Arroz con maiz facts for kids

Arroz con maíz is a yummy dish from Latin America. It means "rice with corn." It's cooked in one pot, mixing rice and corn together. This dish is popular in many countries, especially in the Caribbean.

Cuban Style Arroz con Maíz

In Cuba, this rice dish gets a bright yellow color. This comes from a special powder called bijol. Bijol is made from annatto seeds. The rice and corn are cooked with a flavorful mix. This mix includes Cuban-style sofrito, which is a base of cooked vegetables. They also add tasty chorizo sausage. Other ingredients are white wine, Cuban orégano, and cumin. Everything is cooked in chicken stock for a rich flavor.

Dominican Republic's Arroz con Maíz

Arroz con maíz is a very common meal in Dominican homes. It is made quite simply. Cooks use powdered annatto for color. They also add a chicken bouillon cube for extra taste. A special Dominican sofrito is used, called sazón. This makes the dish very flavorful and a favorite for families.

Puerto Rico's Famous Arroz con Maíz

The Puerto Rican version of Arroz con maíz is very well-known. Many people think it's the most flavorful in Latin America. The rice is cooked using sofrito as a main base. The rice also gets a yellow color from annatto oil. This oil is olive oil that has been mixed with annatto seeds.

How Puerto Rican Arroz con Maíz is Made

First, the annatto oil is heated in a pot. Once it's hot, salchichas (small sausages) are often added. Then, the sofrito is cooked until most of its water has gone away. After that, olives, capers, corn, and bay leaves are added. These cook for about one more minute.

Next, rice, black pepper, coriander seeds, and cumin are added. Sometimes, orégano brujo is also used. Everything is stirred until each grain of rice is covered in the sofrito mix. Finally, broth is poured into the pot. The dish is then left to cook until it's ready. This tasty dish is very popular in Puerto Rico, especially on Thanksgiving.