Over The Bow Volume 79 Issue 1 Fall 2020 | Page 72

Monica Coulliard

10-02

Seacaucus NJ

I’ve been making this dish since I was 8 years old. My mother used to cook it at least once a week when I was a child. I loved eating at the kitchen table while my parents talk about their youth in Cuba, the delicious meals cooked by their abuelas (grandmothers).

Prepare the rice:

You can use any type of white rice but for a real Cuban dish, try Canilla brand extra-long grain rice.

Heat olive oil in a deep pan with a tight-fitting lid (I like using an enameled dutch oven).

Add the rice and salt and stir for 1 minute until the rice is coated in olive oil and just slightly toasted.

Add water and bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to simmer. Rice is ready in about 20 minutes.

Cuban Arroz con Picadillo

Rice:

1 tbsp olive oil

1-1/2 cup white rice

2-1/2 cups water

¼ tsp salt