Cuban Fricassee de Pollo Recipe is a traditional Cuban dish known for its flavorful taste and simplicity. This recipe features tender chicken pieces simmered in a savory sauce with onions, garlic, tomatoes, and aromatic herbs.
Servings 8People
Course Main Course
Cuisine Cuban
Ingredients
1/4cuplime juicefreshly squeezed
1/4cuporange juicefreshly squeezed
1/4cupgrapefruit juicefreshly squeezed
1/4cupwhite distilled vinegar
10chicken drumsticksskinned
4garlic clovesminced
½onionchopped
1bay leave
1teaspoonsalt
For the sauce
¼cupvegetable oil
1 1/2bay leaf
1 1/2cuptomato sauce
1onionchopped
1bell pepperchopped
1cupdry white wine
Salt and pepper to taste
1teaspooncuminground
½tablespoonoreganodried
1lb potatoesrusset peeled and cut into 1.5 inch pieces
1cup olives Spanish Manzanilla stuffed with pimentos
4tablespoonscapers
parsley Finely chopped for garnish
Equipment
Large mixing bowl
Large pot or Dutch oven
Knife for mincing garlic and chopping onions and bell pepper
Cutting board for preparing ingredients
Measuring cups for liquids
Measuring spoons for spices
Lid to cover the pot while cooking
Serving dish for presentation
Method
In a large mixing bowl, combine freshly squeezed lime, orange, and grapefruit juices along with white distilled vinegar. Mix well.
a. Squeeze the lime, orange, and grapefruit to get 1/4 cup of juice each.
b. Measure 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar.
c. Pour all the juices and vinegar into the mixing bowl.
Add the skinned chicken drumsticks to the juice-vinegar mixture and let them marinate for at least 30 minutes.
a. Remove the skin from the chicken drumsticks.
b. Place the chicken drumsticks into the bowl with the juice and vinegar.
c. Stir the chicken to ensure it is coated in the marinade.
d. Cover the bowl and let it sit for a minimum of 30 minutes to absorb the flavors.
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat vegetable oil over medium heat.
a. Measure 1/4 cup of vegetable oil.
b. Pour the vegetable oil into the pot or Dutch oven.
c. Set the heat to medium and wait for the oil to warm up.
Add minced garlic, chopped onion, and a bay leaf to the pot, sautéing until the onions become translucent.
a. Mince 4 garlic cloves.
b. Chop 1/2 onion.
c. Add the garlic, onion, and bay leaf to the pot with the heated oil.
d. Stir the mixture until the onions become transparent.
Incorporate tomato sauce, chopped bell pepper, canned tomato sauce, and dry white wine to the pot, stirring to combine.
a. Measure 1 1/2 cups of tomato sauce and add it to the pot.
b. Chop 1 onion and 1 bell pepper.
c. Add the chopped bell pepper to the pot.
d. Pour in the 8 oz can of tomato sauce.
e. Measure 1 cup of dry white wine and pour it into the pot.
f. Stir the mixture well to combine all the ingredients.
Season the sauce with salt, pepper, ground cumin, and dried oregano, allowing it to simmer for 10 minutes.
a. Add salt and pepper to taste.
b. Measure 1 teaspoon of ground cumin and add it to the sauce.
c. Measure 1/2 tablespoon of dried oregano and add it to the sauce.
d. Stir the sauce to evenly distribute the seasonings.
e. Let the sauce simmer for 10 minutes on low heat.
Remove the chicken drumsticks from the marinade, adding them to the sauce along with the potatoes, olives, and capers.
a. Take the chicken drumsticks out of the marinade.
b. Place the chicken drumsticks into the sauce.
c. Peel and cut the russet potatoes into 1.5-inch pieces.
d. Add the potato pieces to the pot with the chicken and sauce.
e. Mix in the Spanish Manzanilla olives stuffed with pimentos.
f. Stir in the capers.
Cover the pot and cook on medium-low heat for approximately 45 minutes or until the chicken and potatoes are cooked through.
a. Place a lid on the pot to cover it.
b.) Reduce the heat to medium-low.
c. Allow the dish to cook for around 45 minutes, checking the chicken and potatoes for doneness.
Garnish with finely chopped parsley before serving.
a. Finely chop fresh parsley.
b. Sprinkle the chopped parsley over the dish before serving.
Add a pinch of sugar to balance the acidity of the citrus juices in the marinade.For a spicier version, add a chopped chili pepper to the sauce.Using bone-in chicken pieces can enhance the flavor of the dish.To save time, you can use pre-cut vegetables from the store.Simmer the sauce on low heat to allow the flavors to meld together.For a richer taste, marinate the chicken overnight in the refrigerator.If the sauce is too thick, you can add a splash of chicken broth or water to adjust the consistency.