Asopao de Pollo

Name: Asopao de Pollo
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Puerto Rican
Ingredients: 1kg chicken pieces, bone-in; 2 cups short-grain rice; 3 tbsp sofrito; 2 tbsp tomato sauce; 1 packet sazon; 1 can pigeon peas, drained; 8 manzanilla olives; 1 tbsp capers; 1 red bell pepper, diced; 8 cups chicken stock; 2 tbsp olive oil; Salt and pepper

Asopao de Pollo (ah-soh-POW deh POH-yoh)

Puerto Rican Chicken Soup-Stew

⏱ Prep Time 1 hour 15 min

📈 Difficulty Medium

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 414 kcal

A thick, hearty chicken and rice soup loaded with sofrito, olives, capers, and pigeon peas, thicker than soup but looser than stew.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 32.0g

Carbs 40.0g

Fat 14.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

dairy-free gluten-free nut-free

Equipment Needed

caldero or large pot wooden spoon ladle

Presentation Guide

Vessel: deep bowl

Garnishes: cilantro, lime wedge

Accompaniments: bread, avocado slices

Ingredients

1kg chicken pieces, bone-in
2 cups short-grain rice
3 tbsp sofrito
2 tbsp tomato sauce
1 packet sazon
1 can pigeon peas, drained
8 manzanilla olives
1 tbsp capers
1 red bell pepper, diced
8 cups chicken stock
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper

Instructions

1
Season chicken with adobo and sazon. Sear in olive oil in a large caldero until browned on all sides.
2
Add sofrito and tomato sauce, cook three minutes until fragrant and darkened.
3
Pour in chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer twenty minutes.
4
Add rice, olives, capers, pigeon peas, and bell pepper. Stir well to combine.
5
Cook twenty-five minutes, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender and the soup has thickened to a porridge-like consistency.
6
Adjust seasoning and serve in deep bowls. The asopao should be thick enough that a spoon stands up in it.

💡

Did You Know?

Asopao is considered the ultimate Puerto Rican comfort food and is traditionally served at political rallies and town festivals to feed large crowds.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

caldero or large pot
wooden spoon
ladle

Garnishing

cilantro, lime wedge

Accompaniments

bread, avocado slices

The Story Behind Asopao de Pollo

Asopao is Puerto Rico's answer to chicken soup, a dish that combines Taino, Spanish, and African cooking traditions into one generous pot. The name derives from "sopao" meaning soupy, and this dish lives in the space between soup and stew. It became the go-to meal for feeding large groups at community events, political gatherings, and fiestas patronales. Every town in Puerto Rico has its own version, and debates over the proper thickness of asopao can become surprisingly heated.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed rainy days and family gatherings 📜 Origins: Taino and Spanish fusion

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