Arroz Con Pollo Al Achiote Recipes

GOURMET ARROZ CON POLLO

Steps:

• Place 1/2 cup of olive oil in small pan and add the achiote.
• Heat on medium heat until bubbles form, then remove from heat and let steep.
• Drain achiote seeds from oil (should be a vibrant reddish-orange color).
• Place oil in large stockpot.
• Heat oil on high and place chicken pieces in pot and brown; this is done just to brown chicken NOT to cook it.
• Remove chicken from pot.
• Place diced onions, garlic, and peppers in pot with the achiote.
• Saute until soft (do not burn garlic).
• Put capers in pot and cook for a while with the onion mixture.
• Add rice to the pot with garlic, peppers, garlic and capers, then swirl rice into the mixture.
• Let the rice cook for just about a minute.
• Place cut up cilantro (or parsley) and basil in pot.
• Add in chicken broth and make sure you scrape the pot.
• Add chicken pieces back in.
• Put olives in and mix.
• Place bay leaves in pot.
• Check for seasonings (Please note: add salt and pepper at the end).
• Let the mixture cook on medium heat until the rice is done.
• Add peas just before serving.
• In another medium pot place peeled asparagus in water and boil until they turn bright green.
• Place in ice bath to stop the cooking process.
• To serve, place rice and chicken in a large platter.
• Arrange chicken pieces around platter and rice in the center.
• Place cooked asparagus around the platter and then place pimentos in the center.
• Enjoy!

ARROZ CON POLLO

Steps:

• Place 1/2 cup of olive oil in small pan and add the achiote. Heat on medium heat until bubbles form, then remove from heat and let steep. Drain achiote seeds from oil (should be a vibrant reddish-orange color). Place oil in large stockpot. Heat oil on high and place chicken pieces in pot and brown - this is done just to brown chicken NOT to cook it. Remove chicken from pot Place diced onions, garlic, and peppers in pot with the achiote. Saute until soft (do not burn garlic). Put capers in pot and cook for a while with the onion mixture. Add rice to the pot with garlic, peppers, garlic and capers, then swirl rice into the mixture. Let the rice cook for just about a minute. Place cut up cilantro and basil in pot. Add in chicken broth and make sure you scrape the pot. Add chicken pieces back in. Put olives in and mix. Place bay leaves in pot. Check for seasonings (Please note: add salt and pepper at the end). Let the mixture cook on medium heat until the rice is done. Add peas just before serving.
• In another medium pot place peeled asparagus in water and boil until they turn bright green. Place in ice bath to stop the cooking process.
• To serve, place rice and chicken in a large platter. Arrange chicken pieces around platter and rice in the center. Place cooked asparagus around the platter and then place pimentos in the center.
• Serve with tostones (recipe follows).
• Peel plantains and cut at an angle. Place in cold water with salt. In a large frying pan put in 1/2 cup oil (preferably peanut oil ). Place plantains in pan and cook until somewhat soft (they will turn a lovely pale yellow color). Take them out of the pan and smash each one between 2 pieces of foil (folded 2 or 3 times to make a thick pad - place 2 paper towels on top of foil so that you don't burn yourself). Return to frying pan (you may have to add more oil). Fry until crisp and then season with salt. Serve with rice and chicken - or just about anything!

CHICKEN WITH RICE (ARROZ CON POLLO)

Steps:

• In a paella pan or wide, shallow pan with a tight-fitting lid, heat the Achiote Oil over medium-high heat until the oil is rippling. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and add as many pieces skin side down to the pan as fit without touching. Cook, turning as necessary, until well browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Remove the pieces as they are done and set aside. Adjust the heat under the pan, especially after you start removing chicken, so the chicken browns without the oil darkening.
• When all the chicken is removed from the pan, add the Sofrito and alcaparrado. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Raise the heat to high and boil until most of the water is evaporated from the Sofrito. Add the cumin and cloves.
• Stir in the rice until coated with oil. Return the chicken to the pan, pour in enough broth to cover the rice by the width of 2 fingers (about 1-inch), and bring to a boil. Cook over high heat until the level of liquid reaches the rice. Stir gently and reduce the heat to low. Cover the pan and cook until the liquid is absorbed, the chicken is cooked through, and the rice is tender but firm, about 20 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork. The arroz con pollo can be brought to the table right in the pan or transferred to a large serving platter. Either way, garnish with the red pepper before serving.
• Heat the oil and annatto seeds in a small skillet over medium heat just until the seeds give off a lively, steady sizzle. Don't overheat the mixture or the seeds will turn black and the oil will turn a nasty green. Once they're sizzling, remove the pan from the heat and let stand until the sizzling stops. Strain and reserve in a jar with a tight-fitting lid at room temperature for up to 4 days.
• Chop the onion and Cubanelle or Italian peppers in the work bowl of a food processor until coarsely chopped. With the motor running, add the remaining ingredients 1 at a time and process until smooth. The sofrito will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It also freezes beautifully.

ARROZ CON POLLO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat vegetable oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat; cook and stir chicken pieces until browned, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove chicken with a slotted spoon and place on a plate. Cook and stir onion, green bell pepper, minced garlic, and whole garlic cloves in the same Dutch oven until onion is softened, about 5 minutes.
• Return chicken to the onion mixture. Add tomatoes, rice, salt, oregano, black pepper, and bay leaf. Pour in enough chicken stock to cover all the ingredients.
• Bake chicken-rice mixture in the preheated oven until rice is tender and chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 1 hour and 30 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• Stir peas, olives, raisins, and pimento peppers into the chicken-rice mixture. Bake until warmed through, an additional 15 minutes.

ARROZ CON POLLO AL ACHIOTE

Steps:

• Mezcla la mayonesa con la pasta de achiote. Agrega la mitad al pollo en un tazón grande; revuélvelo para recubrirlo bien.
• Cocina el pollo, dándole vuelta de vez en cuando, en una sartén honda grande o en una olla pesada tipo Dutch Oven a fuego medio-alto durante 5 min. o hasta que se dore de forma pareja. Retíralo de la sartén; deshazte de la grasa. Tapa el pollo para mantenerlo caliente.
• Agrega a la sartén el arroz, la cebolla, el pimiento, el ajo y el resto de la mezcla de mayonesa; cocínalos a fuego medio-bajo 3 min. mientras los revuelves constantemente. Agrega el agua y el caldo; revuélvelos. Pon el pollo por encima. Hazlos hervir; pon la tapa. Mantén un hervor suave de 22 a 25 min. o hasta que el pollo esté cocido (165ºF) y se absorba el líquido.
• Pon las aceitunas y el cilantro por encima.

ARROZ CON POLLO A LA TICA

Steps:

• Cook carrot and green beans in salted water until tender, drain and set aside.
• In a wok-type pan, saute onion and red pepper in 2 tbsp olive oil until pepper is tender and onion is translucent. Set aside in small bowl.
• Heat remaining 3 tbsp oil in the wok until hot, then add the cooked rice, stir-frying for several minutes.
• Add the onion/pepper mixture and mix well to incorporate.
• Add the Lizano sauce, soy sauce and achiote powder. Mix well to incorporate.
• Add chicken and mix well to incorporate.
• Add salt and pepper to taste then remove from heat.
• Add cilantro and parsley.
• To serve in a typical manner, fill a serving-sized bowl with the Arroz con Pollo, tamp down, then unmold it onto the dinner plate. Served with a side salad and fried plantains. Here in Costa Rica, it would be served with french fries - a carbohydrate overload!