Arroz con pollo means "rice with chicken" in Spanish. It is a traditional Spanish and Latin cuisine item. While it is universal to Spain and Central and South America, there are individual differences in preparation depending on the country. The dish described here is the Panamanian arroz con pollo.
History
Panama's culinary history is a mix of Native American, European and the other Latin America countries. It has many herbs, fruits and vegetables that grow indigenously and add to the Panamanian diet. The plantain is a staple, as is fish, since both are abundant due to Panama's geography and location. The primary ingredient of most meals, however, is rice of some sort.
Function
Arroz con guandu is a common side dish in Panama. This is basically rice cooked up with beans and other spices. To change this from a side to the primary focus of the meal, chicken is often added and beans deleted.
Features
The difference between Panamanian arroz con pollo and other countries' recipes is the addition of green olives, capers and green peas. This makes a unique and colorful dish. Panamanian food is often colorful and with many spices and flavors mixed together.
Types
The recipe for arroz con pollo, Panamanian style is simple. Cook the chicken in water with onions and bell pepper until tender. Remove the chicken and add enough water to the broth when done to make 5 cups of broth. Add rice, capers, carrots, Worcestershire sauce and raisins to the broth. Cook covered until rice is tender. Stir in peas and green olives, then add the deboned, shredded chicken. Serve with cilantro. For more specific instructions, there are many great Panama cooking websites, such as Panama Living.
Benefits
Panamanian food is spicy and has an international flair. If you are trying to capture Panama in your cooking, but would like to start with a common yet relatively simple dish, Panamanian arroz con pollo is a great suggestion.
Tags: Panamanian arroz, arroz pollo, arroz pollo, dish Panamanian, green olives, Panamanian arroz pollo, Panamanian food
