Cuban Arroz con Pollo
Golden, saffron-tinted rice cooked with chicken pieces, sofrito, beer and peas until moist and flavourful, finished with roasted red peppers. A one-pot Cuban Sunday classic.
Servings
Ingredients
Nutrition
Per serving
Steps
Marinate the chicken
Mix the chicken with the lime juice, garlic, 1 teaspoon of salt and the cumin in a bowl. Cover and leave at room temperature for 30 minutes, or in the fridge for up to 4 hours.
- 1.5 kg chicken
- 2 limes, juiced
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cumin
Brown the chicken
Lift the chicken out of the marinade and pat it dry (keep the marinade for later). Heat the oil in a wide, heavy pot over medium-high heat and brown the chicken about 5 minutes per side, then set it aside on a plate.
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1.5 kg marinated chicken (from step 1)
✅ Done when: Chicken skin is golden brown on all sides.
Make the sofrito
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Add the rice and liquids
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Simmer
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Finish and serve
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Marinate the chicken
Mix the chicken with the lime juice, garlic, 1 teaspoon of salt and the cumin in a bowl. Cover and leave at room temperature for 30 minutes, or in the fridge for up to 4 hours.
- 1.5 kg chicken
- 2 limes, juiced
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cumin
Brown the chicken
Lift the chicken out of the marinade and pat it dry (keep the marinade for later). Heat the oil in a wide, heavy pot over medium-high heat and brown the chicken about 5 minutes per side, then set it aside on a plate.
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1.5 kg marinated chicken (from step 1)
✅ Done when: Chicken skin is golden brown on all sides.
Make the sofrito
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Add the rice and liquids
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Simmer
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Finish and serve
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The Story Behind the Dish
Cuban arroz con pollo descends from Spanish rice dishes like paella, brought by immigrants from Valencia and the Canary Islands. In Cuba it became wetter and more home-style, cooked in a deep pot with beer and coloured with saffron or bijol, a cheaper annatto seasoning.
It's a classic Sunday lunch and party dish, cooked in huge pots for family gatherings.
⭐ Why It's Famous
Moist, golden rice full of chicken flavour: a whole family meal in one pot.
💡 Fun Fact
The beer isn't there for alcohol, which cooks off; it adds a gentle malty depth that's a signature of the Cuban version.
All over Cuba
23.11°N, -82.37°W
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