Arroz Caldo de Pollo

I like cooking arroz caldo especially with chicken. In winter months when it is 40 degrees F outside and the wind is blowing 15 miles per hour, it is nice to cozy up in front of the tv and eat a bowl of arroz caldo de pollo. Since I moved to Northern California, I have been making arroz caldo de pollo. I would take my food lay it on a coffee table, I would wrap myself in an afgan, turn on the tv, get comfortable, then I would take my hot bowl of arroz caldo and eat away.

I make arroz caldo in the winter because it warms and fills me. The hot caldo or broth is sufficient enough for me to stand the cold. After I finish eating my bowl of arroz caldo, I feel hot inside and start to sweat a little bit. I look forward to making arroz caldo to reenact that feeling of warm and sweat--something that does not come often in winter months in Northern California.

My version of arroz caldo de pollo is also filling. I put everything in it--carbohydrates in rice, protein in chicken, vegetables in peas. It is very simple and easy to make. So cozy up in winter months and make arroz caldo de pollo.

Arroz Caldo de Pollo
2 chicken breast cut into 1" slices
8 garlic cloves (I love garlic!)
1 red onion
salt
pepper
bay leaf
sprig of rosemary
1 c rice (I use jasmine and brown rice)
4-5 c chicken broth
olive oil

Saute onion and garlic in olive oil. Add a pinch of salt to sweat onion and garlic. Remove from pan and set aside.

Salt and pepper chicken. Brown chicken in the same pan. Remove and set aside. Add more olive oil if needed. Cook rice in olive oil as if browning rice. Wait for the rice to achieve an opaque color.
When rice is opaque in color add chicken broth and wait for a slow boil. Add peas. Season with salt and pepper.
At this time turn down the heat to low and let rice cook for 15 minutes. Half way through return chicken, onion, and garlic into pan and let everything cook together. Stir the bottom so rice would not settle and stick in the bottom and that good brown stuff gets incorporated into the broth. Voila! I am eating my arroz caldo de pollo while watching American Idol.
Would you like to try this recipe? Let me know if you like this variation.