Arroz Imperial Recipes

EASY CUBAN ARROZ IMPERIAL (IMPERIAL RICE!)

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven or saucepan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, green pepper, and garlic. Sauté for 5 minutes.
• Add sliced pimentos and tomato sauce. Sauté for 1 minute. Add rice, water, bouillon cube, Bijol and bay leaf. Bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, about 15 minutes. DO NOT OPEN THE LID. The steam is what cooks the rice. After 15 minutes, remove from heat. Keep the lid on for another 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
• In a skillet, add olive oil, onions, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper. Sauté onions with spices for 5 minutes at medium-high heat. Add garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute. Add chicken stock to deglaze the pan then add the shredded chicken and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In an 8x8 baking dish, you will begin layering your ingredients. First, start by spreading a thin layer of mayonnaise at the bottom. This will prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the dish.
• Next, add a layer of rice, then a layer of shredded chicken, then a layer of shredded cheese, another layer of rice, a thicker layer of mayonnaise, a layer of shredded chicken, and top it off with a thick layer of shredded cheese.
• Place in the oven for 20-25 minutes to melt the cheese. Garnish with sliced olives and pimentos, if desired. Serve and enjoy!

ARROZ IMPERIAL

Steps:

• Broth: With 4 1/2 cups water, add chicken breasts, chicken bouillon, 4 ounces tomato sauce, 1/2 of the chopped onion, 1/2 of the chopped bell pepper, 1 tablespoon olive juice and 3-4 shakes of each seasoning. Cook until chicken is done. About 20 minutes. Remove chicken, cut it into pieces and place in the following skillet.
• Meat: While broth is cooking, place in large skillet 1 tablespoon oil, the rest of the onion and bell pepper. Saute until tender. Add rest of tomato sauce, chopped olives, 1/2 tablespoon juice from the olives, 1-2 shakes of each seasoning (except turmeric) and chicken. Cook on low covered while the rice cooks.
• Rice: Strain broth and discard onion and bell pepper. Cook 2 cups rice in 4 cups broth by bringing broth to a boil and then adding rice, cover and cook on low for 20 minutes.
• Final Preparation: When done, place 1/2 rice on a serving platter or in a 8x8 square pan, pressing the rice together. Spread all chicken on top and top with remaining rice. Press so rice and chicken is compacted. Spread a light layer of mayonnaise on top. (I know the mayonnaise sounds strange, but try it once. Some love it and want more on top, others don't care for it as much but still want a little on top.).

LOW-CARB ARROZ IMPERIAL (IMPERIAL RICE)

Steps:

• Making the Chicken.
• Wash chicken and place in stock pot. Add enough water to cover meat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer, uncovered, until the meat is tender and falls from bone - approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove chicken and keep the broth which you will use to make the cauliflower rice.
• As an alternative, you can purchase 1-2 cooked rotisserie chickens depending on their size. Pull apart the meat and use the chicken bones to make the broth. You need about 3 lbs of meat.
• When completely cooled, skin and shred the chicken into small pieces by hand or with two forks. Be sure to check the meat with your hands so as not leave any small bones, cartilage or tough pieces in the mix.
• In a large pan, cook the bacon and discard the excess fat. Chop the bacon and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, ½ onion, chopped, ½ green pepper, chopped and sauté until onion is translucent. Add 3 garlic cloves, diced and sauté for another minute. Add shredded chicken and 4 oz tomato sauce. Salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for about 10 minutes. Add lime juice and mix. Set aside.
• Making the Cauliflower Rice.
• Remove and discard leaves and larger stems from the cauliflower head. Break florets apart, rinse and spin dry. Remove smaller stems and separate. Grate the cauliflower florets with a hand grater or food processor grater attachment (much easier). Coarse chop the smaller stems and run through food processor grater as well. Otherwise, you can also discard the small stems. Combine into a microwave safe bowl with two bay leaves and microwave on high for 6 minutes, covered. Remove the bay leaves.
• In a Dutch oven or large pot, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, ½ onion, chopped, ½ green pepper, chopped. Sauté until onion is translucent. Add 3 diced garlic cloves and sauté for another minute. Add one cup of chicken broth and ½ cup of beer (optional). Add one tsp each of oregano cumin. Add 1 tsp of Bijol, saffron or other yellow colorant such as achiote. Add cooked, grated cauliflower and stir well. Simmer covered for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasional until cauliflower is tender. Add the frozen peas during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Salt and pepper to taste.
• It is OK to have some fluid left in the bottom of the pot. Just transfer the cauliflower to a mixing bowl avoiding the fluid at the bottom; then mix in ½ cup of grated Parmesan.
• Assembling the Casserole.
• In a 9" x 13" baking pan or casserole dish, spread one 1/3 of cauliflower rice along the bottom of the pan, patting it down firmly.
• Spread 2 tbls of the mayonnaise on top of the cauliflower rice.
• Spread ½ of the chicken mixture to create the next layer, patting down firmly.
• Sprinkle ¼ cup of Parmesan over the chicken.
• Add another (1/3) layer of cauliflower rice.
• Top with 2 tbls of the mayonnaise.
• At the final layer of chicken sprinkled.
• Sprinkle the last of the parmesan.
• Add the final layer of the cauliflower rice, patting down firmly.
• Spread remaining 2 tbls of mayonnaise.
• Spread the grated Monterey Jack, or other mild cheese over the top of it all.
• To recap, these are the layers:.
• 1) Layer of Cauliflower Rice.
• 2) Mayo.
• 3) Layer of Chicken.
• 4) Parmesan.
• 5) Layer of Cauliflower Rice.
• 6) Mayo.
• 7) Layer of Chicken.
• 8) Parmesan.
• 9) Layer of Cauliflower Rice.
• 10) Mayo.
• 11) Monterrey Jack.
• Place in oven at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes until cheese is melted.
• Presentation.
• There are a variety of ways to present the dish. Red pimento strips and slices of hard boiled eggs are often used to decorate the dish. A search for "Arroz Imperial" on Google Images will give you lots of ideas.
• Serve hot with a side salad, tomatoes or avocado slices. For those not on a low carb diet, the dish can be served with fried sweet plantains. Makes 8 meal-sized servings.