Every time I eat arroz caldo, it reminds me of the countless times my dad and I spent on those hole-in-a-wall eateries that are often found on the street or what many Filipinos called “carinderia”. That is why I want to thank Joy of Kulinarya Club for coming up with arroz caldo as our November cooking theme.
The true Filipino name of this dish is “lugaw” or “lugao” and it was adapted from the Chinese congee. Congee and lugaw are very similar except Filipinos added diced scallions, toasted garlic, and some even added boiled eggs. Then came the Castilian or Spanish influence of adding saffron, and other spices that made it arroz caldo. Well, with the price tag of about $70 per ounce, I guess. . . we’re not using saffron today. Instead we will be using the saffron wanna be and that is kasubha (safflower $1.49 per oz). But if you insist on using saffron, be my guest and if you have any leftover, email me and I will let you know where to send it, he he he.
There are arroz caldo (sometimes called “GOTO”) that is prepared with beef tripe, or even pork stomach but the most common type is chicken arroz caldo. You can use boneless and skinless chicken meat or you can use chopped whole chicken. I like using chopped whole chicken because of the flavorful broth that it produces.
Sarap! and the chicken with its nice brown color made it more so yummy!
I can eat arroz caldo for breakfast, lunch and dinner hindi nakakasawa.
and great photo as always! Margarita@ Pinoy Kitchenette recently posted..Sizzling Steak Malasugi
I love your Arroz Caldo version, Chef Ray! The toppings look so good. Great recipe! Glad to cook along with you on this KCC event! Elizabeth @Mango_Queen recently posted..ARROZ CALDO Con PABO: FILIPINO RICE PORRIDGE with TURKEY
Your Chicken Arroz Caldo recipe looks soooooo good! I haven’t cooked in a wok in years so after reading through this recipe I started missing my wok. Guess it’s time to buy another one and give this recipe a go. You know I love the toasted garlic! I like to cook up garlic like that and just dip fresh bread in the oil, picking up a few bits of the garlic. I can only imagine how well it goes with the arroz caldo! mjskit recently posted..Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
Classic, indeed. Classic comfort food that’s perfect all-year round but more so now. Handsome bowl of arroz caldo you have, Ray. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving to you and your family. Jun Belen recently posted..L is for Longganisa (Filipino-Style Sausage)
Wow, this sounds like the most fragrant, beautiful dish. I can just imagine the aroma wafting through the house Lovely recipe! Kiri W. recently posted..I have a Blogroll again!
Your arroz caldo looks so tasty, Ray. Arroz caldo is one dish that I’ll never get tired of seeing and eating. Love the photos! Adora’s Box recently posted..CHICKEN ARROZ CALDO
Sometimes I don’t use Spanish saffron either. Besides my husband can’t even tell the difference in flavor.LOL
Your photos are making me want to cook again, goto next time. Oggi recently posted..Arroz Caldo
Hi Ray! HMMM! This is why I need to come to Filipino blogger’s site. I’m not exposed to Filipino cuisines AT ALL. I’m missing great food in my life. This looks amazingly delicious…perfect for cold day like today (freezing up here). Nami | Just One Cookbook recently posted..Fandango Restaurant Review @ Pacific Grove/Monterey
What a lovely sunny dish! I think I will have to wait several long months before I have such a warm light… It looks delicious! thank you for introducing the false saffron. I have never heard about it, but many people say that often false saffron is sold as real saffron… (of course at the high price!)
Thank you, Sissi. Safflower doesn’t have the aroma and flavor of saffron (in my opinion) and it doesn’t even come close. If you would like the yellow coloring, this would do.
I also use safflower when I had access to it in Cali. It gives a beautiful landscape like your bowl… so soothing. Great post and amazing photos as always. Don’t get tired of those praises Ray because your clicks are always so stunning!
malou
Hi ray, i spelled by your picture through Season with spice. This recipe is absolutely what i need because i have sun flower strand just sitting in the spices jar. Thank you!
*Book marked right away Ira Rodrigues recently posted..Sayur asem / various vegetables in tamarind soup
I’ve been tempted on buying those mini capsules of saffron from the grocery stores but keep on chickening out! So expensive! I second the motion if ever anyone got spare I would love to have some=P Okey na rin ang kasubha or even turmeric powder for Filipino Congee (*barat ko* LOL!) Your Arroz Caldo looks like it packs so much flavour because I can see that rich broth…and I love that golden brown searing on the chicken pieces, reminds me of the lugawan stopover halfway to Ilocos Norte, they kind of pan seared the cooked chicken pieces and then they place a piece on the bottom of the bowl and ladle the Arroz Caldo on top=)
The beautiful red safflower sprinkled throughout the dish adds such beautiful color. As usual, your food makes my mouth water wishing I could have a bite! Kristi Rimkus recently posted..Mother Rimmy’s Top Ten Leftover Turkey Recipes
I have never heard of arroz caldo but it looks like a heart warm meal for the cold weather that we have been having
Thank you for sharing Ray Sawsan@chef in disguise recently posted..Sans Rival, the daring bakers November challenge
Great introduction Ray to this delicious looking dish. Reading this post makes me wonder why there aren’t more Filipino restaurants around. I haven’t heard of this dish before but it looks so comforting and satisfying! I’ll need to remember this recipe and give it a try … with the safflower seeds version. =P Sharon | Chinese Soup Pot recently posted..Revitalizing Dong Quai and Red Date Tea
Your arroz caldo look so good. I wasn’t able to make this for our KC Challenge but i will for surely make one any time soon. I braise my chicken when i make “puspas” Cebuano name for Arroz caldo as well. Thank you for reminding me of the kasubha, my mom uses them too but i haven’t used them for a long time now…i must look for it when i go to the Asian store. Pia (Tagaluto) recently posted..CRISPY KATAIFI WRAPPED SHRIMP
It’s like a mix between congee (one of my all-time favourite foods in the world) and paella – looks gorgeous. Carolyn Chan recently posted..Tomato and onion jam
oh wow your arroz caldo looks amazing. The ingredients u have add make me want to try it out right away. arroz caldo is a portugues word, right? sussegade…. =)
Merry Christmas Ray!
Yummm I just made this!!! It’s super old in NY today and this was perfect I didnt have the kasubha or safflower on hand. But this was super tasty!! Thank you!!!
Good Day po,
sarap ng arroz caldo pero wala akong kasubha or safflower for coloring dito sa Europa, Central Europe,kelangan po ba talga nyan?
thanks!
more powers
mon
Hi Mon, You don’t need kasubha. It is just a coloring and not really adding flavor to the dish unlike saffron. Wala bang Asian store in Central Europe?
1 year ago
Sarap! and the chicken with its nice brown color made it more so yummy!
hindi nakakasawa.
I can eat arroz caldo for breakfast, lunch and dinner
and great photo as always!
Margarita@ Pinoy Kitchenette recently posted..Sizzling Steak Malasugi
1 year ago
Thank you for the kind comment, Margarita!
1 year ago
I love your Arroz Caldo version, Chef Ray! The toppings look so good. Great recipe! Glad to cook along with you on this KCC event!
Elizabeth @Mango_Queen recently posted..ARROZ CALDO Con PABO: FILIPINO RICE PORRIDGE with TURKEY
1 year ago
And I am glad to cook along with you too, Elizabeth!
1 year ago
Ray that looks amazin!
Rowena @Saraplicious! Kitchen recently posted..Arroz Caldo
1 year ago
Thank you , Rowena!
1 year ago
Your Chicken Arroz Caldo recipe looks soooooo good! I haven’t cooked in a wok in years so after reading through this recipe I started missing my wok. Guess it’s time to buy another one and give this recipe a go. You know I love the toasted garlic! I like to cook up garlic like that and just dip fresh bread in the oil, picking up a few bits of the garlic. I can only imagine how well it goes with the arroz caldo!
mjskit recently posted..Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
1 year ago
Nothing beats the aroma and the flavor of toasted garlic, MJ! It’s a great topping for this dish.
1 year ago
Classic, indeed. Classic comfort food that’s perfect all-year round but more so now. Handsome bowl of arroz caldo you have, Ray. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Jun Belen recently posted..L is for Longganisa (Filipino-Style Sausage)
1 year ago
Thank you Jun and happy thanksgiving to you too!
1 year ago
I love your arrozcaldo with those kasubha! Too bad I don’t have an entry this month…
peachkins recently posted..Winner of Starbucks Christmas Blend and Tumbler
1 year ago
Well, I am looking forward to seeing your post next month, Peachy! Thank you for dropping by.
1 year ago
Wow, this sounds like the most fragrant, beautiful dish. I can just imagine the aroma wafting through the house
Lovely recipe!
Kiri W. recently posted..I have a Blogroll again!
1 year ago
Thank you, Kiri! It’s nice seeing you dropping by my blog, I really appreciate it.
1 year ago
awesome preparation ray … i like the slightly browned chicken …. nice work on this month’s challenge

Boyet of Reel and Grill recently posted..Arroz Caldo (Filipino Chicken Congee) – iLugaw 4S for Kulinarya Challenge
1 year ago
Thank you, Boyet!
1 year ago
Your arroz caldo looks so tasty, Ray. Arroz caldo is one dish that I’ll never get tired of seeing and eating. Love the photos!
Adora’s Box recently posted..CHICKEN ARROZ CALDO
1 year ago
Thank you, Adora! Me too, it is one of my favorites.
1 year ago
Ray, this looks droolworhty!
Angie@Angiesrecipes recently posted..Reginette with Radicchio and Hazelnut Cream Sauce
1 year ago
Thank you, Angie!
1 year ago
Sometimes I don’t use Spanish saffron either. Besides my husband can’t even tell the difference in flavor.LOL
Your photos are making me want to cook again, goto next time.
Oggi recently posted..Arroz Caldo
1 year ago
The real saffron is VERY expensive, Oggi! Yes, goto is the next trip to the kitchen but watch out for uric acid, hehehe.
1 year ago
Hi Ray! HMMM! This is why I need to come to Filipino blogger’s site. I’m not exposed to Filipino cuisines AT ALL. I’m missing great food in my life. This looks amazingly delicious…perfect for cold day like today (freezing up here).
Nami | Just One Cookbook recently posted..Fandango Restaurant Review @ Pacific Grove/Monterey
1 year ago
Thank you, Nami for your kind words.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
1 year ago
What a lovely sunny dish! I think I will have to wait several long months before I have such a warm light… It looks delicious! thank you for introducing the false saffron. I have never heard about it, but many people say that often false saffron is sold as real saffron… (of course at the high price!)
1 year ago
Thank you, Sissi. Safflower doesn’t have the aroma and flavor of saffron (in my opinion) and it doesn’t even come close. If you would like the yellow coloring, this would do.
1 year ago
lovely Arroz Caldo! and lovely photos as well! nice to be cooking with you again, Ray!
dudut @mytwistedrecipe recently posted..Arroz Caldo with Goto
1 year ago
Yay, you finally got in to my site, Dudut! It was nice cooking with you too!
1 year ago
I also use safflower when I had access to it in Cali. It gives a beautiful landscape like your bowl… so soothing. Great post and amazing photos as always. Don’t get tired of those praises Ray because your clicks are always so stunning!
malou
1 year ago
Thank you very much for your very nice comment, Malou! I always appreciate it.
1 year ago
I love it that you browned that chicken, it brings a lot of flavour to this dish!
Raymund recently posted..Chicken Adobo
1 year ago
You are absolutely correct, Raymund. It adds a lot of flavor. Thank you for your comment.
1 year ago
Hi ray, i spelled by your picture through Season with spice. This recipe is absolutely what i need because i have sun flower strand just sitting in the spices jar. Thank you!

*Book marked right away
Ira Rodrigues recently posted..Sayur asem / various vegetables in tamarind soup
1 year ago
Thank you for dropping by, Ira. I love your site and your photography. It’s gorgeous.
1 year ago
This looks so warm and inviting! I can definitely relate to a congee dish. Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Biren @ Roti n Rice recently posted..Lavender Spiced Pork Chops and Sweet Potatoes with Marmalade Glaze
1 year ago
This looks just wonderful. Perfect comfort food.
Greg recently posted..Turkey Tetrazzini
1 year ago
I’ve been tempted on buying those mini capsules of saffron from the grocery stores but keep on chickening out! So expensive! I second the motion if ever anyone got spare I would love to have some=P Okey na rin ang kasubha or even turmeric powder for Filipino Congee (*barat ko* LOL!) Your Arroz Caldo looks like it packs so much flavour because I can see that rich broth…and I love that golden brown searing on the chicken pieces, reminds me of the lugawan stopover halfway to Ilocos Norte, they kind of pan seared the cooked chicken pieces and then they place a piece on the bottom of the bowl and ladle the Arroz Caldo on top=)
1 year ago
The beautiful red safflower sprinkled throughout the dish adds such beautiful color. As usual, your food makes my mouth water wishing I could have a bite!
Kristi Rimkus recently posted..Mother Rimmy’s Top Ten Leftover Turkey Recipes
1 year ago
Thanks for sharing this to us..I experience to eat this Arroz caldo a lot of times..Its a great experience..
1 year ago
I have never heard of arroz caldo but it looks like a heart warm meal for the cold weather that we have been having
Thank you for sharing Ray
Sawsan@chef in disguise recently posted..Sans Rival, the daring bakers November challenge
1 year ago
Great introduction Ray to this delicious looking dish. Reading this post makes me wonder why there aren’t more Filipino restaurants around. I haven’t heard of this dish before but it looks so comforting and satisfying! I’ll need to remember this recipe and give it a try … with the safflower seeds version. =P
Sharon | Chinese Soup Pot recently posted..Revitalizing Dong Quai and Red Date Tea
1 year ago
Wow, great blog ! The sauce was just right. I enjoyed this chicken dish.
1 year ago
Your arroz caldo look so good. I wasn’t able to make this for our KC Challenge but i will for surely make one any time soon. I braise my chicken when i make “puspas” Cebuano name for Arroz caldo as well. Thank you for reminding me of the kasubha, my mom uses them too but i haven’t used them for a long time now…i must look for it when i go to the Asian store.
Pia (Tagaluto) recently posted..CRISPY KATAIFI WRAPPED SHRIMP
1 year ago
Thank you for dropping by, Pia!
1 year ago
It’s like a mix between congee (one of my all-time favourite foods in the world) and paella – looks gorgeous.
Carolyn Chan recently posted..Tomato and onion jam
1 year ago
oh wow your arroz caldo looks amazing. The ingredients u have add make me want to try it out right away. arroz caldo is a portugues word, right? sussegade…. =)
Merry Christmas Ray!
1 year ago
Yummm I just made this!!! It’s super old in NY today and this was perfect
I didnt have the kasubha or safflower on hand. But this was super tasty!! Thank you!!!
1 year ago
This is a beautiful take on a classic! Sarap!
9 months ago
Hi Ray,
This looks fantastic. Its making me hungry. What kind of rice do i use.
Regards,
Leah
9 months ago
Hi Lea,
I like using Jasmine Rice. Thank you for your comment!
8 months ago
Good Day po,
sarap ng arroz caldo pero wala akong kasubha or safflower for coloring dito sa Europa, Central Europe,kelangan po ba talga nyan?
thanks!
more powers
mon
8 months ago
Hi Mon, You don’t need kasubha. It is just a coloring and not really adding flavor to the dish unlike saffron. Wala bang Asian store in Central Europe?