Fricase de Pollo (Chicken Fricassee)

Ingredients

• For the Chicken:
• 4 bone-in, skinless chicken thighs and drumsticks 🍗
• 1 tbsp adobo seasoning
• 1 tsp black pepper 🌿
• 1 tsp garlic powder 🧄
• 1 tbsp olive oil 🫒
• For the Fricassee Sauce:
• 0.5 small onion, chopped 🧅
• 0.5 green bell pepper, chopped 🌶️
• 3 cloves garlic, minced 🧄
• 1 ají dulce (or ½ jalapeño), finely chopped 🔥
• 0.5 cup recaito (cilantro, culantro, garlic, and peppers blended) 🌿
• 1 tbsp tomato paste 🍅
• 1 tsp smoked paprika 🌶️
• 1 tsp cumin 🏺
• 0.5 cup tomato sauce 🍅
• 0.5 cup dry white wine or chicken broth 🍷
• 0.5 cup pimiento-stuffed green olives 🫒
• 1 tbsp capers (optional) ✨
• 2 bay leaves 🍃
• 2 cups chicken broth 🍲
• For the Vegetables & Final Touches:
• 2 medium potatoes, diced 🥔
• 1 carrot, sliced 🥕
• 0.5 cup frozen peas 🌱
• 0.5 tsp salt (adjust to taste) 🧂
• 1 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped 🌿

Instructions

1. 11️⃣ Season the Chicken
2. 2In a bowl, season the chicken with adobo, black pepper, and garlic powder. Let marinate for at least 30 minutes (or overnight for deeper flavor). 🍗🧄
3. 32️⃣ Sear the Chicken
4. 4Heat olive oil in a large caldero or Dutch oven over medium heat. Sear the chicken for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove and set aside. 🍗🔥
5. 53️⃣ Sauté the Aromatics
6. 6In the same pot, sauté the onion, green bell pepper, garlic, and ají dulce until fragrant. Stir in recaito, tomato paste, smoked paprika, and cumin, and cook for 2 minutes to build depth of flavor. 🧄🌿🍅
7. 74️⃣ Deglaze & Simmer
8. 8Pour in the white wine or broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Add tomato sauce, olives, capers, bay leaves, and chicken broth. Return the chicken to the pot, cover, and let simmer for 30 minutes. 🍷🔥
9. 95️⃣ Add the Vegetables
10. 10Stir in the potatoes, carrots, and peas. Cover and simmer for another 20 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and the flavors meld together beautifully. 🥔🥕
11. 116️⃣ Garnish & Serve
12. 12Remove the bay leaves, adjust seasoning with salt, and finish with fresh cilantro. Serve over white rice or with tostones for an authentic Puerto Rican experience! 🍚🍽️