Grilling season is approaching, and one of my favorite summer sides is this Chamorro Saipan red rice from Micronesia. As I mentioned in my post on Chicken Kelaguen, this is a common island dish that brings back fond memories of the local cookouts and celebrations.
The red coloring comes from soaking achiote seeds in water. The seeds are a source of annatto, a natural pigment used in many types of foods, including cheeses, fish, and oils. In fact when shopping for these seeds, you may find them labeled as either achiote or annatto. The seeds themselves provide almost no flavor, so the flavor in the red rice mostly comes from the addition of bacon and onion which gives the rice a richness that goes well with grilled chicken and fish.
Recipe Notes
You can find achiote seeds in the international foods aisle of well-stocked grocery stores.
I recently updated this recipe with instructions for rice cookers.
Saipan Red Rice (Eneksa Agaga)
Equipment
- medium bowl
- rice cooker OR 4 quart heavy bottom pot with lid
Ingredients
- 4 ounces achiote seeds
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups medium grain rice
- 2 slices bacon (fried and chopped)
- ½ onion (chopped)
Preparation
- Soak the achiote seeds in water for about 30 minutes, until the liquid is a dark rich red. Drain the seeds, reserving the liquid.
- Put rice, bacon, and onion in the pot and add the achiote liquid. Bring the rice to a boil and then allow it to boil down until the liquid is almost completely gone, about 15 to 20 minutes. Cover and reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir and serve.
Rice Cooker Instructions
- Prepare the achiote liquid. Add the rice, bacon, and onions to the rice cooker. Add the achiote liquid in the amount recommended by your rice cooker manufacturer. Cook according to the manufacturer instructions.
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