by As a lifelong fan of Jennifer Lopez, I was thrilled when she recently opened up in an interview with Food & Wine about her favorite comfort food dish – arroz con gandules. This classic Puerto Rican meal of rice cooked with pigeon peas, sofrito and spices is clearly near and dear to JLo’s heart, as it reminds her of childhood and home.
In the interview, Jennifer shared that her mom’s arroz con gandules recipe is the best in the world. She raved about how flavorful and comforting this rice dish is, saying she could easily eat it every day! I have to agree – once you try a well-made arroz con gandules, it’s hard not to crave it on a regular basis.
As someone of Puerto Rican descent myself, I grew up eating arroz con gandules and it will always have a special place in my heart too. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as a spoonful of that tender rice and beans flavored with the savory, aromatic sofrito. It’s a dish that manages to be deeply comforting and craveable at the same time.
Jennifer said her mom’s arroz con gandules is always the first thing she asks for when visiting home in New York. I can totally relate – whenever I go back to visit family, arroz con gandules is top on my request list as well! There’s nothing that says love and home cooking more than this traditional island dish.
Apparently, Jennifer’s mom has perfected the delicate balance of cooking the rice and pigeon peas until they reach that melt-in-your-mouth consistency. And she knows exactly how to season the sofrito and infuse the dish with the right blend of spices. Jennifer described it as a “hug in a bowl” – and I think that’s the perfect way to describe an outstanding arroz con gandules!
As a fellow arroz con gandules lover, I’m admittedly a bit envious that Jennifer gets to enjoy her mom’s magical version anytime she wants. But her glowing praise of the dish has inspired me to call up my own mom and aunts to get their recipes and tips! Maybe I can come close to recreating that soul-warming comfort food I grew up with.
Beyond just being Jennifer’s favorite comfort meal, arroz con gandules also seems to represent her strong cultural roots and connection to her Puerto Rican heritage. As one of the most prominent Latin stars over the last few decades, I love that Jennifer openly embraces dishes like arroz con gandules as an essential part of her identity.
For those unfamiliar with this staple Puerto Rican meal, arroz con gandules consists of white rice cooked with pigeon peas (also known as gandules). The rice and peas are seasoned with a sofrito, which is made by sautéing aromatic ingredients like cilantro, peppers, onions, garlic, and tomato. Recipes vary, but many also incorporate olives, smoked ham, pork, or chicken for extra flavor. The end result is a vibrant, tasty rice dish that packs in protein from the beans.
Beyond just the unbeatable comfort food factor, arroz con gandules is beloved for being so versatile too. It can be served as a side, a main meal, or even as part of a breakfast spread. Leftovers are delicious served up the next day, fried up with eggs for a quick arroz con gandules frittata. It’s truly an anytime food for Puerto Ricans!
Arroz con gandules is a staple on the island, especially during the holidays. As Jennifer mentioned, it’s basically required eating at the Christmas and New Year’s feasts. But you’ll also find it on tables at birthdays, weddings, parties or any big gathering of family and friends. For Puerto Ricans, a big meal just doesn’t feel complete without this iconic rice and bean dish.
So I’m totally with Jennifer Lopez in her arroz con gandules obsession! Her appreciation and love for the dish is inspiring me to reconnect with my own food heritage. I think I’ll call my abuela up this weekend to get her full recipe and tips on making the perfect arroz con gandules. Maybe I’ll even invite JLo over for a taste if I can get close to recreating her mom’s magical version! One thing I know for sure – arroz con gandules will always have a place at my dinner table and remind me of my culture, just like it does for Jennifer.
