Best Cuban Oconut Chicken Recipes

ARROZ CON POLLO (CUBAN CHICKEN & RICE RECIPE)

Steps:

• First, pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel then season with salt, pepper, and cumin.
• In a wide Dutch oven or large pot with a heavy bottom and a lid, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Over medium heat, place chicken thighs in the pan and brown on both sides. Transfer to a plate.
• Next, add the remaining olive oil and sauté onion, garlic and red pepper, stirring frequently, until the onion is translucent and the garlic is fragrant.
• Add the rice, chicken stock, tomato sauce, annatto powder, bay leaf, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper to the saucepan. Stir to combine all the ingredients.
• Bring to a boil then add the chicken thighs to the mixture. Reduce heat to low and cover with the lid.
• Cooking low and slow will ensure you don't burn the rice. Every stove cooks differently so after 40 minutes, take a peek and see if the liquid has been absorbed. If yes, remove the pot from the heat immediately so it doesn't continue to cook with the residual heat. If not, continue to cook in 5 minute increments until all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Remove pot from the heat.
• Fluff the rice with a fork then stir in the frozen peas until warm. Serve and enjoy!

CARIBBEAN COCONUT CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425ºF (220ºC).
• In a large skillet, fry chicken breasts in vegetable oil until the chicken just begins to brown.
• Stir onions, green bell pepper and red bell pepper into the skillet with the chicken. Saute until the onions are translucent. When the vegetables are translucent, stir in the garlic and coconut milk. Let the mixture cook 5 to 8 minutes before removing the skillet from the heat. Season with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes.
• Transfer the mixture to a 9- x 13-inch baking dish and bake in a 425ºF (220ºC) oven for 45 minutes, or until the vegetables cook down and the chicken is tender.

COCONUT CHICKEN

Steps:

• Pour half the coconut milk, the garlic, soy sauce, and lime juice into a resealable plastic zipper bag, and shake to thoroughly combine the marinade. Place the chicken strips into the bag, squeeze several times to coat the chicken with marinade, and refrigerate at least 3 hours. Reserve the rest of the coconut milk.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and grease with olive oil.
• Place the shredded coconut into a blender or food processor and pulse several times until the coconut is ground into crumbs. Mix it with panko crumbs, salt, and black pepper in a bowl. Place the flour into a second bowl, and the egg into a third shallow bowl. Shake excess marinade from chicken strips, and dip them into the flour to thoroughly coat; then dip into egg, and finally into the coconut crumb mixture. Place the coated strips onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake the chicken strips in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 30 minutes.
• Mix the reserved coconut milk and mayonnaise in a small saucepan, and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat; serve the sauce drizzled over the chicken strips or on the side for dipping.

COCONUT CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• Combine 1 cup of the coconut milk, the lime zest, half of the garlic, the grated ginger, brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Add the chicken and toss to coat. Cover and let marinate 8 hours or overnight.
• Preheat a grill to medium high. Remove the chicken from the marinade and season lightly with salt.
• Heat the coconut oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the remaining garlic and the chopped ginger. Cook, stirring, until softened but not browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the rice; cook, stirring, until slightly toasted, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the remaining coconut milk, 1 1/4 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer, then stir and reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, brush the grill with coconut oil. Grill the chicken until well marked and cooked through, about 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Transfer to a plate and loosely cover.
• Fluff the rice with a fork. Add the broccoli, toasted coconut and scallions to the pan; toss to combine. Let sit to slightly cook the broccoli, about 2 minutes. Divide the chicken and rice among plates. Serve with lime wedges.

CUBAN BAKED CHICKEN WITH SWEET PEPPERS AND YELLOW RICE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Pat the chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. Melt the butter with the oil in a large deep skillet, with a lid over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, skin-side down, and cook until well browned, about 6 minutes. Turn chicken and cook until other side browns lightly, about 2 minutes more. Transfer chicken to a plate. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat.
• Add the onion to the skillet and cook, stirring often, until soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute longer. Add the peppers and cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the turmeric, cumin, rice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and stir until the rice is coated. Pour in the broth, stir to distribute the rice evenly. Increase the heat to high and boil until liquid begins to be absorbed into the rice, about 2 minutes. Nestle the chicken in the rice. Cover and transfer the pan to the oven and bake until the rice is tender and chicken cooks through, about 25 minutes.
• Remove the cover, fluff the rice and stir in the peas. Cover and let sit to warm the peas, about 5 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper. Serve.

CUBAN-INSPIRED SLOW COOKER CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place 1/2 of the chopped onion in the bottom of a slow cooker. Place chicken breasts on top and cover with remaining onion. Add black beans and diced tomatoes.
• Whisk together broth, orange juice, wine, garlic, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, and thyme; pour into the slow cooker.
• Cover and cook until chicken is falling apart and no longer pink in the center, on Low for 6 to 8 hours or High for 3 to 4 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• Meanwhile, bring water and rice to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until rice is tender and water has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Shred chicken and return meat to the pot for 5 to 10 minutes to allow it to soak up the juices. Serve over cooked rice.

CHICKEN ROPA VIEJA

Steps:

• Place chicken, onion, tomato, carrot, and 2 cloves of garlic into a large pot. Add water to cover, then bring to a boil. Skim and discard the foam that has floated to the surface. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer uncovered until the chicken is tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Place the chicken into a bowl and shred it into strips as thick as a pencil; set aside. Strain the cooking liquid and discard the vegetables.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the garlic, onions, green peppers, and red peppers. Cook and stir until the vegetables have softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in tomato puree, white wine, chicken, and enough of the reserved broth to create a thick sauce. Season with cumin, salt, and pepper. Simmer for about 5 minutes more to reduce the sauce slightly and coat the shredded chicken.