This arroz con pollo recipe takes the traditional hen and rice dish to the subsequent stage with smoky chipotle marinated hen and crispy tomato rice. Finished with contemporary lime, avocado, queso fresco and herbs, it’s a daring and satisfying meal packed with taste.
What is Arroz con Pollo?
Arroz con pollo is a conventional Latin American dish that interprets to “rice with hen.” It is normally made with hen, seasoned rice, greens and spices to create a comforting one-pot meal.
Different areas have their very own variations. Some use saffron for coloration, whereas others embrace peppers, tomatoes or olives for added taste.
This model provides a smoky chipotle marinade and crispy rice texture, giving the dish a contemporary twist whereas nonetheless sustaining the essence of the traditional recipe.
Gather This
Arroz con pollo is made with loads of elements, however all of them come collectively to create one scrumptious meal! A full listing of elements with measurements for this recipe is on the market within the printable recipe card beneath.
- Chicken thighs – I like to make use of boneless skinless hen thighs as a result of they’re juicy and normally extra tender than hen breasts. You can, nevertheless, swap for breasts in the event you desire.
- Chipotle peppers
- Fresh garlic
- Fresh limes
- Vegetable oil
- Orange juice
- Honey
- Apple cider vinegar
- Worcestershire sauce
- Smoked paprika
- Ground cumin
- Dried oregano
- Coarse kosher salt
- Ground black pepper
- Instant rice
- White onion
- Diced tomatoes
- Diced inexperienced chiles
- Hot sauce
- Rice flour
- Scallions
- Avocado
- Queso fresco
- Jalapeno
How to Make Arroz con Pollo (Step-by-Step)
The course of could look lengthy, however I’ve laid out the steps in an easy-to-follow format!
- Add marinade elements to meals processor. In a meals processor, mix the peppers, garlic, zest and juice of limes, water, vegetable oil, orange juice, honey, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and seasonings. Pulse on excessive till the combination is emulsified.
- Marinate hen. Place the hen right into a shallow dish and pierce with a fork. Pour the marinade over the hen. Cover and chill for 4-6 hours.
- Prepare oven. When able to prepare dinner, preheat the oven. Remove the hen from the marinade and discard extra liquid.
- Cook hen. Heat a pan over medium excessive warmth, including vegetable oil. Sear the hen on both sides till browned. Transfer the pan to the new oven till the interior temperature reaches 165°F utilizing a digital thermometer.
- Allow to relaxation. Remove and permit to relaxation earlier than slicing.
- Cook rice, then chill. Prepare the rice in keeping with package deal instructions. When cooked, unfold right into a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Place within the fridge, uncovered, till chilly and cheesy.
- Cook the onions, garlic and veggies. Heat vegetable oil in a big skillet. Sauté the onion. Add the garlic, sauteing for an additional minute. Add the drained tomatoes, inexperienced chiles and scorching sauce. Stir collectively and warmth.
Make the Rice
- Toss rice in flour. Place the rice flour into a big mixing bowl, spoon within the chilly cooked rice. Toss nicely utilizing your arms. Toss the rice right into a high-quality mesh sieve or colander to shake off the surplus rice flour.
- Crisp rice. Heat the vegetable oil within the skillet over medium warmth. Add half of the rice, spreading right into a single layer. Allow to take a seat a couple of minutes. Flip, as greatest you’ll be able to, and prepare in a single layer, browning once more. Do this yet another time. Remove this batch of rice to a bowl or plate. Add extra oil to the skillet and repeat with the remaining rice.
- Toss in lime juice. When by means of, pour the primary batch of rice and the tomato combination again into the skillet, tossing over medium warmth to mix. Add the zest and juice of the lime proper earlier than serving.
- Assemble. Spoon the crispy rice right into a bowl, high with the sliced chipotle hen and desired toppings together with sliced avocado, cilantro, jalapeno slices, scallions, crumbled queso fresco and extra contemporary limes, if desired.
Make it A Meal
Although this arroz con pollo is an entire meal all by itself, you’ll be able to definitely pair it with any variety of sides. I personally like refried beans, refried black beans and even do-it-yourself tortillas.
And you’ll be able to by no means go fallacious with chips and dips! Crunchy tortilla chips with both do-it-yourself salsa, guacamole or queso is at all times the transfer.
More Latin-Inspired Dishes
I really like going out to our native Mexican restaurant, however making dishes at house is enjoyable too! Here are a few of our favorites.
This arroz con pollo recipe options chipotle citrus hen served over crispy tomato rice with contemporary toppings. A daring and flavorful hen and rice dinner.
Prevent your display from going darkish
Servings:
For the Chicken:
In a big meals processor, mix the ¾ cup chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, 4 cloves garlic, zest and juice of 2 contemporary limes, ½ cup water, ¼ cup vegetable oil, ¼ cup orange juice, 3 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 2 teaspoons floor cumin, 2 teaspoons dried oregano, 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt and ½ teaspoon floor black pepper. Pulse on excessive till the combination is emulsified.
Place the hen right into a shallow dish and pierce it a number of instances with a fork. Pour the marinade over the1.25 kilos boneless, skinless hen thighs. Cover and chill for 4-6 hours.
When able to prepare dinner, preheat the oven to 350°F (if utilizing stovetop directions). Remove the hen from the marinade and discard extra liquid.
To Make in A Grill Pan or Cast Iron (or different oven secure pan)– Heat over medium excessive warmth, including 1-2 teaspoons vegetable oil. Sear the hen on both sides for 4-5 minutes, or till browned. Transfer the pan to the new oven for 10-12 minutes or till the interior temperature reaches 165°F utilizing a digital thermometer.
Remove and permit to relaxation for five minutes earlier than slicing.
For the Rice:
Prepare the 2 cups on the spot rice in keeping with package deal instructions. When cooked, unfold right into a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Place within the fridge, uncovered, for 1-2 hours or till chilly and cheesy.
Meanwhile, warmth 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil in a big skillet. Add the chopped ½ cup white onion, sautéing for 2-3 minutes. Stir within the minced 2-3 cloves contemporary garlic, sautéing for an additional 1 minute. Stir within the drained 14.5 ounce can petite diced tomatoes, 4 ounce can diced inexperienced chiles and 2 teaspoons scorching sauce. Stir collectively and warmth for 2-3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and put aside. Do not clear out the skillet, however flip off the warmth.
Place the 1 ½ cups rice flour* into a big mixing bowl, spoon within the chilly cooked rice. Toss nicely utilizing your arms. Toss the rice right into a high-quality mesh sieve or colander to shake off the surplus rice flour.
Heat 2-3 tablespoons of the vegetable oil within the skillet over medium warmth. Add half of the rice, spreading right into a single layer. Allow to take a seat for 1-2 minutes. Flip, as greatest you’ll be able to, and prepare in a single layer, browning once more for 1-2 minutes. Do this yet another time. Remove this batch of rice to a bowl or plate. Add one other 2-3 tablespoons of oil to the skillet and repeat with the remaining rice.
When by means of, pour the primary batch of rice and the tomato combination again into the skillet, tossing over medium warmth to mix. Add the zest and juice of the lime proper earlier than serving.
Assemble & Garnish:
Spoon the crispy rice right into a bowl, high with the sliced chipotle hen and desired toppings together with sliced avocado, cilantro, jalapeño slices, scallions, crumbled queso fresco and extra contemporary limes, if desired.
If you’ve got tried this recipe, come again and tell us the way it was within the feedback or star scores.
Freezing: Cool fully and retailer in an hermetic container for as much as 2 months.
*I used Bob’s Red Mill from the GF baking aisle.
Calories: 813 kcal, Carbohydrates: 82 g, Protein: 31 g, Fat: 41 g, Saturated Fat: 8 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 17 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 12 g, Trans Fat: 0.4 g, Cholesterol: 75 mg, Sodium: 1183 mg, Potassium: 996 mg, Fiber: 8 g, Sugar: 15 g, Vitamin A: 1222 IU, Vitamin C: 38 mg, Calcium: 212 mg, Iron: 5 mg
