Best Cuban Chicken With Pineapple Rum Sauce Recipes

ISLAND BIRD: PINEAPPLE-RUM CHICKEN

Steps:

• Cook the rice according to the package directions. While it cooks, make the chicken and sauce.
• Cut the pineapple into bite-size chunks. Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil, once around the pan. Add the onions, garlic, salt, and crushed red pepper flakes and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the pineapple chunks and the juice from the container, no more than 1/2 cup, and stir to combine. Remove the pan from the heat and add the spiced rum. Return the pan to the heat, keeping a little distance in case the pot flames up. You can flame it on purpose, if you want to look cool. Either way, let the alcohol cook away, 1 minute. Add the chicken stock and bring the mixture to a simmer, then cook until it reduces by half and has thickened slightly.
• While the sauce is simmering, preheat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat with the remaining 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and add to the hot skillet. Cook the chicken for 6 minutes on each side. For a smoky taste, grill the chicken on a grill pan or on an outdoor grill.
• Slice the breasts and return to the large skillet. Pour in the pineapple and sauce and combine with a good shake of the pan. Add the parsley and cilantro to the pan and turn off the heat. Let stand for a minute or two. Serve up the jasmine rice and top with liberal ladles of the Island Bird.
• You can often find whole pineapples already peeled and cored in pouches or tall plastic containers. Check the fresh produce section.

PINEAPPLE-RUM BRUSHED BASKET CHICKEN

Steps:

• For the pineapple-rum glaze: Roughly chop the pineapple. Transfer to a food processor and pulse until smooth. Pass the pineapple puree through a fine-mesh sieve into a large skillet (use a rubber spatula to help push the puree through). Discard the pulp. If using the pineapple juice, just pour into a large skillet.
• Add the rum, vinegar, red pepper flakes and a pinch of seasoning salt to the skillet and bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat. Simmer, whisking, until the mixture is bubbly and reduced to about two-thirds its original volume, about 5 minutes. Reserve 1/4 cup of the glaze in a small bowl.
• For the chicken: Use kitchen shears to cut out the backbone from the chicken. Flip the chicken, breast-side up, and push down firmly on the breastbone to flatten it. Cut the wings off at the third joint (at the wing tip). Line a plate with paper towels and put the chicken on it skin-side down to dry the skin. Season the chicken all over with 1 tablespoon seasoning salt.
• Prepare a grill for medium direct-heat cooking.
• Put the chicken in a grill basket with a handle and lock the basket. Put the chicken on the grill breast-side up. Make sure the handle of the basket isn't resting on the grill grates, then close the grill. Grill the chicken, undisturbed, until the skin starts to brown, 30 to 40 minutes. Adjust the grill heat to medium low and brush the skin side with some of the glaze. Wrap a towel around the basket handle or use an oven mitt and flip the chicken over. Baste the back side of the chicken and close the grill. Continue to grill the chicken, basting, flipping and closing the grill every 4 to 5 minutes, until the deepest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F, 10 to 20 minutes more.
• During the last 5 minutes of grilling, toss the scallions with the vegetable oil and a large pinch of seasoning salt and grill, turning as needed, until charred and tender, about 5 minutes. Chop the scallions, transfer to a bowl and add the olive oil, lemon juice and a pinch of seasoning salt. Mix well.
• Transfer the chicken to a serving platter and serve with the grilled scallion relish and the reserved glaze.

ISLAND BIRD: PINEAPPLE-RUM CHICKEN

Steps:

• Cook the rice by following the package directions; while the rice cooks, make the chicken and sauce.
• Cut the pineapple into bite-size pieces.
• Heat a medium saucepan over med-high heat.
• Add in 1 tablespoon vegetable oil; add in the onions, garlic, salt, and crushed red pepper flakes; cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes.
• Add in the pineapple chunks and the juice from the container (no more than ½ cup); stir to combine.
• Remove the pan from the heat; add in the spiced rum.
• Return the pan to the heat, keeping a little distance in case the pot flames up.
• You can flame it on purpose, if you want to look cool.
• Either way, let the alcohol cook away, 1 minute.
• Add in the chicken stock and bring the mixture to a simmer, then cook until it reduces hy half and has thickened slightly.
• While the sauce is simmering, preheat a large nonstick skillet over med-high heat with the remaining 2 tablespoons oil.
• Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then add to the hot skillet.
• Cook chicken for 6 minutes on each side (for a smoky taste, grill the chicken on a grill pan or on an outdoor grill).
• Slice breasts and return to the large skillet.
• Pour in the pineapple and sauce and combine with a good shake of the pan.
• Add in the parsley and cilantro; turn off the heat.
• Let stand for a minute or two.
• Serve up the jasmine rice and top with a liberal amount of the Island Bird.

CUBAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion in hot oil until tender, about 5 minutes; add garlic and continue to cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute more.
• Stir tomatoes, chicken, red bell pepper, raisins, olives, red wine vinegar, oregano, cumin, and bay leaves into the onion mixture; cook until heated through, 5 to 7 minutes more. Remove and discard bay leaves before serving.

CUBAN STYLE CHICKEN WITH FRESH PINEAPPLE SALSA

Steps:

• Chop fresh pineapple roughly and mix in a small bowl with green onions, cilantro, lemon juice, and cumin; season to taste with some salt& pepper; cover and chill (can be made 4 hours ahead).
• Heat oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat.
• Season both sides of chicken with some salt& pepper and some cinnamon to taste.
• Saute chicken in oil about 5 minutes per side or until cooked through and no longer pink inside- but still moist.
• Spoon pineapple mixture over each serving and serve immediately.
• If you prefer, you may instead grill chicken.