How to Cook Arroz Con Pollo

A classic Spanish and Latin American dish, Arroz Con Pollo literally translates as “chicken with rice”. While the main ingredients remain the same, the methods of preparation tend to vary all across Latin America, with the Cuban version of the dish being miles different from the Colombian or Peruvian one. However, despite there being a host of varieties, anyone can whip up a basic Arroz Con Pollo using just one pan, and a couple of simple ingredients.

Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 20 to 25 min
Total time: 60 to 65 min
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Utensils: Large skillet, large bowl, mixing bowl, measuring cup, stove, serving dish.

Ingredients:

Chicken:
Olive oil: 3 tbsp
Broiler-fryer chicken, about 2 1/2-3 pounds, cut into serving pieces, or 2 1/2 to 3 pounds of Chicken thighs or breasts, bone-in, with skin on, rinsed and patted dry: 1
Flour for dredging: 1/2 cup
Salt: To taste
Freshly ground black pepper
Paprika

Rice:
Olive oil (can use up to 1/4 cup): 2 tablespoons
Yellow onion, chopped: 1 medium
Garlic clove, minced: 1
Medium or long-grain white rice: 2 cups
Chicken stock: 3 cups
Tomato paste: 1 tablespoon
Diced fresh or cooked tomatoes, strained: 1 cup
Pinch of oregano
Salt: 1 teaspoon

Instructions

  • 1

    To begin, prepare the chicken. Place a large skillet with a cover on the stove over medium heat, and pour in the 3 tablespoons of olive oil. While this is heating up, put the half cup of flour in a wide bowl, and add in a good sprinkling of salt, pepper, and paprika. Mix everything together.

  • 2

    Next, dredge the pieces of chicken in the seasoned flour, and pat them lightly to get rid of any excess. Then, slide them into the pan, and allow them to cook gently and brown on both sides – this will require you to cook them for a few minutes on each side.

  • 3

    Once the chicken is golden brown, use a slotted spoon to take the pieces out of the pan (the slotted spoon will help drain any excess oil), and put them all in a wide plate. Set these aside for now, and begin working on the rice.

  • 4

    Put the pan back on the stove, add in a little bit more olive oil, and then slide the rice in to brown. Stir with a wooden spoon to coat the rice with the olive oil, and once all of it has browned evenly, add in the onion and garlic. Keep stirring and cooking this mixture, until the onions soften, and become translucent – this should take roughly 4 minutes.

  • 5

    Now, place the chicken pieces back in the pan. Then, in a separate bowl, combine the stock, tomato, salt, and oregano with a spoon. Pour this mixture into the pan, cover it with a lid, turn the heat down low, and allow the contents to cook and simmer for around 20-25 minutes – the time will depend on the kind of rice you use. Once the chicken and the rice are completely cooked, fluff up the rice using a fork, and serve.

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