Black Beans and Rice with Chicken [Easy Cuban Recipe]
A few days ago I decided to try something totally new in the kitchen and guess what? I made Cuban Black Beans and Rice with Chicken! It was such an exciting experience and I ended up serving it all in one big bowl. It turned out amazing and I just had to share this with you! So, here is the recipe!
Why Will You Love this Recipe?
- Diverse Textures: This recipe offers a delightful combination of different components with varying textures, providing a satisfying contrast in every bite.
- Sweet and Savory Harmony: The blend of sweet and savory flavors is a true palate pleaser. The sweetness of the ripe mangoes and bananas perfectly balances the savory spices and herbs.
- Flavorful Bowl: Every ingredient in this recipe is chosen for its rich flavor, contributing to an overall bowl that’s bursting with taste.
- Varied Bite Experiences: Each bite of this dish offers a different experience, keeping your taste buds excited and engaged.
Ingredients
Well, the list of ingredients is not short, but I think you have almost everything in your pantry.
- Chicken breast – you can use chicken thighs as an alternative, but they will cook slower
- Vegetable oil – any frying oil you prefer is fine
- Lime (zest and juice) – a special ingredient that brings a unique, zesty flavor that is irreplaceable in this dish
- Cumin – vital for its earthy flavor
- Chili powder – to make the dish a bit spicy
- Dry oregano – you can use dry basil as substitute
- Garlic cloves
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Mango
- Red bell pepper – you can use various peppers if you want to make it colorful, including jalapeños for a spicier mango salsa
- Red onion
- Bananas – better to use ripe ones than green ones for sweetness and texture
- Oil for frying
- Black beans (can)
- Yellow onion
- Smoked paprika spice – regular paprika can be used, but smoked paprika adds a unique smoky flavor which I really love
- White rice – Jasmine rice is best, but basmati or any long-grain rice can also be used in this recipe
- Chicken broth cube – you can easily use a vegetable broth cube, or if you have it, chicken stock or even just chicken broth will do the trick
- Water
- Fresh cilantro
Tools You’ll Need
- Zip Lock Bags for marinating the chicken
- Two Frying Pans
- Strainer
How to Make Cuban Black Beans and Rice with Chicken?
- Marinate and Fry Chicken: Chicken breasts are cubed, marinated in a mixture of lime, spices, and oil, and refrigerated for 24 hours. They are then fried until golden brown.
- Make Mango Salsa: Mango, red bell pepper, and red onion are diced and mixed with lime zest and juice, seasoned, and rested to blend the flavors.
- Fry Bananas (Maduros): Bananas are sliced and fried in oil until golden brown.
- Cook Rice: Rice is cooked in chicken broth, sieved, and flavored with lime, cilantro, and black pepper.
- Prepare Black Beans: Onions and garlic are sautéed, followed by the addition of drained black beans and spices, cooked briefly to heat through.
- Assemble the Dish: Serve by placing cilantro-lime rice in bowls, topped with fried chicken, black beans, mango salsa, and fried bananas on the side.
Easy-peasy. 🙂
Recipe Alternations
- Vegetarian Option: Want to make this dish vegetarian? Easy! Just swap the chicken for tofu. It’s a great way to keep the protein but ditch the meat.
- Variety in Beans and Rice: Feel free to experiment with different types of beans and rice. You could try kidney beans or pinto beans. As for rice, basmati or brown rice can offer a new texture and flavor profile.
- Spice It Up: For those who love a bit of heat, feel free to add a spicy kick to any part of this dish. Be it a dash of Tabasco, some sliced jalapeños, or your favorite hot sauce, incorporating a spicy element can elevate the flavors.
Tips
For a smooth cooking experience, I suggest following this order when preparing the dish:
- Marinate the Chicken: Begin by marinating the chicken. This allows ample time for the chicken to soak up all the flavors.
- Make Mango Salsa: Next, prepare the mango salsa. This gives it time to rest and allows the flavors to meld together beautifully.
- Cook the Rice: Start boiling the chicken broth and cook the rice. This is a good step to do early because the rice can sit for a bit if needed.
- Fry Chicken and Bananas Simultaneously: While waiting for the rice to finish, start frying the chicken in one pan. In another pan, fry the bananas. Doing these steps concurrently saves time.
- Prepare the Black Beans: As the chicken and bananas are cooking, begin preparing the black beans.
- Finish the Rice: Once the rice is done, give it its final touches.
- Assemble Everything: Now, with all components ready, assemble your dish. Place the rice in a bowl and top it with the fried chicken, black beans, mango salsa, and fried bananas.
Storing Instructions
- Cool Down: Allow all components of the dish to cool to room temperature before storing.
- Refrigeration: Store the chicken, mango salsa, rice, black beans, and fried bananas in separate airtight containers, then place them in the fridge. The chicken, rice, and black beans will keep well for up to 3-4 days. The mango salsa should be enjoyed within 2 days for the best flavor, and the fried bananas are best eaten within a day as they may lose their texture.
- Reheating: When reheating, it’s best to do so in a skillet or microwave. For the chicken, beans, and rice, a little splash of water or broth can help to bring back moisture. The fried bananas, however, are best eaten cold or at room temperature. Mango salsa should be eaten cold, of course.
- Freezing Options: The chicken and rice can be frozen for up to 2 months. Don’t freeze the rest of the dish components.
Other Recipes You’ll Love
- Sweetgreen Buffalo Chicken Salad
- General Tso’s Chicken with Fried Rice
- Sweet and Saucy Chicken Drumsticks
- Sweet Chicken and Spinach Bowl
Let me know your thoughts on this recipe in the comment section below! 🙂 Enjoy!
Black Beans and Rice with Chicken
The Cuban Black Beans and Rice with Chicken is a vibrant and flavorful dish, combining marinated chicken, tangy mango salsa, and soft black beans, all served with cilantro-lime rice and sweet fried bananas. This recipe offers a delightful fusion of textures and flavors, perfectly encapsulating the essence of Cuban cuisine in every bite.
Ingredients
Cuban Chicken
- 1.1 pounds chicken breast
- 2 tbsps vegetable oil
- 1 lime (zest and juice)
- 1 tbsp cumin
- ½ tbsp chili powder
- ½ tbsp dry oregano
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp salt
- ⅙ tsp black pepper
Mango Salsa
- 1 mango
- ½ red bell pepper
- ¼ red onion
- ½ lime (zest and juice)
- ⅛ tsp chili powder
- ⅛ tsp salt
Fried Bananas (Maduros)
- 2 bananas big
- oil for frying
Black Beans
- 1 can black beans (15 oz)
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 yellow onion
- 1 clove garlic
- ½ tsp cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika spice
- ⅓ tsp salt
Cuban White Rice
- ½ cup white rice
- 1 chicken broth cube
- water
- ½ lime (zest and juice)
- 2 tsp fresh cilantro chopped
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
Marinating and Frying the Chicken
- Cube the chicken breast and place it in a Ziploc bag. Combine lime zest and juice, vegetable oil, cumin, chili powder, dry oregano, crushed garlic cloves, salt, and black pepper. Pour this marinade over the chicken in the bag. Seal and refrigerate for 24 hours.
- Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Remove the chicken from the bag, letting excess marinade drip off.
- Fry the chicken in the skillet for about 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally, until it's thoroughly cooked and has a nice, golden-brown exterior. Set aside once done.
Making Mango Salsa
- Prepare the ingredients. Dice mango, red bell pepper, and red onion.
- In a bowl, mix the diced mango, bell pepper, and onion with lime zest and juice. Sprinkle with chili powder and salt, stir well, and let it rest to enhance the flavors (at least 10 minutes).
Cooking the Rice
- Cook the rice in chicken broth as per package instructions. Once cooked, sieve to remove excess liquid.
- Once the rice is cooked, stir in the zest and juice of ½ lime, 2 teaspoons of freshly chopped cilantro, and black pepper to taste.
Preparing Black Beans
- In a skillet, heat vegetable oil and cook chopped onion and minced garlic until the onion is translucent.
- Drain and rinse the black beans. Add them to the skillet with the onion and garlic. Stir in cumin and smoked paprika, cooking for a minute, just to heat everything up.
- Season with salt.
Frying Bananas (Maduros)
- Pour enough oil into a frying pan to cover the bottom and heat.
- Peel and diagonally slice bananas.
- Fry the banana slices until they turn a deep golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
To Serve
- Place cilantro-lime rice in bowls.
- Placefried chicken cubes and black beans next to it. Add a side of mango salsa along with fried bananas.
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 1252.2kcalCarbohydrates: 128.9gProtein: 72.7gFat: 52.9gSaturated Fat: 6.9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 20.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 21.8gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 160mgSodium: 2761mgPotassium: 2370.6mgFiber: 21.5gSugar: 33.5gVitamin A: 2557.4IUVitamin C: 81.6mgCalcium: 194.9mgIron: 8.5mg
Before diving into the nutritional details, please review our Nutritional Disclaimer page for important context and clarifications.
