Description
Pollo Guisado is a traditional Puerto Rican chicken stew that’s cozy, savory, and packed with bold, home-style flavor. Tender chicken simmers with sofrito, herbs, and vegetables until the sauce turns rich and spoonable. Serve it over warm rice for the kind of comfort meal that feels like a hug from the inside out.
Ingredients
– 2 lbs chicken pieces (bone-in, skin-on preferred)
– 2 tablespoons olive oil
– 1 medium onion, chopped
– 1 bell pepper, chopped
– 4 cloves garlic, minced
– 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
– 1 cup chicken broth
– 1/4 cup sofrito (Puerto Rican seasoning base)
– 1 teaspoon dried oregano
– 1 teaspoon ground cumin
– 1 bay leaf
– Salt and pepper, to taste
– 1/4 cup chopped cilantro (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
2. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then brown it on all sides, about 8–10 minutes.
3. Transfer the chicken to a plate. In the same pot, sauté onion, bell pepper, and garlic until softened, about 5 minutes.
4. Stir in tomatoes, sofrito, oregano, cumin, and bay leaf. Cook for 3 minutes to wake up the flavors.
5. Return the chicken to the pot, pour in the chicken broth, and bring to a gentle simmer.
6. Cover and cook on low heat for 30–40 minutes, until the chicken is tender and cooked through (165°F / 74°C).
7. Remove the bay leaf, garnish with cilantro, and serve hot over rice.
Notes
– For a thicker sauce, simmer uncovered for the last 10 minutes.
– This stew tastes even better the next day after the flavors settle.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg