In our beloved Caribbean geography we can find a great number of recipes taken from here and there, but we never leave aside the most traditional dishes from our beloved Cuba.
In fact, every part of the island has excellent gastronomic dishes typical of each region, such as picadillo a la Habanera, typical of the capital of our country. But the special thing about this delicacy is that it has an additional value, a comforting aura that comes from inside every Cuban house.
Cuban chicken and rice is a food that occupies tables and is present in every stage of Cuban life: in childhood, adolescence and adulthood, this dish will accompany you all your life.
What is most surprising about this traditional recipe is the ease with which it adapts to the other ingredients and generates an explosion of spices, a unique combination of chicken and its accompaniment, rice.
Every Cuban chicken with rice usually has its own version, it may be:
- Restaurant version
- Family version
- Lunch with friends version
No matter which one it is, the essential thing is to be able to share and taste each of the versions.
To prepare the recipe it is important to have different ingredients that we leave you in this list, although you can omit some if they are not to your liking.
What are the ingredients to make cuban chicken and rice recipe?
- ½ of frying oil
- chicken thighs with skin (you can also choose a chicken and cut it into pieces)
- salt to taste
- a large onion
- ½ chili bell pepper (previously chopped)
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- a pinch of oregano
- a pinch of pepper
- 1 teaspoon of bijol
- 4 cups of rice
- water
- juice of a lemon
Optional:
- ¼ of olives
- ½ cup dry wine
- a can of beer
This is not a gourmet recipe, but a traditional Cuban dish that is usually prepared with what you have at home. f you don’t have any of these products, remember you can find them in El mercadito or in our Agromarket Store , and give that unique Cuban flavor to all your meals!
How to prepare Cuban chicken and rice?
You must keep in mind that the moment of cooking is one of the most sacred. To present a unique dish we are going to divide the recipe in different stages, each one of them is important in the elaboration of our Cuban rice with chicken (don’t be scared, the recipe will be very easy).
Preparation of the chicken, vegetables and flavor base
- On a vegetable cutting board or plate, we will slice the onion, chili bell pepper and garlic.
- In a pot or frying pan, add a little oil and then brown the chicken previously cut into pieces.
- When our Cuban chicken takes a golden color, we will proceed to pour some lemon juice, the onion, the chili, the garlic and the other spices, such as cumin, oregano and pepper. The juice helps the chicken to release the fat that will soon be used to flavor the rice.
- Quickly add water, salt and bijol. Taking advantage of the chicken fat, we will leave it to cook for 15 minutes. This will help us to get the typical flavor of the dish.
Optional: If you are one of those who like to share meals with vegetables, it is a good time to add some carrots or potatoes. This will help your chicken and rice to be more flavorful and accompanied.
Rice and its color
Within this and many other Cuban recipes, we will see that the color of the rice is a fundamental base for the aesthetics of each dish. Its yellow color usually shows the brightness of each meal, highlighting it among so many others. That is why rice is considered one of the main accompaniments in this traditional Cuban dish.
But… How do you get that outstanding yellow rice?
The secret (not so secret) is our great and beloved bijol, the best seasoning and natural coloring that helps the rice to turn that unique and remarkable yellow color.
The bijol is poured together with the chicken, so that the water can take on the color that is then transferred to the rice.
Rice and the final part of our dish
- Our Cuban rice with chicken is getting closer. Once the water boils, we are going to add the rice and stirring frequently (depending on how you like the cooking you can do this part at a low heat, from our side it is the most recommendable).
- Once the fire is low, you can add the dry wine and beer (in case these ingredients are not to your liking, we suggest using water). All the liquids should be added little by little to prevent the yellow rice from drying out. The idea of this part is to make our side dish as wet as possible.
- Cook the rice for 30 minutes. Remember to check frequently. Keep in mind that the basis of a good Cuban yellow rice is attention, this recipe will only demand a little care in this simple step.
To finish our traditional Cuban dish, you can decorate it with whatever you like, sprinkle a little olive oil and serve it at the table to enjoy it. Many people usually add green peas to the dish, but this is an optional addition in case you don’t like them.
This simple Cuban recipe of yellow rice with chicken is suitable for every occasion, whether you want to prepare an elegant dish to show off to your loved ones or you want to feel the Cuban flavor in your kitchen.
Do not hesitate on entering to our Mandao app and be able to discover the best ingredients that will give that unique Cuban taste to all your meals!