Pollo Mechado (Shredded Chicken)

Pollo mechado, a Venezuelan dish of shredded chicken with onions and bell pepper, is easy to prepare. Serve with arepas for a meal.

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Cooking Time: 55 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
• Calories: 229 Calories

Ingredients

• salt to taste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 tablespoon capers
• 1 roma (plum) tomato, chopped
• 0.5 onion, chopped
• 0.25 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 0.25 cup cooking sherry
• 1.25 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bring a pot of water to a boil; add chicken and cook until no longer pink in the center, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer chicken to a work surface and cool until easily handled.

Step 2

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion for about 3 minutes. Add red bell pepper; cook and stir until onion and pepper are softened, about 10 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Cover skillet and cook onion mixture until slightly browned, 5 to 10 minutes.

Step 3

Shred chicken using your hands and sprinkle into the onion mixture. Add sherry and capers; season with salt. Cook and stir chicken mixture until heated through and flavors have blended, 10 to 15 minutes. Mix cilantro and tomatoes into chicken mixture; cook and stir until tomatoes start to break down, 5 to 10 minutes.