Top 25 South American Rice Dishes

Arroz tapado is a Peruvian dish that is easy to prepare and inexpensive. It is made with rice, carrots, ground beef, tomato paste, onions, garlic, black olives, and chopped hard-boiled eggs. This dish is layered, usually in a way where rice is on the bottom and on the top, with the other ingredients sandwiched in the middle layer. Once assembled, arroz tapado is garnished with parsley and served with green salads, plantains, or avocado slices on the side, if desired.Expand

Arroz chaufa is a popular Peruvian dish with a great influence of Chinese cuisine. It consists of a combination of fried rice, meats, vegetables, and fruits. Most commonly, rice is fried with shredded chicken, salami, garlic, ginger, slivered almonds, eggs, chicken stock, soy sauce, pineapple chunks, and pineapple juice, although there are numerous variations on the dish using ingredients such as fish, beef, pork, jerky, and even alligator meat. Once prepared, the dish is typically garnished with chopped scallions and coriander.Expand

Arroz con camarones is a dish that is popular throughout Latin America, especially in Peru, Ecuador and Mexico. It consists of rice that is cooked in a flavorful shrimp broth, combined with shrimp, peppers, tomatoes, and onions. The dish is usually seasoned with cumin, garlic, and achiote, with the addition of finely chopped parsley used for garnishing. Arroz con camarones can be served with numerous accompaniments such as lime wedges, hot sauce, avocado slices, or fried plantains.Expand

Baião is a traditional folk dance of the Brazilian Ceará region, which was popularized by two musicians, Humberto Teixeira and Luís Gonzaga, in a song called Baião-de-dois (baião for two). The name of the song attached itself to the dish of the same name, consisting of freshly picked black-eyed peas and rice cooked together, reminiscent of a couple dancing the baião. The dish has numerous varieties throughout the region, so some cooks add dried beef (carne de sol), while the others add pork or cheese to the combination. Garnishes may include freshly chopped coriander and chives. The history of the dish dates back to the time of great difficulties, when food was scarce and nothing could go to waste, so, like many other dishes, this one was also created out of necessity, combining rice, beans, and kitchen leftovers.Expand

Both savory and sweet in flavor, arroz con coco is a flavorful Colombian side dish consisting of white rice, coconut milk, sugar, salt, and water. When mixed with raisins, arroz con coco becomes slightly sweeter, while the version without raisins is more savory and traditionally served with fish dishes. It is recommended to use coconut milk without stabilizers so that it can separate into fat and solids.Expand

Arroz con pato a la chiclayana (also known as arroz con pato de lambayeque) is a traditional dish originating from the city of Chiclayo. It's usually made with a combination of duck meat, oil, garlic, onions, rice, peas, pumpkin (squash), red peppers, scallions, aji limo peppers, lime juice, and salt. The garlic, onions, and squash are cooked in oil, then combined with the browned duck meat and water. Once the duck becomes tender it's taken out and the rice, peas, pepper, and coriander are simmered in the cooking liquid. Once cooked, the rice mixture is seasoned with lime juice and served alongside duck meat.Expand

Tacu-tacu is a simple and rustic Peruvian dish that combines rice, beans, various spices, and onions. The ingredients are typically pan-fried and formed in a thick, pancake-like dish. It is believed that tacu-tacu originated among the African community, while the name stems from the Quechuan taka-taka, which translates as pounded or mashed. The variation of this classic may include lentils, and the dish is typically served with a fried egg on top or sided with breaded and fried meat, fried plantains, and the onion-based salsa criolla.Expand

Arroz carreteiro or wagoner's rice is a hearty rice and meat dish hailing from the south of Brazil. Originally, it was prepared by gauchos who needed a nutritious meal on their travels. Back then, arroz carreteiro was made with dried beef, but today it can be made with either charqui or leftovers from barbecues. Other ingredients include onions, sausages, bell peppers, garlic, oil, and parsley. When served, arroz carreteiro is often topped with grated parmesan.Expand

Pabellon criollo is a traditional dish consisting of black beans, white rice, and slices of steak cooked with tomatoes. The word pabellon means flag, referring to the colors of individual components, which are arranged to resemble the national flag. The dish is sometimes also served with fried plantains, known as tajadas, along with arepas and white cheese. The plantains keep the food from slipping over the plate, and in that case, the dish is known as pabellon con baranda, where baranda means guard rail. If the dish is served with a fried egg on top, it is known as pabellon a caballo. Pabellon criollo is especially popular with Venezuelan cowboys, known as llanos.Expand

Juane is a traditional meal originating from the Peruvian jungles, consisting of chicken, hard-boiled eggs, and rice seasoned with spices that might include turmeric, oregano, and cumin. The combination of these ingredients is wrapped in waxy bijao leaves (which look like banana leaves) and cooked. It is common to pair the dish with cassava or boiled bananas. Juanes can be found in traditional restaurants, in markets, or at street vendors. The name juane refers to St. John the Baptist, because the dish is traditionally eaten on the 24th of June, during the feast of San Juan (patron saint of the Amazon). During the festivities, parcels of juanes are exchanged between family, friends, and strangers, with everybody coming together to help out with the preparation of this unique dish.Expand