Vegan Arroz Con Pollo

My vegan arroz con pollo is tremendous satisfying and loaded with taste! This recipe options tender cumin-scented rice, hearty soy curls, juicy olives, and candy peas. It’s a delicious, protein-packed meal that’s simple sufficient for a busy weeknight!

Rice and beans are a vegan weeknight staple. I make my Spanish rice and beans, Mexican black beans and rice, and Mediterranean chickpeas and rice on a regular basis. However there are different plant-based protein elements that go nice with rice, and a few of them occur to be good for recreating historically non-vegan dishes. Working example: arroz con pollo. Beans simply gained’t lower it right here (until you need them to — see the variations part under). For this Spanish-style consolation meals traditional, we’re utilizing soy curls!

Soar to:

I really like soy curls and don’t cook dinner with them almost sufficient (I’m engaged on altering that!). They’re tremendous simple to make use of, loaded with protein, and once they’re ready proper, they’re completely delish.

For this vegan arroz con pollo, you’ll soak the soy curls in broth with a few spices, pan-fry them till crispy, then add them to a aromatic pot of rice together with juicy, briny olives, candy peas, and zesty contemporary cilantro. The result’s a comfy, deeply flavorful meal that’s simple sufficient for a weeknight and extremely comforting.

Elements You will Want

Beneath you will discover a checklist of elements on this recipe, with notes and substitutions. Scroll all the way in which to the underside of the submit to see the complete recipe, together with the quantity of every ingredient.

Olive oil. I like this recipe finest with olive oil, however different excessive warmth oils like corn or canola will work simply high quality.
Onion.
Inexperienced bell pepper. A inexperienced bell pepper is conventional for arroz con pollo, however be happy to shake issues up and use a crimson, orange, or yellow one if you happen to choose.
Garlic.
Spices. You will want floor cumin, oregano, garlic powder, and a bay leaf. All will be discovered within the spice aisle of just about any grocery retailer.
Tomato paste.
Vegetable broth.
Rice. Primary lengthy grain white rice is historically used for arroz con pollo. For those who choose one other number of rice, be my visitor and use it! Simply needless to say chances are you’ll want to regulate the quantity of broth used and/or cook dinner time. Brown rice specifically will want extra broth and simmer time.
Floor annatto seed. This ingredient is what provides the dish its distinctive yellow coloration. It’s possible you’ll have to get it on-line or in a specialty grocery retailer. For those who want an alternate, floor turmeric will do — simply use a pinch, although!
Butler Soy Curls. Examine locations like Complete Meals for these — some will carry them. The place I am at, I can solely get them on-line. I’ve supplied a hyperlink within the recipe card.
Frozen peas.
Inexperienced olives. Go together with pimento-stuffed olives, in the event that they’re accessible.
Contemporary cilantro.
Salt and pepper.

How It is Made

Beneath is an in depth picture tutorial on learn how to make this dish. Scroll all the way in which down if you would like to skip proper to the recipe!

Diced onions and green peppers cooking in a pot.

Step 1: Cook dinner the greens. Warmth the olive oil in a pot, then add diced onion and inexperienced bell pepper. Cook dinner the combination for a couple of minutes to melt and begin browning the veggies.

Diced peppers and onions cooking in a pot with spices and tomato paste.

Step 2: Spices and aromatics. Add the garlic, cumin, oregano, and tomato paste. Stir every little thing effectively and cook dinner the combination for a few minute.

Wooden spoon stirring rice, seasoned broth, onions, and peppers in a pot.

Step 3: Simmer. Stir within the broth, rice, bay leaf, and annatto. Crank up the warmth and convey the broth to a boil, then scale back it till the broth is simply simmering. Cowl the pot and let the rice cook dinner till all the liquid is absorbed.

Soy curls soaking in a bowl of broth with a spoon.

Step 4: Soak the soy curls. Stir them up with some sizzling broth, floor cumin, and garlic powder. Allow them to soak till they’ve softened up, about 10 minutes.

Tip: Use a pot with a transparent lid for the rice, when you’ve got one. It will allow you to test on it with out eradicating the lid and letting steam escape.

Step 5: Cook dinner the soy curls. Warmth some oil in a skillet, then add your soaked soy curls. Cook dinner them for a couple of minutes till they begin to brown and crisp.

Hand stirring soy curls, peas, and olives into a pot of seasoned rice.

Step 6: End the dish. As soon as the rice has completed cooking, let it sit for 5 minutes with the lid on. Then take away the lid, fluff the rice, and stir within the soy curls, peas, olives, and cilantro. Add salt and pepper if you would like.

Plate of Vegan Arroz Con Pollo with a pot and napkin in the background.

Step 7: Serve. Your vegan arroz con pollo is prepared! Dish it onto plates and dig in!

Variations

Arroz con beans. Rice and beans are a match made in heaven, so be happy to swap out the soy curls with a 15-ounce can of black, crimson, or pinto beans.
Swap out the protein. Seitan, tofu, or tempeh may very well be used rather than the soy curls.
Quinoa con pollo. Quinoa or one other grain may very well be used rather than rice.

Regularly Requested Questions

Is that this dish gluten-free?

Sure! Not one of the elements within the recipe include gluten.

How ought to I retailer leftovers and the way lengthy will they maintain?

Leftover vegan arroz con pollo will maintain in an hermetic container within the fridge for about 3 days, or within the freezer for about 3 months.

Is that this recipe spicy?

Under no circumstances! The recipe, as written, is completely warmth free. If you want to spice it up, add some cayenne pepper or sizzling sauce.

Extra Soy Curl Recipes

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Recipe

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Delicacies American, Spanish

Prep Time 10

Cook dinner Time 35

Whole Time 45

Elements

For the Rice

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 medium inexperienced bell pepper, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons floor cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 ¾ cups vegetable broth
1 ½ cups dried lengthy grain white rice
1 bay leaf
½ teaspoon floor annatto seed

For the Soy Curls

5 ounces Butler soy curls (about 2 ½ cups)
1 ½ cups sizzling vegetable broth
2 teaspoons floor cumin
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon olive oil

For Ending the Dish

1 cup frozen peas, thawed
½ cup pimento-stuffed inexperienced olives
¼ cup chopped contemporary cilantro
Salt and pepper, to style

Directions

Begin by cooking the rice combination. Coat the underside of a giant pot with the olive oil and place it over medium warmth. Give the oil a minute to warmth up, then add the onion and bell pepper. Cook dinner the greens for about 10 minutes, stirring often, till softened and simply beginning to brown.
Stir within the garlic, cumin, oregano, and tomato paste. Cook dinner the combination for a few minute, stirring continually, till the garlic turns into very aromatic.
Add the broth, rice, bay leaf, and annatto seed. Stir the combination effectively to dissolve the tomato paste, then increase the warmth and convey the broth to a boil, stirring often. As soon as the liquid boils, scale back the warmth to a simmer then cowl the pot. Let the rice cook dinner for about 20 minutes, till all the liquid has been absorbed. Depart the lid on the pot for five minutes after eradicating it from warmth.
Whereas the rice cooks, place the soy curls right into a heatproof bowl. Add the new broth, cumin, and garlic powder. Let the soy curls soak for 10 minutes.
Coat the underside of a medium skillet with the oil and place it over medium warmth. As soon as the oil is sizzling, add the soy curls. Cook dinner them for about 10 minutes, stirring each 2 to three minutes, till they’re evenly browned. Take away them from the skillet when completed.
As soon as the rice has sat for five minutes, take away the lid and fluff the rice with a fork, then take away the bay leaf, stir within the soy curls, peas, olives, and cilantro. Style-test the combination and add salt and pepper to style, if desired.
Divide onto plates, serve, and revel in!