Rice with chicken

This dish is one of the most typical recipes in Panama, I don’t think there’s a Panamanian that hasn’t eaten rice with chicken in a party or in any family gathering. If one has to choose the three most popular dishes in Panama the thing would be complicated because the Panamanians have so good appetite that with only three on the podium is not enough… In any case the arroz con pollo (Panamanian style) is at the top ten, side by side with the sancocho, but that recipe is for another day. Enjoy!

Ingredients

700 grams of rice
1 whole chicken cut in quarter
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 diced onion
3 tomatoes chopped
2 green peppers chopped
Half cup of olives stuffed with peppers
Half cup capers
Half cup of mixed vegetables
Oil for frying, about 3 tablespoons
Salt and pepper to taste
1 litre water

Preparation

Season the chicken with salt and pepper and put it to brown in a large pot, turning so it browned on all sides. We then take out the chicken and in the same oil soute the onion, tomato, tomato paste and peppers. In the meantime we are going to debone the chicken. When the vegetables are sautéed we add the chicken and the water and cover it, when it starts to boil, we lower the heat and continue cooking for 10 minutes. After that time add the rice, stirring well and fix the salt if it did lack. We cook the rice covered for 20 minutes, then add the mixed vegetables, the olives and capers and leave it on low heat for about 5 or 10 more minutes.