Dairy-Free Arroz con Gandules
Experience the rich, Puerto Rican flavors of Dairy-Free Arroz con Gandules, a plant-based twist on a beloved classic! This one-pot dish features fluffy long-grain white rice simmered with tender gandules (pigeon peas), aromatic sofrito, and a dynamic blend of spices like sazon, cumin, and oregano. A fragrant medley of sautéed onion, bell pepper, and garlic infuses every bite with bold, savory notes, while a splash of vegetable broth ties it all together perfectly—no dairy required. Quick and easy to prepare in under 45 minutes, this crowd-pleasing recipe is ideal for weeknight dinners or festive gatherings and is finished with a bright, fresh garnish of chopped cilantro. Perfectly wholesome, comforting, and completely dairy-free, this vibrant dish brings the authentic taste of Puerto Rican cuisine right to your table!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 cups long-grain white rice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 unit small yellow onion, chopped
- 1 unit bell pepper, diced
- 3 unit cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 0.25 cup sofrito (or store-bought sofrito sauce)
- 1 15 oz can gandules (pigeon peas), drained and rinsed
- 3 cups vegetable broth
- 1 packet sazon seasoning
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 unit bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.25 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Drain and set aside.
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
Add the chopped onion and diced bell pepper. Sauté for about 5 minutes or until the onion becomes translucent.
Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
Stir in the tomato sauce and sofrito, cooking for an additional 3 minutes to combine the flavors.
Add the drained gandules (pigeon peas), vegetable broth, sazon seasoning, ground cumin, dried oregano, bay leaf, salt, and pepper to the pot. Stir well.
Bring the mixture to a boil, then add the rinsed rice. Stir to distribute the ingredients evenly.
Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid.
Let the rice simmer for about 20-25 minutes, or until the rice is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid.
Remove from heat and let the rice sit covered for another 5 minutes.
Discard the bay leaf, fluff the rice with a fork, and serve garnished with chopped fresh cilantro.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1643 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 45.4 g | 58% | |
| Saturated Fat | 7.4 g | 37% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4.8 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 5429 mg | 236% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 260.2 g | 95% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 44.9 g | 160% | |
| Total Sugars | 38.0 g | ||
| Protein | 55.7 g | 111% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 421 mg | 32% | |
| Iron | 20.3 mg | 113% | |
| Potassium | 3410 mg | 73% | |
*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.
