Puerto Rican FoodPuerto Rican Creamy Rice with Pork, Breadfruit and Sweet Peppers with Queso del País Finish
An original creamy rice inspired by Puerto Rican flavors: adobo-seasoned browned pork, tender breadfruit cubes, aromatic sofrito, sweet peppers, olives, and a final shower of queso del país that gently melts over the rice. Comforting, flavorful, and perfect for a special main meal.
Ingredients
- 700 g pork shoulder, cubed (cubes medium)
- 12 g Puerto Rican adobo seasoning (divided)
- 30 ml olive oil (divided)
- 350 g green or semi-ripe breadfruit (pelada and diced small)
- 150 g white onion (chopped en cubitos)
- 120 g cubanelle pepper (chopped)
- 60 g sweet ají peppers (without semillas and chopped)
- 15 g garlic (chopped fino)
- 120 ml Puerto Rican sofrito (casero or preparado)
- 30 g tomato paste
- 40 g green olives (slices)
- 360 g medium-grain rice (lavado and escurrido)
- 950 ml chicken broth (hot)
- 240 ml coconut milk (without endulzar)
- 1 g dried oregano
- 1 g ground cumin
- 1 unit bay leaf
- 4 g salt (or to taste)
- 1 g black pepper (or to taste)
- 120 g queso del país (grated or desmenuzado)
- 10 g culantro leaves (chopped for terminar)
Nutrition facts
per serving
Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.
Allergens
Instructions
- 1
Season the pork cubes with 1 teaspoon of Puerto Rican adobo seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the black pepper. Mix well and let rest for 10 minutes while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
- 2
Heat a wide pot or caldero over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and brown the pork for 6 to 8 minutes, turning as needed, until colored on several sides. Remove the pork and set aside on a plate.
- 3
In the same pot, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and the breadfruit cubes. Cook for 4 minutes, stirring so they lightly sear. Add the onion, cubanelle pepper, sweet ají peppers, and garlic; sauté for 3 minutes until the onion looks translucent.
- 4
Stir in the Puerto Rican sofrito, tomato paste, green olives, dried oregano, ground cumin, and the remaining teaspoon of adobo seasoning. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring, until fragrant and the tomato paste darkens slightly.
- 5
Add the rice and stir for 1 minute to coat the grains with the sofrito mixture. Return the browned pork to the pot along with any juices collected on the plate.
- 6
Pour in the hot chicken broth and coconut milk. Add the bay leaf and taste the liquid; adjust with the remaining salt if needed. Bring to a gentle boil.
- 7
Once boiling, reduce to medium-low heat and cook partially covered for 18 to 22 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes so the rice releases starch and becomes creamy. If it dries out too much before the rice is tender, add a little more hot broth or hot water.
- 8
When the rice is fully cooked and creamy, turn off the heat. Remove the bay leaf and scatter the queso del país over the top. Cover the pot for 2 minutes so the cheese melts gently from the residual heat.
- 9
For a lightly browned finish, transfer the rice to an oven-safe dish if needed and place it under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes at 450°F / 230°C, watching closely so the cheese only lightly browns.
- 10
Finish with the chopped culantro and serve hot.
Chef tips
For a truly creamy texture, stir gently but consistently during the final cooking stage. Cut the breadfruit into small cubes so it cooks at the same pace as the rice.
Substitutions
You can substitute the breadfruit with small cubes of pre-cooked cassava, though the result will be less creamy. If queso del país is unavailable, use a mild semi-firm melting cheese. For a dairy-free version, omit the cheese and add a bit more culantro at the end.
What I used to make it
Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.
Illustrative imageCosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
Illustrative imageTempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
Illustrative imageT-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized 12" Non-Stick Pan
Eggs, omelets and stir-fries
- Eggs and omelets that don’t stick
- Comfortable, sturdy handle
- Use wooden or silicone utensils
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