Annato Rice Recipes

YELLOW RICE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan, with a tight-fitting lid, over medium-high heat. Add the onion, pepper, and annatto, and cook, stirring, until somewhat soft, about 2 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring, until toasted, about 2 minutes more. Add water, salt, and bay leaf and bring to a boil. Wrap the lid tightly with a kitchen towel. Cover the rice, lower the heat to a simmer, cook for 20 minutes.
• Remove the rice from the heat and set aside, covered, for 10 minutes. Remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Serve with the black beans.
• Put the beans in a large saucepan, add the water and bay leaf, and bring to a boil. Set aside, covered, for 1 hour.
• Return the beans to a boil, lower the heat to a simmer, cook uncovered, for 1 1/2 hours.
• Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and peppers and cook, stirring, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin, oregano, and coriander and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Add the onion mixture to the beans and continue simmering until the beans are very tender and the liquid has thickened, about 1 1/2 hours more.
• If the beans seem too thick, adjust the consistency with a little bit of water. Stir in the vinegar, season with the salt, cayenne, and pepper to taste. Serve.
• Yield: about 4 side dish servings

ANNATTO RICE WITH SAUSAGE AND TOMATO

Steps:

• In a medium saute pan, heat the oil and annatto seeds over medium heat until sizzling. Lower the temperature and cook until the oil turns yellow, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat. Using a slotted spoon, remove annatto seeds and discard.
• Reheat the annatto oil over medium-high heat. Saute chile and garlic, stir, and cook for 30 seconds. Add sausage, tomato, and bay leaves; cook and stir until heated through.
• Stir in cooked rice. Remove and discard bay leaves. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.

ARROZ CON POLLO (CUBAN CHICKEN & RICE RECIPE)

Steps:

• First, pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel then season with salt, pepper, and cumin.
• In a wide Dutch oven or large pot with a heavy bottom and a lid, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Over medium heat, place chicken thighs in the pan and brown on both sides. Transfer to a plate.
• Next, add the remaining olive oil and sauté onion, garlic and red pepper, stirring frequently, until the onion is translucent and the garlic is fragrant.
• Add the rice, chicken stock, tomato sauce, annatto powder, bay leaf, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper to the saucepan. Stir to combine all the ingredients.
• Bring to a boil then add the chicken thighs to the mixture. Reduce heat to low and cover with the lid.
• Cooking low and slow will ensure you don't burn the rice. Every stove cooks differently so after 40 minutes, take a peek and see if the liquid has been absorbed. If yes, remove the pot from the heat immediately so it doesn't continue to cook with the residual heat. If not, continue to cook in 5 minute increments until all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Remove pot from the heat.
• Fluff the rice with a fork then stir in the frozen peas until warm. Serve and enjoy!

ACHIOTE RED RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Rinse the rice well. Place in a bowl and cover with water. Let soak 10 minutes. Rinse again. Allow the rice to drain in the strainer.
• Mix the achiote paste in the vegetable broth, pushing with the back of the spoon until the paste is completely dissolved. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan over medium flame. Add the onions and cook and stir a few minutes. Stir in the rinsed rice and diced carrot. Cook, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes, until the rice is coated with oil and turns light golden brown.
• Add the achiote broth and the vegetable juice.
• Bring the rice to a boil, cover, and lower the heat to the lowest setting possible. Cook without stirring, 35 to 45 minutes. (To check if the liquid has been absorbed or not, tilt the pan to the side.) Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes before serving.

JAVA RICE

Steps:

• In a bowl, break rice to separate grains.
• In a wok or wide, heavy-bottomed skillet over high heat, combine butter and oil. Heat until butter is melted.
• Add shallots, garlic, and bell pepper. Cook, stirring regularly until softened.
• Add annatto powder and turmeric powder. Continue to cook, stirring regularly for about 30 seconds.
• Add rice and gently toss to fully coat. Spread the rice on entire cooking surface of pan for about 45 seconds or until grains start to sizzle and then toss again to redistribute.
• Add soy sauce and season with salt and pepper to taste. Continue to cook, tossing gently, for about 1 to 2 minutes or until rice grains are heated through and evenly colored. Serve hot.

ANNATO RICE

Steps:

• Boil water.
• Add bouillon cubes to dissolve, then stir in converted rice and onion flakes.
• Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
• While rice is cooking, melt butter in small saucepan and add annato seeds.
• Simmer on low for 10 minutes.
• When rice is done, pour annato mixture through a strainer and into the rice.
• Add parsley and stir well until color is mixed evenly.
• Serve and enjoy!

YELLOW RICE - ARROZ AMARILLO CON ACHIOTE

Steps:

• Infusing Annatto Oil:.
• Heat the seeds and oil in a small saucepan over low heat, swirling pan frequently, until the oil turns bright red-orange in color. Simmer for 1 to 2 minutes and then remove from heat. Let it cool for about 10 minutes and then strain the oil. Discard the seeds.
• Reheat annatto oil and butter in a skillet. Saute the onions, celery and garlic with salt, pepper and cumin to taste until soft. Add the bell peppers and cook for another 2-3 minutes until the peppers are lightly cooked.
• Next add the rice and stir into the mixture.
• Saute it until the rice turns opaque.
• Add the stock or water and cook covered for about 15 minutes in medium heat until cooked.
• Garnish with cilantro, lime slices and Pimentos.

MEXICAN RICE WITH ANNATTO AND AVOCADO

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium (4-6 quart) cast-iron Dutch oven over medium heat for 1 minute. Stir in the rice and garlic until well coated with the oil. Cook, stirring for 2 minutes. Stir in the chicken broth and seasoning and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and cover. Simmer, stirring once, until the rice is tender and almost all the liquid is absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the Dutch oven from the heat. Add the peas, but do not stir (the steam will cook thme gently so that they will reamin bright green). Cover and let stand for 5 minutes more. Meanwhile, peel, pit and thinly slice the avocado lengthwise. Stir the lime juice and cilantro into the rice mixture. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve at once, garnished with the avocado slices.