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A large enamel pot filled with chicken perloo with a ladle.
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4.72 / 7 votes

Chicken Perloo

An iconic and versatile one-pot Gullah dish full of chicken and rice. You may also see it spelled purloo, perlo, or perlou (or sometimes called chicken bog). I prefer using a whole smoked chicken for the subtle flavor it adds.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time55 minutes
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Mains
Cuisine: Southern
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 390

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 6 celery stalks, cut into 1/4-inch dice (about 1 1/2 cups)
  • 1 large (6 oz) green bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch dice
  • 1 medium (6 oz) yellow onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can stewed tomatoes
  • 2 teaspoons store-bought or homemade rib rub
  • 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
  • 6 cups canned chicken broth or homemade chicken stock
  • 1 cup (7 oz) short-grain rice*, such as Carnaroli, Charleston Gold, or Arborio
  • 12 ounces smoked chicken meat, picked off the bone (or substitute rotisserie chicken)
  • 1 bunch scallions, chopped, for garnish
US - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • In a Dutch oven over medium heat, warm oil. Add celery, bell pepper, onion, and garlic, and cook until vegetables become translucent and soft, about 15 minutes.
  • Add stewed tomatoes, rib rub, and salt to the sautéed vegetables, cook until all the liquid is gone and the mixture begins to caramelize on the bottom of the pot, 15 to 25 minutes more.
  • Pour in stock and bring to a boil. Stir in rice and smoked chicken and transfer to the oven. Bake, uncovered, until rice is soft and cooked through, about 20 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and garnish with scallions. Devour.

Notes

*What is short-grain rice best used for?

Rodney Scott uses short-grain rice in this recipe, and for good reason. Short-grain rice, such as arborio, carnaroli, and Charleston gold, is perfect for recipes with a soupy or stewy texture such as chicken perloo or jambalaya.
Starchier than long- or medium-grain rice, these particular types of rice absorb a lot of liquid and take on a creamy texture. Risotto is a perfect example of how creamy this type of rice gets when cooked with lots of flavorful liquid.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 390kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 505mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g