0 from 15 votes
Pollo Frito a la Criolla Recipe
This Pollo Frito a la Criolla tastes just like your Cuban grandmother's! Full of comforting flavor this Cuban fried chicken recipe is made by marinating bone-in chicken with citrus juices, and plenty of onions and garlic. It's a simple one-pot meal made with everyday ingredients. Make it meal by serving with steamed rice and flan for dessert!
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Marinating Time
3 hrs
Total Time
4 hrs
Servings: 6
Calories: 414 kcal
Course:
Dinner
Cuisine:
American , Cuban
Ingredients
Chicken:
- 3 pounds bone-in skin-on chicken thighs and drumsticks
- 4 large garlic cloves peeled
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup lime juice
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1 large yellow onion peeled and thinly sliced
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup olive oil plus more if needed
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
For Serving:
- 1 lime cut into wedges
- cooked rice for serving
Instructions
- Place the chicken in a large mixing bowl. Using a mortar and pestle (or you can use the back of a chef's knife), mash the garlic. In a measuring cup or medium bowl, add the garlic cloves, dried oregano, cumin, salt, pepper and orange and lime juice; stir until combined.
- Pour the marinade over the chicken pieces, top with the sliced onions, and refrigerate, covered, for at least 3 hours or overnight.
- Remove the chicken and onions from the marinade, drain and pat dry. Reserve the marinade for later use.
- Heat the olive oil in a 6-quart cast-iron or heavy-bottomed pot over medium high heat until hot but not smoking. Working in batches, brown the chicken on both sides until the fat is rendered, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Do not overcrowd the pot. Replenish the oil as needed. Set aside the browned chicken pieces.
- Pour out all but 2 tablespoons of the oil and saute the reserved onions in the pot until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the reserved marinade and wine and bring to a simmer. Return the browned chicken pieces to the pot and lower the heat.
- Cook, partially covered, until the chicken is cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve with wedges of lime and rice.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Tips and Tricks
- Mash the garlic. Don't skip this step. It's gives the chicken a deeper, more delicious flavor than you can get with simply mincing or slicing.
- Marinate the chicken. Prep your chicken a few hours before you are ready to serve it, because it only gets better the longer you marinade it!
- It freezes well. Make a double batch or save any leftovers in the freezer to enjoy later. After the chicken has cooled store in a freezer-safe container. Reheat in the microwave until warm.
Nutrition Information
Serving
6g
Calories
414kcal
(21%)
Carbohydrates
8g
(3%)
Protein
36g
(72%)
Fat
25g
(38%)
Saturated Fat
6g
(30%)
Cholesterol
117mg
(39%)
Sodium
485mg
(20%)
Potassium
713mg
(20%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
3g
(6%)
Vitamin A
62IU
(1%)
Vitamin C
19mg
(21%)
Calcium
52mg
(5%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 414
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 6g | |
| Calories | 414kcal | 21% |
| Carbohydrates | 8g | 3% |
| Protein | 36g | 72% |
| Fat | 25g | 38% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Cholesterol | 117mg | 39% |
| Sodium | 485mg | 20% |
| Potassium | 713mg | 15% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 62IU | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 19mg | 21% |
| Calcium | 52mg | 5% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.