Red rice(hineksa’ aga’ga’) is an essential dish at any Chamorro fiesta. In its modern version, the red color normally comes from annatto seeds.

Marianas Islanders have grown rice for hundreds of years, since before Spanish colonization. In ancient times, japonica rice was planted in swamplands and had ceremonial importance. It was also a symbol of high status.

Annatto(achote) arrived in the Marianas Islands later, brought from the Americas by Spanish colonists.

Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp annatto seed(achote)
• 2 cup water
• 1 cup short-grain rice(pugas)
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 shallot, minced
• ¼ tsp salt

Directions

• combine annatto seed, water
• stir until water turns deep red
• strain
• boil rice, annatto water, garlic, shallot, salt
• simmer until fully cooked
• serve