Honduran Chicken in Mild Annatto-Orange Sauce with Yuca Tostones and Cabbage Salad

Name: Honduran Chicken in Mild Annatto-Orange Sauce with Yuca Tostones and Cabbage Salad
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 70 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Hondureña
Ingredients: 1.5 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs; 2 tbsp annatto paste; 1/2 cup orange juice; 4 cloves garlic; 1 cup white onion; 1 1/2 cups ripe tomato; 1 cup red bell pepper; 1 tsp ground cumin; 1/2 tsp dried oregano; 1 1/4 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 3 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 cup chicken broth; 2 lb peeled yuca; 4 cups green cabbage; 1/4 cup fresh cilantro; 3 tbsp lime juice; 1 tbsp white vinegar; 1 tsp sugar

An original dish inspired by Honduran flavors: browned chicken thighs simmered in a mild annatto, orange, and tomato sauce, served with crispy yuca tostones and a fresh cabbage salad with cilantro and lime.

25 minPrep

45 minCook

70 minTotal

4Servings

Gluten-FreeDairy-FreeHigh Protein

Ingredients

Adjust servings

700 g boneless skinless chicken thighs (cut en pieces large)
30 g annatto paste (for color and sabor)
120 ml orange juice (preferiblemente natural)
12 g garlic (chopped finely)
150 g white onion (sliced finas, divided)
250 g ripe tomato (chopped)
120 g red bell pepper (in strips)
2 g ground cumin
1 g dried oregano
8 g salt (or to taste, divided)
2 g black pepper
45 ml vegetable oil (divided)
240 ml chicken broth
900 g peeled yuca (cut en trozos gruesos)
200 g green cabbage (finely grated)
15 g fresh cilantro (chopped)
45 ml lime juice (freshly squeezed)
15 ml white vinegar
4 g sugar

Nutrition facts

per serving

520 kcal

Calories

31 g

Protein

39 g

Carbs

26 g

Fat

5 g

Fiber

34 g

Net carbs

Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

Allergens

No declared allergens

Instructions

1
1. In a bowl, mix the chicken with the annatto paste, orange juice, half of the garlic, cumin, oregano, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and black pepper. Let it marinate for 15 minutes in the refrigerator.
2
2. Meanwhile, place the yuca in a pot with enough water to cover it and add 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, until tender but not falling apart. Drain and let cool for 10 minutes.
3
3. In a wide skillet or sauté pan, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium heat. Brown the marinated chicken for 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
4
4. In the same pan, add another tablespoon of vegetable oil. Sauté the onion, the remaining garlic, and the red bell pepper for 4 minutes. Add the chopped tomato and cook 5 minutes more, until a juicy base forms.
5
5. Return the chicken to the pan, add the chicken broth, and cover. Cook over medium-low heat for 20 minutes, until the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce has thickened slightly.
6
6. For an oven finish, transfer the chicken and sauce to an oven-safe dish and bake for 10 minutes at 375 °F / 190 °C. If preferred, you can finish it in the skillet over low heat for those same 10 minutes.
7
7. Flatten the cooked yuca pieces with a cup or press to form thick discs. Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a large skillet and brown the yuca tostones for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until crisp around the edges.
8
8. In a bowl, combine the cabbage, cilantro, lime juice, white vinegar, sugar, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Massage the mixture for 1 minute with your hands or tongs to slightly soften the cabbage.
9
9. Serve the chicken with plenty of annatto-orange sauce, alongside the hot yuca tostones and the fresh cabbage salad.

Chef tips

If you want deeper color, add 1 extra teaspoon of annatto paste to the sauce. Do not overcook the yuca; it should be tender enough to flatten but firm enough to brown well.

Substitutions

You can use chicken breast instead of thighs, reducing the cooking time by a few minutes. White vinegar can be replaced with apple cider vinegar, and red bell pepper with sweet green pepper.

What I used to make it

Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.

Illustrative image
Cosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
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Illustrative image
TempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
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Illustrative image
T-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized 12" Non-Stick Pan
Eggs, omelets and stir-fries
- Eggs and omelets that don’t stick
- Comfortable, sturdy handle
- Use wooden or silicone utensils
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