Cuban Chicken Food

CUBAN MOJO CHICKEN RECIPE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large bowl, combine the orange zest, lime zest , orange juice, lime juice, olive oil, cilantro, garlic cloves, jalapeno (if using), oregano, cumin, salt, and black pepper.
• Place the chicken into the marinade , cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. You can also do this in a large zip-top bag, but be sure to place the bag into a large bowl to safeguard against drips.
• Preheat the oven to 400 F. Remove the chicken from the marinade and place on a large roasting pan. If you like, tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body to help prevent them from darkening too much.
• Roast in the oven for approximately 1 1/2 hours, or until the thickest part of the thigh reaches 165 F on a meat thermometer. If the breast starts to get too dark while roasting, cover loosely with a sheet of aluminum foil.
• Remove from the oven, cover loosely with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for about 10 minutes before carving.
• Garnish with orange and lime slices (if using) and serve with rice and black beans.

CUBAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chicken breasts in a gallon sized zip bag or a large bowl with lid.
• In a medium bowl, combine all other ingredients for the marinade. Pour the marinade over the chicken and place in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.
• Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Saute the chicken until it is cooked through and no longer pink, and nicely browned outside.
• Garnish with lime wedges; serve with yellow rice and black beans.

CUBAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Season chicken with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder (to taste).
• Meanwhile, heat a shallow pan over medium heat and add oil.
• Brown chicken in pan on both sides.
• Once chicken is browned, add in sofrito and turn chicken to coat all sides in the sauce. Reduce heat to a medium-low setting.
• With the side of a knife, crush olives and put into pan with chicken. Cook for about 15 minutes, turning chicken every few minutes until it is done.
• This is best served with white rice as you will have some of the sofrito mixture left over to put over your rice. YUM-O!

VIRGINIA'S CUBAN GARLIC CHICKEN

Steps:

• Mix all the ingredients except the chicken. Add the chicken and marinate in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days.
• Grill chicken over hot heat until cooked through.

CUBANSTYLE FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• To make the marinade, place the cumin seeds in a dry pan and toast over medium heat, shaking pan until the seeds' aroma is released; about one minute. Combine the seeds with the garlic, salt and pepper in a mortar and mash with a pestle to create a paste, or process in a mini food processor or blender. In a large bowl, mix the citrus juices, then stir in the paste and combine well. Immerse the chicken pieces in the marinade and allow to sit for three hours or overnight.
• When you're ready to cook the chicken, place the flour on a large plate. Remove the marinated chicken pieces from the bowl and dredge them in the flour; set aside. Heat 1/2" to 3/4" shortening in a large, heavy pan over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Place chicken in the pan skin side down and fry 8 to 10 minutes per side until lightly browned on all sides. Turn heat to medium low and partially cover pan. Continue cooking, turning frequently until cooked through, about 25 minutes. Remove chicken from oil and place on a platter lined with paper towels to drain.

CUBAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion in hot oil until tender, about 5 minutes; add garlic and continue to cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute more.
• Stir tomatoes, chicken, red bell pepper, raisins, olives, red wine vinegar, oregano, cumin, and bay leaves into the onion mixture; cook until heated through, 5 to 7 minutes more. Remove and discard bay leaves before serving.

CUBAN BAKED CHICKEN WITH SWEET PEPPERS AND YELLOW RICE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Pat the chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. Melt the butter with the oil in a large deep skillet, with a lid over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, skin-side down, and cook until well browned, about 6 minutes. Turn chicken and cook until other side browns lightly, about 2 minutes more. Transfer chicken to a plate. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat.
• Add the onion to the skillet and cook, stirring often, until soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute longer. Add the peppers and cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the turmeric, cumin, rice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and stir until the rice is coated. Pour in the broth, stir to distribute the rice evenly. Increase the heat to high and boil until liquid begins to be absorbed into the rice, about 2 minutes. Nestle the chicken in the rice. Cover and transfer the pan to the oven and bake until the rice is tender and chicken cooks through, about 25 minutes.
• Remove the cover, fluff the rice and stir in the peas. Cover and let sit to warm the peas, about 5 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper. Serve.

CUBAN CHICKEN WITH YELLOW RICE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large deep skillet over med-high heat. Add chicken and brown on both sides until golden and almost done. Remove to a plate, sprinkle with salt and pepper and keep warm.
• Pour water into skillet and add garlic. Bring to a boil and add rice and stir. Add chicken back to pan on top of rice and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat. Cook until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, about 20 minutes.
• Spoon peas and roasted red pepper over top. Cover again and cook 3-5 more minutes.

CUBAN MOJO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Remove the chicken giblets. They can be discarded or saved for other preparations like stocks or gravies. Rinse the chicken inside and out and remove any excess fat. Pat dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper (the marinade has salt and pepper as well but a whole chicken needs quite a bit of seasoning).
• In a small bowl, mix all the Cuban Mojo marinade ingredients. Place the chicken in a large bowl and pour the marinade over the chicken. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate for 4 hours or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Arrange a rack in the lower third part of the oven.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade and place in a large roasting pan. Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the chicken.
• Bake the chicken for 1 hour. If the breast is getting too golden, tent a piece of aluminum foil over the breast. Bake for an additional 15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees in the thickest part of the thigh.
• Remove from the oven and tent with aluminum foil. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before carving. Garnish with lemon and lime slices (optional)

ARROZ CON POLLO (CUBAN CHICKEN & RICE RECIPE)

Steps:

• First, pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel then season with salt, pepper, and cumin.
• In a wide Dutch oven or large pot with a heavy bottom and a lid, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Over medium heat, place chicken thighs in the pan and brown on both sides. Transfer to a plate.
• Next, add the remaining olive oil and sauté onion, garlic and red pepper, stirring frequently, until the onion is translucent and the garlic is fragrant.
• Add the rice, chicken stock, tomato sauce, annatto powder, bay leaf, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper to the saucepan. Stir to combine all the ingredients.
• Bring to a boil then add the chicken thighs to the mixture. Reduce heat to low and cover with the lid.
• Cooking low and slow will ensure you don't burn the rice. Every stove cooks differently so after 40 minutes, take a peek and see if the liquid has been absorbed. If yes, remove the pot from the heat immediately so it doesn't continue to cook with the residual heat. If not, continue to cook in 5 minute increments until all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Remove pot from the heat.
• Fluff the rice with a fork then stir in the frozen peas until warm. Serve and enjoy!

CUBAN ROASTED CHICKEN (POLLO ASADO CUBANO)

Steps:

• Rinse chicken, pat dry. Place chicken breast up in foil-lined shallow roasting pan. In mortar, place garlic, salt, oregano and black pepper, mash them well together. Mix garlic mixture with butter and lemon juice. With your fingers, carefully separate skin from breast, massage 1/2 of mixture gently between breast and skin, then spread the remaining mixture evenly over the whole chicken. Tuck wings under and tie legs together. The chicken will taste better if marinated overnight.
• Place pan in center of rack and cook for 55 minutes at 350° F, basting occasionally. Cook uncovered at 400° F for 5-7 minutes.

CUBAN CHICKEN FRICASSEE (FRICASE DE POLLO)

Steps:

• Marinade chicken pieces in mojo overnight or at least 4 hours. (I cut the chicken breasts into 2 or 3 large pieces so they are easier to work with)
• Once marinated, remove chicken from marinade and pat dry. **See notes below
• Sprinkle the chicken with 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
• Heat the olive oil in a large pot, over high heat.
• Brown the chicken in batches (about 2 minutes per side) then remove from pan and set aside.
• Add the onions and green pepper to the pan and saute until translucent. Then add in the garlic and cook for another 2 minutes.
• Add the wine to the pan and simmer with the veggies for just about 2 minutes.
• Add the tomato sauce, water, cumin, sazon, olives, salt, pepper and chicken back into the pot.
• Simmer (covered) for 15 minutes, add potatoes, then simmer for another 20 minutes.
• Stir in the peas right before serving.

BAKED CUBAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chicken pieces in a large bowl. Add onion, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, allspice, onion powder, cumin, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour, or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Heat oil in a large skillet. Add chicken pieces, reserving marinade in the bowl. Pan-fry chicken until browned, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Pour reserved marinade on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until juices run clear, about 40 minutes.

ONE-PAN CUBAN CHICKEN WITH RICE AND BEANS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large straight-sided ovenproof skillet, brown bacon over medium-high, about 7 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Season chicken with 1/4 teaspoon cumin, salt, and pepper. Brown in skillet, turning once, about 10 minutes; transfer to plate.
• Remove fat from skillet. Add oil, onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Cook, stirring, until translucent, 3 minutes.
• Add rice, remaining 1/2 teaspoon cumin, and oregano. Cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add broth, beans, and bacon; season with salt and pepper. Nestle in chicken, skin-side up. Bring to a boil, then cover and transfer to oven. Roast until liquid is absorbed and chicken is cooked through, about 25 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes; serve.

CUBAN CHICKEN FRICASSEE

Steps:

• Place the chicken in a zip-lock bag, add juices, vinegar, salt, garlic, onion, and bay leave. Close bag and chill for 1 hour.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade; pat dry using paper towels and reserve marinade.
• Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken and transfer to a plate.
• To the same saucepan, add the onion and bell pepper and cook until they are soft.
• Reduce the heat to low. Add tomato sauce and wine. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.
• Return the browned chicken to pan and add the reserved marinade, potatoes, salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, and 1⁄2 cup water; bring to a boil. Cover and cook until the chicken and potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes.
• Stir in the olives before serving.

24 TRADITIONAL CUBAN FOODS (+ RECIPE COLLECTION)

Steps:

• Select your favorite recipe.
• Organize all the required ingredients.
• Prep a Cuban dish in 30 minutes or less!

ARROZ CON POLLO

Steps:

• Trim any excess fat from the chicken and season with 1 teaspoon of salt.
• Add 1½ teaspoon of salt, oregano, paprika, turmeric, cumin and black pepper to a small bowl. Stir the seasoning mix to combine.
• Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy pot over medium heat. When the oil is hot, but not smoking, add the chicken, skin side down. Cook the chicken for 5 minutes, then turn and cook for another 5 minutes.
• Remove the pot from the heat. Remove the chicken from the pot and set on a plate or pan. Loosely cover the chicken with a piece of foil, to keep it warm.
• Do not wash the pot. Set it back over medium heat and add the onions. Cook the onions for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add the garlic, tomato paste and the prepared seasoning mix (1½ teaspoon of salt, oregano, paprika, turmeric, cumin and black pepper) to the pot. Stir well until combined. and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Carefully, add the white wine to the pot and stir, while gently scraping any bits off the bottom. Cook for 1 minute, or until most of the wine cooks out.
• Add the rice, chicken broth, water, and the bay leaf to the pot. Stir well to combine.
• Add the chicken back to the pot. Arrange it so that it's not stacked.
• Raise the heat to high and bring the liquid to a boil. Stir the rice frequently while waiting for the liquid to come to a boil.
• Once boiling, lower the heat to medium and simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• The rice should now be visible on the surface and should not sink to the bottom of the pot when stirred.
• Give everything a good stir. Lower the heat to low, cover and cook the chicken and rice for 20 minutes. Stir after 10 minutes, then stir again after the 20 minutes.
• Taste a little bit of the rice. If it needs a salt, this is the time to add it. As a reference, we added ½ teaspoon of salt to ours. Stir well.
• Raise the heat to medium-low and slowly add the beer, while stirring. Cover and cook the chicken and rice for 10 minutes. Lower the heat to low and cook another 10 minutes.
• Taste the rice, if it's still not done, cover and let it steam another 15 minutes or until done.
• Garnish with the sweet peas, if desired.

CUBAN MOJO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place the marinade ingredients in a food processor. Blend until the cilantro is finely chopped.
• Pour the marinade over chicken in a large bowl. Cover with cling wrap and marinate for 12 - 36 hours.

CUBAN GARLIC CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place the chicken in a container large enough to hold all the pieces (I used an extra-large zip-loc bag).
• Combine the garlic, sour orange juice, salt, vinegar, pepper, oregano and cumin in a small bowl. pour the marinade evenly over the chicken; cover chicken (or close bag and smush it around); refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Heat oven to 450°. Arrange chicken in one layer in a roasting pan; pour the marinade evenly over the top of the chicken.
• Roast the chicken in the lower third of the oven, stirring during the last 10 minutes to coat with the sauce, until it is cooked through and the sauce begins to caramelize, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Remove the chicken to a platter, spoon garlic sauce over the pieces.

CUBAN-STYLE PAELLA: PAELLA CUBANA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat olive oil in a large pan. Saute the ham and chorizo sausage. Remove from pan and reserve.*
• Add onions, red pepper, and garlic to pan and saute until wilted but not overcooked.
• Add chicken pieces and saute for about 15 minutes until brown, but not fully cooked. Remove and reserve.
• In a large pot combine the rice, broth, wine, and mussels. Add salt for flavor and Bijol for color. Stir. Turn up heat, bring to boil and cover. Add chicken, ham and chorizo. Cover and simmer on the stove for 20 to 30 minutes, until the rice is cooked and fluffy. (You may have to add a little more chicken broth if the mixture gets too dry).
• Saute shrimp, clams, and lobster tails separately in the oil. Remove and keep covered and warm.**
• At the last minute, fold the seafood into the rice mixture. Transfer to a flat paella pan suitable for serving. Top with peas and red peppers. Place in oven for about 5 minutes to heat through. Take care not to overcook! Serve garnished with mussels, parsley and lobster shells.

CUBAN CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large, heavy bottom pot over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, add to the pot, and brown in batches on both sides, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Remove the chicken to a plate. To the pot, add half the onions and half the green peppers (reserve remaining half for another use, such as Round 2 Recipe Black Bean and Pork Stew). Cook until softened, about 3 minutes, and then add the garlic and chile powder and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the rice and let it toast for 2 minutes. Add 4 cups water, tomato sauce, and olives and give it a stir. Put the chicken back into the pot. Bring it to a boil, lower the heat, cover, and simmer until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is tender, 30 to 35 minutes. (Reserve 2 cups rice for another use, such as Round 2 Recipe Rice Cakes with Creamy Cilantro Sauce.) Serve garnished with cilantro.