Cuban-Style Chicken and Rice Breakfast Bowl (Arroz con Pollo)

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs Chicken thighs, boneless, skinless, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 medium Onion, chopped
• 1 medium Green bell pepper, chopped
• 4 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 cup Tomato sauce
• 2 cups Chicken broth
• 1.5 cups Long-grain rice
• 2 tbsp Sofrito
• 1 tsp Cumin
• 1 tsp Oregano
• 1 each Bay leaf
• 1 tsp Salt
• 0.5 tsp Black pepper
• 0.5 cup Green olives, sliced
• 0.25 cup Cilantro, chopped

Instructions

1. 1Place a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven on the stove over medium heat (350°F / 175°C). Add the 2 tablespoons of olive oil and let it warm for about 1 minute.
2. 2Add the 1.5 lbs of chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces, to the pot. Cook for 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides. Remove the browned chicken from the pot and set it aside on a plate.
3. 3Add the 1 medium onion, chopped, and the 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped, to the same pot. Cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes, or until the vegetables have softened.
4. 4Add the 4 cloves of garlic, minced, to the pot and cook for 1 minute more, stirring constantly, until you can smell its fragrance.
5. 5Stir in the 1 cup of tomato sauce, 2 cups of chicken broth, 1.5 cups of long-grain rice, 2 tablespoons of sofrito, 1 teaspoon of cumin, 1 teaspoon of oregano, 1 bay leaf, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 0.5 teaspoon of black pepper. Mix everything together well.
6. 6Increase the heat to medium-high (400°F / 200°C) and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low (200°F / 95°C), cover the pot tightly with a lid, and let it simmer for 20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid.
7. 7Return the reserved 1.5 lbs of chicken pieces to the pot. Stir in the 0.5 cup of sliced green olives. Cover the pot again and cook for 5 more minutes, or until the chicken is heated through.
8. 8Carefully remove and discard the 1 bay leaf from the pot. Garnish the chicken and rice with the 0.25 cup of chopped cilantro just before serving.

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