Guam Chicken Chalakiles

If you like chicken and want to try something different, you definitely have got to try Chicken Chalakiles. A very popular dish here on Guam, this basically is a stew made with chicken, toasted ground rice, coconut milk, and colored with achote/achuete or annatto seeds or powder. It is a great dish and one that needs to be on your "must try" list!!

Chicken Chalakiles

So I had some for lunch the other day over white Jasmine rice. I was told that I needed a bigger plate. What do you think? I didn't think so. I just filled this plate up 2 more times....

Anyway, here is the recipe that I used...

Chicken Chalakiles 

Ingredients:

• 1 whole chicken cut into small tablespoon sized pieces 
• ½ medium onion, diced 
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced 
• 2 tbsp of oil 
• Water to cover chicken in pot 
• ½ cup of cream of rice (approximate) 
• Achote/Annatto seeds for coloring (I used one 1/3 oz. packet of Mama Sita’s powdered achuete) 
• 1 can, 15 oz., of coconut milk 
• 10 fresh hot peppers, crushed (optional but we love hot pepper) 
• Salt to taste… 

Directions:

• In pot over medium-high heat, sauté onions and garlic in oil; 
• Add the chicken and brown; 
• Add water just to cover chicken by 1 to 2 inches; 
• Bring to boil and reduce heat to low and until chicken is cooked (about 20 minutes); 
• After about 15 minutes add the achote (powdered), stirring until it all has dissolved; 
• Add the cream of rice until you have the consistency that you like. You don’t want it so thick that it will not readily flow onto and over your plate; 
• Add the hot peppers. These are optional but add greatly to the flavor. Reduce amount to your taste; 
• Then add the can of coconut milk and stir; 
• Salt to taste. 

Enjoy over white rice. We use Jasmine in our home. Not as sticky and has a great flavor.

Give this dish a try. You will love it....I'm sure!!!

Until next time....