect for a crowd and easily customizable. Garnished with fresh cilantro, it’s a colorful and satisfying dish that’s both nourishing and delicious. Whether you're looking for a comforting main or a side for your next fiesta, this recipe is a must-try for lovers of Puerto Rican cuisine.

Nutriscore Rating: 72/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:45 mins

Total Time:60 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
• 1 medium bell pepper, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 cup sofrito sauce
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 2 cups long-grain white rice
• 1 15-ounce can pigeon peas, drained
• 2 tablespoons capers
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon annatto powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 bay leaves
• 0.25 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

Directions

Step 1

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.

Step 2

Add the chopped onion and bell pepper. Sauté until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.

Step 3

Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.

Step 4

Add tomato sauce, sofrito, and vegetable broth to the pot, stirring well to combine the ingredients.

Step 5

Mix in the rice, pigeon peas, capers, ground cumin, dried oregano, annatto powder, salt, black pepper, and bay leaves.

Step 6

Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid.

Step 7

Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until the rice is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid. Avoid opening the lid while cooking.

Step 8

Once done, remove the pot from the heat and let it sit, covered, for another 5 minutes to allow the steam to finish cooking the rice.

Step 9

Remove the bay leaves, then fluff the rice with a fork.

Step 10

Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1965.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1488.5

Total Fat 59.9g	0%
Saturated Fat 9.4g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 6.1g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 5729.2mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 210.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 25.0g	0%
Total Sugars 32.6g
Protein 33.2g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 337.9mg	0%
Iron 16.0mg	0%
Potassium 2510.8mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 35.6%

Protein: 8.8%

Carbs: 55.7%