Puerto Rican Pollo Guisado (Sofrito Stewed Chicken)

Pollo guisado is the dish that shows up on Puerto Rican stovetops on a regular weeknight, built on sofrito — a blended base of onion, garlic, cubanelle pepper, and cilantro — that forms the backbone of so much of the island's cooking. Achiote-based sazón adds its distinctive color and savory depth, and briny olives folded in near the end give the sauce a salty punch that plain tomato sauce alone wouldn't have.

Bone-in chicken and a good long simmer are what make the sauce here, since the bones release flavor and gelatin as everything cooks down. This is a naturally gluten-free, high-protein dinner that scales up easily for a family table — leftovers, if you get any, tend to taste even better the next day once the sauce has had more time to soak into the chicken.