‘Sazon Chicken’ is a family favorite and this recipe is my twist on a Caribbean Classic, pollo guisado. This recipe is inspired by my favorite Cuban restaurant on Fulton Street, Downtown Manhattan.
What is Pollo Guisado–Sazon Chicken?
Pollo Guisado(chicken stew), pronounced poh-yuh gee-sah-duh, popular in the Caribbean, South and Central America, is a stew of braised chicken, aimmered in a flavorful tomato-based sauce with potatoes, carrots, and olives.
It’s rich lusciousness comes from sofrito, a blend of peppers, onions, garlic, and cilantro, very similar to green seasoning(which I used in this recipe).
I created this sazon chicken recipe in a desperate attempt to add some variety to our usual meal rotation; a change for the usual curry or stew.
Pollo Guisado Main Ingredients:
- 3 lbs chicken legs – Use thighs or a whole chicken cut up into 2 inch pieces
- 4 tbs Homemade sazon, divided – check out my recipe or use store bought
- 6 tbs extra virgin olive oil – or other oil of your choice
- 1 large onion, chopped – sometimes I blend the onion and garlic with the tomatoes and garlic
- 1 lb tomatoes, blended – Substitute with canned tomato sauce
- 6 tbs green seasoning – Check out that recipe here.
- 2 tbs minced garlic
- 4 scallions, chopped
- Hot pepper, to taste
- 3 thyme sprigs
- 1 lb potatoes, peeled and cut into wedges
- 2 carrots, julienned
- 1/2 cup green olives, or to taste – I have also used kalamata olives in this recipe
- 1 bunch Cilantro, chopped ) – I have substituted with culantro or bandhania when cilantro is not available.
- Salt- I used Himalayan salt
- Black pepper
- 1 red bell pepper, julienned – Adds a pop of color to this dish.
Chicken legs are seasoned with my homemade sazon seasoning, marinating is optional. It is then pan-seared until golden brown and cooked with potatoes, carrots, and olives in a flavorful sauce.
The pan seared chicken, briny olives, savory potatoes, and the subtle sweetness of the carrots combine to create a truly magnificent dish.
What to serve with this sazon chicken/pollo guisado?
For a complete meal serve with freshly steamed rice, coconut cilantro rice, or yellow rice and peas, and stewed black beans. stewed red beans, stewed red beans with coconut milk or stewed lentils if you are in the mood to cook another dish.
Check out my stewed beans recipes which are loaded with flavor.
This sazon chicken is one of our family favorites, and soon it will be yours too!
Homemade Sazon Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 lbs chicken legs
- 4 tbs Homemade sazon divided
- 6 tbs extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large onion chopped
- 1 lb tomatoes blended
- 6 tbs green seasoning
- 2 tbs minced garlic
- 4 scallions chopped
- Hot pepper to taste
- 3 thyme sprigs
- 1 lb potatoes cut into wedges
- 2 carrots
- 1/2 cup green olives or to taste
- 1 bunch Cilantro
- Salt
- Black pepper
- 1 red bell pepper
Instructions
- Wash chicken, drain and season with 2 tbs of sazon and salt(if seasoning does not have salt). Marinate minimum one hour or overnight.
- Heat oil in a wide, deep sauté pan over medium heat.
- Add seasoned chicken pieces and brown. Flip and brown the other side.
- Add onion and crushed tomatoes and cook 3 minutes.
- Add minced green seasoning, garlic, scallion and hot pepper and stir to combine.
- Add 4 cups hot water or chicken stock, thyme, 2 more tablespoons of the sazon and bring to a boil.
- Cover and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add potatoes, carrots, olives, 1/2 cilantro and salt to taste.
- Bring to a boil, cover and cook for 20 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked and the potatoes are tender but still whole.
- Finish with the remainder of the cilantro and chopped bell pepper.
