Spicy Cuban Chicken Recipes

SPICY CUBAN MOJO CHICKEN WITH MANGO-AVOCADO SALSA

Steps:

• Toast the cumin seeds in a dry skillet over medium-high heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Place the cumin seeds, garlic, chile pepper, salt, olive oil, orange juice, and lemon juice into the bowl of a blender; grind to a coarse paste. Toss the chicken with the marinade, then place into the refrigerator, and allow to marinate for about 2 1/2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until browned. Place into the oven, and cook until the juices run clear, about 8 minutes. When the chicken is done, remove, cover with foil, and allow to rest for 3 to 5 minutes.
• While the chicken is in the oven, whisk together the olive oil, orange juice, lime zest, honey, and soy sauce in a skillet over medium-high heat. Simmer until the orange juice has reduced to 1/3 of original volume and is beginning to get thick and syrupy. Once thick, remove from heat, and whisk in the butter pieces one at a time until melted; set aside.
• To serve, place chicken on the plate and sprinkle with mango and avocado. Drizzle with the sauce, and garnish with cilantro and parsley.

CUBAN MOJO CHICKEN RECIPE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large bowl, combine the orange zest, lime zest , orange juice, lime juice, olive oil, cilantro, garlic cloves, jalapeno (if using), oregano, cumin, salt, and black pepper.
• Place the chicken into the marinade , cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. You can also do this in a large zip-top bag, but be sure to place the bag into a large bowl to safeguard against drips.
• Preheat the oven to 400 F. Remove the chicken from the marinade and place on a large roasting pan. If you like, tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body to help prevent them from darkening too much.
• Roast in the oven for approximately 1 1/2 hours, or until the thickest part of the thigh reaches 165 F on a meat thermometer. If the breast starts to get too dark while roasting, cover loosely with a sheet of aluminum foil.
• Remove from the oven, cover loosely with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for about 10 minutes before carving.
• Garnish with orange and lime slices (if using) and serve with rice and black beans.

QUICK CUBAN-STYLE PAELLA

Steps:

• Trim any visible fat from chicken and set aside. Pour broth into a large wide saucepan and set over medium heat. Stir in onion, garlic, jalapeno, lime juice, tomato sauce, seasonings and salt. Once it comes to a boil reduce heat so mixture just simmers.
• Slice sausages into ½ inch (1 cm) pieces as best you can or remove casings and roll into ½ inch (1 cm) rounds. Add to the broth. Cover and simmer while preparing chicken and veggies.
• Meanwhile cut chicken into small pieces, no more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide. Coarsely chop green pepper and tomatoes. Then stir chicken, green pepper and tomatoes including juice into the mixture all at once. Increase heat so it comes to a boil, stir in the rice. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook until rice is done as you like, a total of about 45 minutes. To prevent rice from sticking, stir gently every 15 minutes being sure to scrape the bottom of the pan. Stir in coriander and serve sprinkled with additional coriander if you like.

SPICY CUBAN MOJO CHICKEN WITH MANGO-AVOCADO SALSA

Steps:

• Toast the cumin seeds in a dry skillet over medium-high heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Place the cumin seeds, garlic, chile pepper, salt, olive oil, orange juice, and lemon juice into the bowl of a blender; grind to a coarse paste. Toss the chicken with the marinade, then place into the refrigerator, and allow to marinate for about 2 1/2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until browned. Place into the oven, and cook until the juices run clear, about 8 minutes. When the chicken is done, remove, cover with foil, and allow to rest for 3 to 5 minutes.
• While the chicken is in the oven, whisk together the olive oil, orange juice, lime zest, honey, and soy sauce in a skillet over medium-high heat. Simmer until the orange juice has reduced to 1/3 of original volume and is beginning to get thick and syrupy. Once thick, remove from heat, and whisk in the butter pieces one at a time until melted; set aside.
• To serve, place chicken on the plate and sprinkle with mango and avocado. Drizzle with the sauce, and garnish with cilantro and parsley.

SPICY CUBAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine dressing, garlic and red pepper in a 2 cup glass measure or medium glass bowl. Place chicken in large glass bowl, pour dressing over chicken, cover and marinate at least 30 minutes, but overnight is fine.
• Remove chicken from marinade, drain well, discard marinade. Heat oil in large skillet over medium high heat until hot. Add chicken, cook 5-7 minutes, stirring until chicken is slightly brown, spooning off any excess liquid.
• Add bell peppers, onion, oregano, pepper, and cumin. Cook, stirring, 4-5 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
• Add rice, black beans and tomatoes. Cook 2-3 minutes more or until thoroughly heated.
• Garnish with cilantro, serve immediately.

CUBAN ROASTED CHICKEN IN A DUTCH OVEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Remove the giblets from the chicken, rinse and pat dry. Rub the chicken skin with the garlic and 1 1/2 TBS of the Cuban seasoning. Reserve 1/2 TBS for later.
• Heat olive oil on medium high heat in a large Dutch oven. Put the chicken in breast side down and let brown for a few minutes. Turn over and brown on other side..
• Cut the orange and lime in half and squeeze juice over the chicken. Place the fruit in the cavity of the chicken and tuck in legs and wings. Sprinkle with remaining Cuban seasoning.
• Cover Dutch oven and place in oven for about 45 minutes. Remove lid and continue cooking for another 20 minutes or until internal temperature of chicken reaches 165 degrees. The broiler can also be turned on for the last few minutes of cooking for crispier skin. Let the chicken sit for 10 minutes before carving. Add salt to taste.

CUBAN CHICKEN FRICASSEE

Steps:

• Place the chicken in a zip-lock bag, add juices, vinegar, salt, garlic, onion, and bay leave. Close bag and chill for 1 hour.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade; pat dry using paper towels and reserve marinade.
• Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken and transfer to a plate.
• To the same saucepan, add the onion and bell pepper and cook until they are soft.
• Reduce the heat to low. Add tomato sauce and wine. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.
• Return the browned chicken to pan and add the reserved marinade, potatoes, salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, and 1⁄2 cup water; bring to a boil. Cover and cook until the chicken and potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes.
• Stir in the olives before serving.

CUBAN-SPICED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH CHORIZO AND RICE

Steps:

• Whisk first 11 ingredients in medium bowl for marinade. Place chicken in large resealable plastic bag; add marinade. Seal bag; turn several times to coat chicken. Refrigerate chicken at least 4 hours and up to 1 day, turning bag occasionally. Using tongs, transfer chicken from bag to plate, allowing excess marinade to drip back into bag. Reserve marinade.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large wide pot over medium heat. Add chorizo and sauté until beginning to brown and fat begins to render, about 3 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer chorizo to medium bowl. Increase heat to medium-high. Add half of chicken, skin side down, to pot. Sauté until brown, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to plate. Repeat with remaining chicken.
• Pour off all but 3 tablespoons fat from pot; discard excess fat. Add chopped onions; sauté 4 minutes, scraping up any browned bits. Add chopped bell pepper and chopped garlic. Sauté until onions are translucent, about 2 minutes. Mix in rice, stirring to blend with vegetables. Add 2 1/2 cups broth, tomatoes with any juice, paprika, saffron, and reserved marinade. Bring to boil, stirring to blend. Return chicken, chorizo, and any accumulated juices to pot, pressing chicken partially into rice.
• Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 15 minutes. Arrange piquillo pepper strips over chicken pieces. Cover and continue to simmer until rice is tender and chicken is cooked through, adding more broth by 1/4 cupfuls if rice is dry, about 10 minutes longer. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Transfer rice and chicken to large shallow bowl. Garnish with cilantro and lime wedges and serve.