Arroz con Pollo (Cuban Chicken and Rice)
User Reviews
5.0
15 reviews
Excellent
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Prep Time
25 mins
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Cook Time
25 mins
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Total Time
1 hr 10 mins
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Servings
8 servings
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Calories
749 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Cuban
Arroz con Pollo (Cuban Chicken and Rice)
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A Cuban classic, Arroz con Pollo or Chicken and Rice is a one pot meal that has it all. Beautifully seasoned rice, colorful vegetables, juicy chicken pieces, the works.
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Ingredients
Chicken:
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, drumsticks, and/or breasts
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Rice:
- 1 medium yellow onion finely chopped
- 1 medium green bell pepper finely chopped
- 1 cup dry white wine
- ½ pound (about ½ bunch) asparagus rinsed, trimmed and cut into 1-inch long pieces
- 1 (113 gram / 4 ounce) jar chopped pimentos drained
- 1 cup (135 grams / 4.75-ounces) peas fresh or frozen
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 3 large garlic cloves peeled and mashed into a paste
- 1 ½ tablespoons kosher salt or more as needed
- 1 teaspoon (1 cube) chicken bouillon
- ¾ teaspoon ground achiote/annatto seeds or Bijol seasoning
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
- 4 cups water
- 1 (12-ounce) bottle of pilsner-style beer divided
- 3 ½ cups (665 grams / 1 pound and 7.5 ounces) Valencia or similar short-grain rice rinsed
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Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in an ovenproof, 6-quart heavy pot or Dutch oven until hot but not smoking.
- Working in batches, brown the chicken on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Set aside the browned chicken and repeat with the remaining pieces.
- Remove the browned chicken from the pot. To the residual oil in the pot, add the chopped onion and pepper and sauté for about 5 minutes over medium heat until softened.
- To deglaze the pot, add the white wine and bring to a simmer, scraping up the browned bits. Add the asparagus, pimentos, peas, tomato paste, garlic, and spices and stir to thoroughly incorporate (the tomato paste will need a little attention to dissolve). Stir in the water and half the beer. Give it a taste and add more salt if needed. Return the chicken pieces to the pot. Bring to a simmer.
- Stir in the rice and simmer over medium to medium-low heat for 10 minutes without stirring. Remove the pot from direct heat, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and place in the preheated oven. Bake until the rice is tender but still moist, about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and immediately pour in the remaining beer.
Notes
- You can use any combination on bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, drumsticks, or even breasts for this recipe. Make sure to trim off the excess fat (there is often a lot on there) before weighing your chicken pieces.
- Bomba rice, Valencia rice, or other short or medium-grain Spanish rice is required for this Cuban arroz con pollo recipe. I use Calasparra rice which is similar to bomba rice, but is typically a bit less expensive than bomba. They're starchier than other varieties of rice and absorb a lot more liquid.
- If you want to make this Cuban chicken and rice dish gluten-free, you can omit the beer or try a gluten-free beer instead of the traditional pilsner.
- Even though in English we translate this dish to "chicken and rice," in Spanish it's really "rice and chicken." This is a very rice-forward dish. Each portion will have a generous amount of seasoned and vegetable-studded rice along with a piece of chicken.
- Adapted from The Cuban Table
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
749kcal
(37%)
Carbohydrates
68g
(23%)
Protein
37g
(74%)
Fat
33g
(51%)
Saturated Fat
11g
(55%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
8g
Monounsaturated Fat
8g
Cholesterol
145mg
(48%)
Sodium
516mg
(22%)
Potassium
530mg
(15%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 749 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 749kcal | 37% |
| Carbohydrates | 68g | 23% |
| Protein | 37g | 74% |
| Fat | 33g | 51% |
| Saturated Fat | 11g | 55% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 8g | 47% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Cholesterol | 145mg | 48% |
| Sodium | 516mg | 22% |
| Potassium | 530mg | 11% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
15 reviews
Excellent
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