No combination feels quite as familiar as chicken and rice—which likely explains why there are endless versions of the duo in different cuisines and cultures. Perhaps it’s the fact that rice itself is so varied, and chicken is the perfect canvas for building flavor. Whatever the case may be, there’s never a bad time to make chicken and rice—like this traditional arroz con pollo, for instance.
Growing up, arroz con pollo was, like a Cuban roast pork, always synonymous with celebration in my family. It was that type of dish someone would always request my uncle make on their birthday or graduation. When I went away to college, however, I had to learn how to make classic Cuban dishes like arroz con pollo myself.
