ABUELITA'S SPANISH RICE

Abuelita's Spanish Rice image

Provided by Susan Feliciano

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 pkg safron yellow rice mix (10 ounces total)
1/4 c chopped bacon or salt pork
1 Tbsp dried oregano
2-3 clove garlic, smashed and slivered
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
2 Tbsp cider vinegar
1 or 2 seeded chopped tomatoes
3 c chicken stock or water
1/2 c sliced pimento-stuffed olives (optional)

Steps:

1. In a large saucepan, cook bacon until fat is rendered. Use a bit of olive oil if necessary to crisp up the bacon or salt pork.
2. Stir in oregano, garlic, salt, pepper, and vinegar, and cook a couple of minutes over medium heat until fragrant. Add in tomatoes and cook until their liquid is released.
3. Stir in the rice mix until rice is well coated, then stir in the chicken stock or water. Bring to a boil.
4. Stir well. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover pot, and cook very slowly without lifting lid for 20 minutes. Then, remove lid, stir well, and allow to cook uncovered until rice dries out slightly, stirring occasionally.
5. Top with sliced green olives, if desired. Another option is to stir in 1 cup peas, or chickpeas, or pigeon peas and heat through.
6. NOTE: My mother-in-law used to make this with plain rice and real saffron. But the cost of real saffron has skyrocketed, and she is OK with using the rice mix. She sometimes also adds 1 packet of the Goya Sazon Azafran. I usually leave that out because it is mostly MSG.