Welcome to Sunday Supper and Arroz con Pollo
PUBLISHED ON: 03.06.2011
Welcome to Sunday Supper. Pull-up a chair and stay for awhile.
The weather is warm and the beer is cold.
Miami is a melting pot of cultures, the food, is a reflection of its diverse culinary traditions. I often think of how the food, growing up in Miami helped to create some of my basic beliefs about the world, and the profound influence a diverse food culture has had on my life.
A significant influence, was Cuban food. The distinct Cuban flavor and simplified style of cooking was influenced by both African and Spanish cultures.
A quintessential favorite Cuban dish is Arroz con Pollo (rice with chicken). Although this dish makes its presence known in the Caribbean, and other Latin countries, its Cuba that this dish takes front center stage. Growing- up it seemed every family had their version of this dish. This one pot meal, often served with fried plantains was always served up family style. A style of serving food that continues to be my favorite way feeding family and friends.
An arroz con pollo starts with a basic sofrito of olive oil, onions, garlic, bell peppers, bay leaf, ground pepper, a blend of latin spices, and in this recipe, the addition of tomato sauce.
Note: Sofrito serves as a foundation for many Latin dishes including stews, sauces, beans, rices and other dishes.
The chicken pieces are then added to the sofrito
Arroz Con Pollo (Chicken with Rice)
Serves 8-10
Ingredients:
A whole chicken, cut up
1/2 lemon
1/2 orange
1 small green pepper, chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon Bijol (Note: Bijol can be found at most Latin and ethnic food markets. You can use other brands such as Sazon).
3/4 cup tomato sauce
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup dry white cooking wine
8-1/2 ounces canned small peas
10-1/2 ounces canned asparagus
2 cups rice
1/2 a bottle of beer
1-1/2 cups water
1/2 of a roasted red pepper (pimento)for garnish
Directions:
1. Remove all skin from chicken. Rinse chicken and sprinkle with juice from lemon and orange.
2. Prepare a sofrito by combining green pepper, onion, garlic, bay leaf, ground pepper, bijol, tomato sauce, and olive oil. Cook over medium-high heat in a large pot for five minutes, stirring frequently. Lower heat and add chicken pieces, cooking chicken for approximately three minutes each side.
3. Add salt, cooking wine, juice from can of peas, juice from can of asparagus and 1-1/2 cups of water. Poach chicken over medium-high heat in a large pot (covered) for 30 minutes, or until tender. Remove chicken from the pot and set aside.
4. Add 2 cups rice to the pot and bring to a boil. Cover ( note: you may need to add additional water to the pot to cook the rice). Reduce heat and cook rice for approximately 30 minutes. When rice is nearly cooked, add 1/2 a bottle of beer to rice and stir well. Rice should remain moist.
5. Add chicken to the rice and simmer for five minutes. Correct salt to taste and serve, garnished with peas, asparagus and pimento.
Enjoy!
Unknown
This looks like just dozens of great layers of flavor, I have never had this but the look of it has me drooling. I hope you had a great weekend.
thefattyreader
Oh, I love this post. Arroz con Pollo is one of the best comfort foods…never cooked with Bijol before. Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Barbara
Wonderful recipe, Velva, and the Cuban influence on food is not just for Miami anymore! Would you believe I've never made it? Next time I have family over, I'll try your recipe; the photo is making me hungry!
Lea Ann
Holy moly that looks good. The one and the only time I ever had Cuban food was in Miami. Thanks for posting this recipe, I'll have to give it a try.
Anna's Table
Delicious looking dish. This brings back memories. Growing up my mom would also cook a similar chicken dish cooked in a tomato based sauce. It's so nice to see how cuisines from different parts of the world can have so much in common.
Tina
Oh my that looks great. I haven't had this dish in awhile…gotta make it again soon. Say, what is with this weather turning on us?! I hear we wioll get lows near 39 this Thursday. Grrrr
From Beyond My Kitchen Window
This is a good dish all around. I love the Latin flavors. My family would appreciate a new chicken dish to be sure.
That Girl
I only visited Miami once, but you're right, it is such an interesting melting pot. I've never visited a place like it.
Big Dude
That looks really great. About my only experience with Cuban is a sandwich – which I love.
Tanna
This sounds most interesting, Velva. I am going to have to see if I can find Bijol in Tyler, TX. I am unfamiliar with that one, but this recipe sounds delicious. Thank you.
Beth
You're lucky to have been influenced by another culture's cooking. I always think it makes one's cooking more interesting to have more than one influence. This looks great!
Anonymous
We have a similar dish in the Philippines – reminds me of my childhood. I'm sure this tasted wonderful!
From the Kitchen
I can almost smell the aromas of this bubbling away! I've already bookmarked it.Best,Bonnie
Claudia
Love the flavors and colors. My husband would love the beer! This is a multi-state meal. Sunny for warm Florida and hearty for snowy Minnesota!
teresa
now that's a sunday dinner! i love all of the different elements going on, and it's so pretty!
Carol @ There's Always Thyme to Cook
I love arroz con pollo! So many flavors going on in one skillet! Delicious!
Lucia from Madison
It sounds so warm! I was cooking with beer but can't wait to have a cold beer outside on the deck. As I write it is pouring rain outside…
Hamaree Rasoi
Hi VelvaThe Cuban chicken looks amazingly delicious,colorful and inviting. Prefect preparation for a Sunday lunch. Great Clicks.Deepa Hamaree Rasoi
The Food Hound
I love homey dishes like this! Perfect for a low-key entertaining night, too!
Renee Weir- Fontes
Great one pot dinner, kinda reminds me of a dish we make here in Ca. that is similar with more Mexican flair. Now I want to try your Cuban spice…I can smell it through the screen. YUM!
chow and chatter
wow Velva what a great dish and must have been fun to grow up in Miami
justjoycee
One of my favorite cuban dishes….looks awesome!
Puja
That sounds like such a comfort food..loved it!!US Masala
Diane
Can I come and join you for a meal 🙂 Diane
Unknown
It's bright and sunny here in Sunderland, but unfortunately the weather is still chilly. But that won't stop me from enjoying a nice pint of well-chilled beer/cider. The chicken looks utterly delicious.
Anonymous
MMMMMMMMMMM,…Your Cuban chicken dish looks amazing & mighty tasty!! I love this tasty dish! Oooh waw, Miami!
Marc van der Wouw
Great looking chicken… thanks for sharing
ThatJewCanCook
A plate of that and some cerveza..mmmm heaven!
TKW
Miami is such a cool little melting pot. Is it wrong to want that beer at 7 in the morning? 😉
SavoringTime in the Kitchen
I envy your warm weather! This wonderful recipe reminds me a little of paella, a dish that I love.
Angie's Recipes
This looks so flavoursome and deeeeeeeelicious!
Katerina
I keep seeing this dish in many variations and I am so curious to make it. Yours Velva is among the best I have ever seen. I am bookmarking this!
The JR
Looks wonderful.
Rita
Thank you so much! I have been looking for a great recipe for Arroz Con Pollo and here it is; keeping this one for my return home.Rita
Elisabeth
Hi Velva-This is one of the ultimate authentic Cuban comfort food, that I haven't made in such a long time. I love the sofrito, and the amazing outcome of your beautiful Arroz con Pollo. We had a lot of rain this past Sunday in Palm Beach county, but today is another glorious sunshiny day.So nice to keep in touch with another S. Floridian foodie!
Hungry Dog
One of my all-time favorite dishes! Looks absolutely delicious.
Anonymous
A terrific meal, love this dish!
Unknown
Gorgeous photos. I haven't had this dish, but it sounds wonderful and I like all of the other latin foods I've had. It looks healthy too, which is great!
Emma
This dish looks epic! It's exactly my kind of dish, colourful and delicious.\”The weather is warm and the beer is cold\” – sounds like the mantra from where I'm from 😀
T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types
I'm pulling up my chair! I love one pot meals. I made red rice and beans last night and it was so good!
Cathy
Yum, yum. I love all the flavors that are going on in this dish. I've never tried bijol. I'll have to watch for it.
Kim
I love your Sunday supper posts as they are always such classic and beautiful recipes. This is a beautiful dish, served straight from the pot, family-style. Gorgeous!
RamblingTart
Love the picture of the beer pouring, Velva. 🙂 It looks SO wonderfully cold and delicious. 🙂
Unknown
I just love everything about it – the food, the club, the drink in the first photo…sigh.
abbey
I love dishes like this, anything that can be cooked in one pot! Thanks for sharing!
Lorraine
Looks amazing! I have never had this. Wonderful flavors. Loving the one pot part too:)
Stella
Hey Velva, your arroz con pollo looks amazing. I used to love Cuban dishes like that. Well, I still do-I just refrain most of the time (smile). Oh, and I just moved barely north of Miami. Do you know of any hole in the wall type of Cuban and/or Haitian restaurants that I should be privvy to;-)???!!!XO
A Canadian Foodie
What is bijol or sazon? Never heard of this dish in the ALberta prairies, but I appreciate your description today as I have read about it all over the internet but haven't found such a detailed tutorial before.I haven't posted for 3 weeks – deep in the throws of planning a local slow food event. Great work. Time well spent, but missing my hobby site, my kitchen, cooking and reading your wonderful posts!I hope to catch up soon!:)Valerie
Sprinzette @ Ginger and Almonds
This is a meal I definitely want to enjoy.
Kitchen Butterfly
I love the richness of the dish….and chicken for any Sunday supper sounds good.
mely
That Arroz con Pollo looks so good, The sofrito is the key to it. I love reading your profile, a lot in common here. 🙂 And your blog design is beautiful.Glad to meet you via the blogosphere.Have a happy day!Mely