Pollo Guisado with Brown Rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups Mahatma® Brown Rice
- 3 lb bone-in chicken thighs or legs
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 potatoes, peeled and chopped
- 1 white onion, chopped
- 1/3 cup pimento olives
- 1/3 cup sofrito cooking base
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 packets Sazon seasoning
- 1 chicken bouillon cube
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
There are few dishes as wonderful as this flavorful chicken stew, but that’s no coincidence: full of spices, hearty vegetables, and tender chicken, our savory Pollo Guisado with Brown Rice is a dish that never fails to satisfy.
Step 1
Cook rice according to package directions.
Step 2
Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat oil in large saucepan or Dutch oven set over medium heat; cook chicken for 5 to 7 minutes per side or until browned.
Step 3
Add 2 1/2 cups water, carrots, potatoes, onion, olives, sofrito, tomato paste, Sazon, bouillon cube, oregano and bay leaves to saucepan; bring to boil. Reduce heat to simmer; cover and cook for 40 to 50 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and stew is slightly thickened.
Step 4
In small bowl, whisk together cornstarch with 4 tsp water until completely combined. Stir into stew; simmer for about 5 minutes or until thickened. Remove and discard bay leaves.
Step 5
Garnish with cilantro. Serve with brown rice.
Recipe Tip
Serve accompanied with tostones (fried plantains) and avocado if desired.
Recipe Video
The Savory Secret: Sofrito and Sazon
How do you get unforgettable meals using only Kitchen Staples? It’s all about technique and seasoning, and it’s a lot easier than you may think! One way is by taking your sofrito to the next level — for this recipe we recommend using a Latin American variety found in these Sofrito Recipes For Incredible Meals.
Sazon has simplified seasoning — in fact, sazon means seasoning in Spanish. It is a balanced blend of spices that complements the flavors in many Latin American dishes and gives them that golden hue. Along with salt and pepper, sazon contains achiote, cumin, onion, and garlic, coriander, and oregano. The achiote is sweet and adds color; cumin, onion, and garlic produce an umami flavor; coriander brings out citrus notes, and oregano not only adds earthy flavors but adds depth and complexity.
All this may sound complicated; however, this seasoning is neither spicy nor overpowering. Because sazon is a balanced blend, it is quite versatile and enhances innumerable dishes. Long story short, sazon may just become your go-to seasoning for any and every dish!
Using Chicken Thighs
Dark meat has unfairly gotten a bad rap, but it is ideal when braising. Cooking chicken thighs is nearly foolproof as they don’t dry out easily. Most importantly, they are extremely flavorful! The soup, along with the meat itself, will have a richer flavor. If you’re still not convinced, chicken breast could be swapped in, but you may want to consider marinating the chicken for a couple of hours to get a boost of flavor.
Try using any leftovers in your next Mexican chicken and rice recipe. Try tacos dorados as another fun option.
Customize It!
Just like any famous recipe, pollo guisado, or chicken stew, has many variations! Some recipes call for additional ingredients or different seasonings such as adobe seasoning, chili flakes, white wine, or lime juice. If any of those sound good, toss them in. You could even use Cilantro Limón Jasmine Rice for a burst of citrus.
