Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup Achiote Oil, recipe follows
  • 1 cup Sofrito, recipe follows
  • 1/4 cup alcaparrado or coarsely chopped pimiento-stuffed olives
  • 2 tablespoons kosher or fine sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 cups long-grain rice
  • 2 cups frozen corn kernels, defrosted
  • 5 cups chicken broth, homemade or store-bought, as needed
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons achiote (annatto) seeds
  • 2 medium Spanish onions, cut into large chunks
  • 3 to 4 cubanelle or Italian frying peppers
  • 16 to 20 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 1 large bunch cilantro
  • 3 to 4 ripe plum tomatoes, cored and cut into chunks
  • 1 large red bell pepper, cored seeded and cut into large chunks

Method

  • Heat the Achiote Oil in a Dutch oven or other heavy 4 to 5-quart pot with a tight fitting lid over medium-high heat.
  • Stir in the Sofrito and alcaparrado and cook until the liquid is evaporated and the Sofrito is sizzling.
  • Season with the salt, pepper, and cumin.
  • Toss in the bay leaves.
  • Raise the heat to high and add the rice and corn.
  • Cook, stirring, until the rice is coated with the oil and the grains begin to turn "chalky," about 3 minutes.
  • Pour in enough chicken broth to cover the rice by 1-inch.
  • Bring to a boil and cook until the level of the broth meets the level of the rice.
  • Lower the heat to very low, stir the rice thoroughly but only once, and cover.
  • Cook until the rice is tender but with a little bite and all the liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes.
  • Fluff with a fork before serving.
  • Achiote Oil:
  • Heat the oil and achiote seeds over medium heat just until the seeds give off a lively, steady sizzle.
  • Don't overheat the mixture or the seeds will turn black and the oil a nasty green.
  • Once they're sizzling away, pull the pan from the heat and let stand until the sizzling stops.
  • Strain as much of the oil as you are going to use right into the pan; store the remaining oil for up to 2 days at room temperature in a jar with a tight fitting lid.
  • Yield: about 1 cup
  • Sofrito:
  • Place the onion and cubanelle or Italian peppers in the work bowl of a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped.
  • With the motor running, add the remaining ingredients, 1 at a time, and process until smooth.
  • The sofrito will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • It also freezes beautifully.