Latino-Style Chicken and Rice Aka Arroz Con Pollo

Alisa Lea's Note:

America's Test Kitchen, from the Episode: Dinner with a Spanish Accent. My husband saw this episode and asked me to make this. *To use long-grain rice instead of medium-grain, increase the water to 3/4 cup in step 2.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 6 medium garlic cloves
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar , plus 2 additional teaspoons
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 8 chicken thighs , bone-in skin-on (3 1/2 to 4 pounds)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion , chopped fine (about 1 cup)
• 1 small green bell pepper , stemmed, seeded, and chopped fine (about 3/4 cup)
• ¼ teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves , minced
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 ¾ cups low sodium chicken broth
• ¼ cup water
• 3 cups medium grain rice (see note above)
• ½ cup green olives , pitted and halved (manzanilla)
• 1 tablespoon capers
• ½ cup pimiento , cut into 1/4 by 2-inch strips
• lemon wedge , for serving

Directions:

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350°F
2. Place garlic and 1 teaspoon salt in large bowl; using rubber spatula, mix to make smooth paste. Add oregano, 1 tablespoon vinegar, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper to garlic-salt mixture; stir to combine. Place chicken in bowl with marinade. Coat chicken pieces evenly with marinade; set aside for 15 minutes.
3. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion, green pepper, and pepper flakes; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to soften, 4 to 8 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons cilantro; stir to combine. Push vegetables to sides of pot and increase heat to medium-high. Add chicken to clearing in center of pot, skin side down, in even layer. Cook, without moving chicken, until outer layer of meat becomes opaque, 2 to 4 minutes. (If chicken begins to brown, reduce heat to medium.) Using tongs, flip chicken and cook on second side until opaque, 2 to 4 minutes more. Add tomato sauce, broth, and water; stir to combine. Bring to simmer; cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Add rice, olives, capers, and 3/4 teaspoon salt; stir well. Bring to simmer, cover, and place pot in oven. After 10 minutes, remove pot from oven and stir chicken and rice once from bottom up. Return pot to oven. After another 10 minutes, stir once more, adding 1/4 cup water if rice appears dry and bottom of pot is beginning to burn. Cover and return pot to oven; cook until rice has absorbed all liquid and is tender but still holds its shape and temperature of chicken registers 175°F on instant-read thermometer, about 10 minutes longer.
5. Using tongs, remove chicken from pot; replace lid and set pot aside. Remove and discard chicken skin; using 2 spoons, pull meat off bones into large chunks. Using fingers, remove remaining fat or dark veins from chicken pieces. Place chicken in large bowl and toss with remaining tablespoon olive oil, remaining 2 teaspoons vinegar, remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro, and pimentos; season with salt and pepper to taste. Place chicken on top of rice, cover, and let stand until warmed through, about 5 minutes. Serve, passing lemon wedges separately.

Reviews

[J. Hill]

I also saw this on America's Test Kitchen and thought it looked yummy. It did not disappoint! Don't skip the step of removing the excess fat and skin--it's the key to cutting down on the grease. My whole family loved it and I will be making it again.

[Chef #1533262]

This was an excellent recipe, but still alittle greasy. I substituted 2 chicken breast with skin for 3 of the thighs. Since the sodium is so high in this recipe, I rinsed the capers and olives and cut the salt down. Also, I used brown rice instead of white so it would not be 'mushy'. The flavors are great! My husband loved it too!