Pollo Guisado (Puerto Rican Chicken Stew)
A single portion of Puerto Rican cooking, ready in 40 minutes.
Per portion
Calories from protein 20%, carbs 38%, fat 42%. Estimated from the ingredients.
Roughly £2.50 a portion.
Method
- 1
Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and brown the chicken pieces over medium-high heat for 3–4 minutes. Cooking for three or more? Do this in batches so the pan stays hot and everything browns, then put it all back.
- 2
Add the onion and pepper and cook for 8 minutes until soft and translucent, adding the garlic for the last minute.
- 3
Stir in the tomato purée, oregano and cumin, cook for 1 minute, then add the stock and potato.
- 4
Bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 15–18 minutes until the potato and chicken are cooked through with no pink inside.
- 5
Meanwhile, cook the rice according to the packet instructions.
- 6
Stir in the olives, season to taste with salt and black pepper, and scatter with coriander and serve with the rice.
Cook's notes
- Sizes. Vegetables, fruit and eggs are medium unless the recipe says otherwise. A tin is a standard 400g tin.
- Dairy. Salted or unsalted butter both work; with salted, go easy on any extra salt. Use full-fat soured cream, crème fraîche and yoghurt in anything hot, as low-fat versions split.
- Stock. A cube or pot made up as the packet says. Cubes are salty, so taste before adding more salt.
- Heat. Medium means a gentle sizzle, not spitting. High means the oil shimmers before the food goes in. A simmer is a few lazy bubbles, not a rolling boil. Leave the lid off unless the recipe says to cover.
- Pans. A small saucepan is about 16cm and a frying pan about 24cm. Sauces reduce faster in a wider pan, so go by how it looks rather than the clock.
- Doneness. Chicken and turkey should reach 75°C in the thickest part, pork 65 to 70°C, and beef steak 55°C for medium-rare. Rest steaks and chops for a few minutes before slicing.
- Finishing. Taste before serving. Most dishes want a pinch more salt, and a squeeze of lemon or a splash of vinegar lifts anything rich.
- Leftovers. Cool quickly, cover and keep in the fridge for up to 2 days, then reheat until piping hot. Cooked rice keeps for 1 day and should only be reheated once.
solosupper.co.uk/recipes/pollo-guisado-puerto-rican-chicken-stew/
