Peruvian Arroz con Pollo (Peruvian Rice and Chicken)

This is a Peruvian rice and chicken dish made with cilantro and a special Peruvian kick. It's very delicious, my Peruvian father-in-law said that mine was even better then his sister's - who is one of the best cooks in the family (besides my mother-in-law)! Goes great with Huancaina sauce and salsa Criolla.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 20 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 35 mins
• Calories: 501 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• ½ cup chicken broth
• 2 cups uncooked white rice
• ½ red onion, diced
• 3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut in half
• ½ cup vegetable oil, divided, or as needed
• 1 ½ bunches cilantro leaves, lightly chopped
• 1 tablespoon aji amarillo chile paste
• 2 ½ cups water, or more as needed
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen peas and carrots

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Season chicken with salt and pepper.

Step 2

Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat with enough oil to coat the bottom. Brown chicken in the hot oil on all sides, 5 to 7 minutes total. Remove chicken onto a plate.

Step 3

Pour more oil into the pan and add onion; saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and saute, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in cilantro, chile paste, salt, and pepper and saute until cilantro turns dark green, 3 to 5 minutes. Pour in chicken broth and deglaze, scraping the browned bits off the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Bring to a light simmer; let simmer for 3 to 5 minutes.

Step 4

Transfer mixture carefully to an electric blender and puree.

Step 5

Heat more oil in the same pan over medium-high heat; saute bell pepper until soft, about 5 minutes. Return cilantro mixture to the pan and add chicken. Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook until chicken is no longer pink in the center and juices run clear, 20 to 30 minutes.

Step 6

Remove chicken from the pan. Add water and rice, adding more water if it doesn't look like enough. Bring to a boil; place a lid on the pan, reduce heat to low, and cook until all liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, 20 to 40 minutes. Stir in peas and carrots and chicken and warm through, 5 to 10 minutes.