Asopao de Pollo (Puerto Rican Chicken and Rice Soup)
A thick, soupy chicken and rice stew somewhere between a risotto and a soup, made with sofrito, annatto, olives, capers and peas. Puerto Rico's ultimate comfort food.
Servings
Ingredients
Nutrition
Per serving
Steps
Season and brown the chicken
Rub the chicken all over with the . Heat the in a large pot (at least 5 litres) over medium-high heat and brown the chicken about 4 minutes per side, turning once.
- 1 kg chicken
- 1 tbsp
- 3 tbsp
✅ Done when: chicken is golden brown on both sides (it does not need to be cooked through yet)
Add the sofrito
Add the , tomato sauce, olives and capers to the pot with the chicken and cook over medium heat for 3 minutes, stirring often.
- 5 tbsp
- 4 tbsp tomato sauce
- 10 olives
- 1 tbsp capers
✅ Done when: mixture is fragrant and slightly thickened
Simmer the chicken
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Shred the chicken
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Cook the rice
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Serve
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Season and brown the chicken
Rub the chicken all over with the . Heat the in a large pot (at least 5 litres) over medium-high heat and brown the chicken about 4 minutes per side, turning once.
- 1 kg chicken
- 1 tbsp
- 3 tbsp
✅ Done when: chicken is golden brown on both sides (it does not need to be cooked through yet)
Add the sofrito
Add the , tomato sauce, olives and capers to the pot with the chicken and cook over medium heat for 3 minutes, stirring often.
- 5 tbsp
- 4 tbsp tomato sauce
- 10 olives
- 1 tbsp capers
✅ Done when: mixture is fragrant and slightly thickened
Simmer the chicken
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Shred the chicken
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Cook the rice
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Serve
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The Story Behind the Dish
Asopao, from 'asopado' (soupy), is Puerto Rico's take on the Spanish soupy rice dishes. Halfway between a stew and a soup, it's the dish Puerto Ricans make on rainy days, when someone is sick, or late at night after a party.
There are versions with chicken, shrimp, pigeon peas and even lobster, but chicken asopao is the most beloved.
⭐ Why It's Famous
Thick, warming and full of sofrito flavour, it's the Puerto Rican equivalent of chicken noodle soup.
💡 Fun Fact
Asopao thickens as it sits, so leftovers the next day are almost like a risotto, and many people prefer them.
Puerto Rico
18.47°N, -66.11°W
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