Arroz con Pollo beams as a star dish in many kitchens. Its flavors sing.
We’ve all been there, spoon in hand, staring down at this comfort masterpiece, wondering, “What’s next?” The challenge: picking sides.
Good news, we’ve got answers. Seven standout companions to elevate your meal.
Our evenings wrestling with this question have led us here. We laughed, we cried, we ate more chicken and rice than we’d care to admit.
These pairs? Tested by us. Approved by our taste buds. Ready to make your Arroz con Pollo night unforgettable.
Dive in.
Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Arroz con Pollo?
The simplest reason is that rice dishes taste excellent with various items.
Besides, it can be pretty dull to consume only a single dish.
The main ingredients of the dish are rice, veggies, meat, and spices.
Beer and annatto are the other typical elements used in the Puerto Rican version of the dish.
While chicken is the primary protein used, there is no reason why you can’t use other meat too.
If chicken isn’t available when you wish to make the dish, use other meat like turkey, lamb, or beef.
If you’re wondering what to serve with arroz con pollo, here are some names of the best dishes you can serve with the rice dish.
What to Serve with Arroz con Pollo? 7 BEST Side Dishes
There are plenty of items that you can serve with Arroz con pollo but since we can’t list everything here, let’s check out the seven best dishes.
1 – Coleslaw
A crunchy addition to the rice dish can balance the flavors nicely.
So, why not pair up a creamy coleslaw with Arroz con pollo? The freshness of the salad can maintain the richness of the rice dish, and you have something to cleanse the palate.
There are two types of coleslaw.
The classic one is creamy with a mayonnaise-based dressing, while the Asian version is sweet, tangy, and spicy.
So, you can make either one depending on your preference or availability of ingredients.
You can shred fresh cabbage at home or buy packaged variety from the grocery store.
If you shred it at home, use an appliance to complete the work fast.
2 – Sautéed Prawns
You could also try a seafood dish along with arroz con pollo.
Rice and seafood combine pretty well.
So, sauteed prawns would be the perfect option to serve as a side dish with the rice.
Prawns look ugly when raw, but when cooked, they become very beautiful and delicious.
They turn from gray to pink because their outer shell, the exoskeleton, contains carotenoids, a kind of pigment which gets released when cooked.
Making sauteed prawns is simple, but you must keep one thing in mind.
Prawns can get overcooked fast, and they will taste bad.
3 – Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Never count out the humble potatoes because they taste amazing with almost anything.
Mashed potatoes with a garlic twist are delicious and filling, and they work nicely with arroz con pollo.
Besides being delicious, the dish is simple to make, and you need only a few ingredients.
There are several mashed potato dishes, and this one is one of them.
When you make the dish, add chives and garlic for that flavor and wonderful aroma.
Starchy potatoes are great for the dish, but if you don’t have them, it’s ok to use the other varieties too.
4 – Fresh Veggie Salad
Rice goes with most items, and it’s the same with salads.
Hence, you can add a fresh vegetable salad to the menu and pair it with arroz con pollo.
Vegetables and salad greens are nutritious as they don’t contain cholesterol and are naturally low on calories.
You will therefore be adding a crunchy element and also receive nutrients.
You can mix and match various veggies and greens as there are plenty of options.
They all taste unique and provide nutrients, so you can use any veg you have at home.
5 – Herb Roasted Veggies
You can never go wrong with vegetables, no matter how you cook them.
But when your roast them, their flavor reaches even greater heights.
Besides, they taste fantastic with the rice dish.
You can choose from various veggies, including potatoes, carrots, beet, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, and bell pepper.
If you don’t have these, you can also use other items depending on what you have.
It’s important not to put too much oil and to keep the temperature well below the oil’s smoke point; else, the veggies will burn.
6 – Fajitas
It contains shredded chicken, but nobody’s complaining.
Fajitas is a Texan-Mexican dish that consists of veggies, chicken and other meat, sour cream, salsa, and shredded cheese.
Fajitas is a fresh dish with raw peppers and other veggies, so it is easy to make.
If you have the ingredients, then it won’t take much time.
You can add the chicken depending on how you prepare the rice dish.
If you have more veggies, then it won’t clash with the meat in the Arroz con pollo.
7 – Chicken Tacos
It’s yet another Mexican dish and one that pairs nicely with Arroz con pollo.
Both balance the flavors of each other, so you don’t feel overwhelmed by the other.
Tacos usually have tortillas, onions, tomatoes, chiles, and lettuce.
They also contain protein such as seafood, chicken, pork, and beef.
The garnish usually includes guacamole, salsa, and sour cream.
For pairing with the rice dish, we choose the chicken tacos because they are delicious and straightforward to make, and everyone loves them.
Use the usual ingredients or even add a twist of your choice.
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