Arroz Imperial Con Pollo - Imperial Rice With Chicken

Submitted by Manami

"A favorite recipe among Miami-based Cubans. It is ideal for a luncheon or even for a brunch(so they tell me) because it is light, yet flavorful. Slightly labor-intensive but it is well worth the work. Great comfort food! Serve with an Argentinian Merlot Trumpeter or Beringer Alluvium white. Also, a nice salad of mixed greens and a deliciously cool fresh fruit dish. Found on cooksrecipes.com where I was able to put the exact quantities along with the ingredients."

 

• Ready In: 2hrs 5mins
• Ingredients: 22
• Yields: 1 beautiful dish
• Serves: 8-10

ingredients

• 1360.77 g chicken breasts (or chicken thighs)
• 6 slice bacon, cut into slivers
• olive oil
• 2 medium onions, finely chopped fine
• 1 green bell pepper, cored, seeded and chopped fine
• 4 green onions, trimmed and chopped (white and green parts)
• 2.46 ml oregano
• 1 whole bay leaf
• 6 large garlic cloves, minced
• 85.04 g tomato sauce
• 29.58 ml sherry wine (optional)
• 118.29 ml frozen green pea
• 113.39 g chopped pimiento (Not roasted)
• 1 medium lime, juice of
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 946.36 ml long grain rice
• 1892.72 ml chicken broth (from the cooked chicken)
• 9.85 ml bijol seasoning or 9.85 ml mild paprika
• 103.53 ml Hellmann's mayonnaise (NO salad dressing stuff!)
• 118.29 ml freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 473.18 ml shredded monterey jack cheese or 473.18 ml other mild white cheese
• 59.14 ml sliced pimento stuffed olive (drained)

directions

1. Wash chicken and place in a stock pot.
2. Approximately 1-1/2 quarts to 2 quarts of water to fully cover meat.
3. Bring to a boil and simmer with 1 onion, 2 garlic cloves, 2 sticks celery, 2 carrots, all chopped into large chunks, and salt & pepper to taste.
4. Cook uncovered until the meat falls apart - keep checking, the broth and chicken.
5. Remove chicken and reserve the broth.(You will use some of the broth to make the rice).
6. Skim excess fat, if any, from the top and strain the broth.
7. When cool enough, shred chicken into small pieces by hand.
8. In a large frying pan, saute the bacon briefly.
9. Drain most, but not all of the excess fat.
10. Add a tiny bit of olive oil and heat.
11. Add onion, green pepper, green onions, oregano, and bay leaf.
12. Saute onions until translucent.
13. Add the garlic and saute for one additional minute, stirring occasionally.
14. Add tomato sauce, chicken and sherry.
15. Bring to a boil reduce heat and simmer(uncovered) approximately 15 minutes to thicken sauce.
16. Add peas, pimentos, lime juice and pimento stuffed olives, during the last five minutes of cooking.
17. Salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
18. In a large covered pan, mix the rice with the chicken broth and/or paprika.
19. Bring to a boil, cover and cook over low heat until the rice is thoroughly cooked and most of the broth absorbed, about 20 minutes.
20. Add the mayonnaise to the cooked rice, a little at a time, and mix thoroughly.
21. Preheat oven to 325°F.
22. Spread 1/3 of the rice mixture onto the bottom of a 13x9x2" (we use a foil baking pan - ease of clean-up).
23. Layer chicken mixture on top of the rice.
24. Then add another layer of rice mixture.
25. Generously sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese on top of this layer.
26. Add the remaining rice.
27. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese on the top layer, then spread the shredded Monterey Jack completely over the top.
28. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned and the cheese melts completely and bubbles.
29. Enjoy, you've earned it!

Reviews

[Randy A.]

Good recipe but added Adobo to the rice and used Sofrito and Recaito instead of tomato sauce to make it more traditional and add a lot more flavor. Never took out the bacon just drained the excess grease to add more flavor to chicken

 

[Michael Elizabeth A.]

I really tried to like this dish but it was bland and hot mayo and chicken was not to my liking I live in Miami and am currently eating this and don't like it Sorry

 

[camohn]

I like Cuban food,but.this was surprisingly bland. Creamy yes, but bland.

 

[Salvi Pascual]

I love all Cuban food in general, but Imperial Rice is my favorite one. I love how you guys maintain the Cuban tradition of using mayo and not only cheese on top, which seems to be more wide spread in the restaurants here in Miami. As far as I can tell, the only recipe that I tried and I would rate according yours is the one located in http://recipescookbook.org/recipe/How-to-make-Imperial-Rice

 

[Cheryl Lea]

I made this recipe for about 12 adults. I followed the recipe, but used 2 whole chickens and obviously doubled most ingredients. Everyone loved it! It was amazing.