Almendrado with Chicken

Name: Almendrado with Chicken
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 1/2 large white onion (cut into pieces); 6 cloves garlic (unpeeled); 2 pounds (about 7 or 8) roma tomatoes; 5 whole cloves; 12 black peppercorns; 1 1-inch stick ceylon cinnamon (or canela); 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/2 cup vegetable oil; 1 3-pound chicken (cut into serving pieces (wings removed for later use and breasts cut in half)); 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt; 2 cups chicken broth (divided); 1 cup slivered almonds; 1/2 cup black raisins; 1/2 cup manzanilla olives stuffed with pimiento (sliced ); 1/4 cup capers (chopped); 1/2 cup pickled jalapeño rajas (or slices)

Almendrado con Pollo

Recipe Yield

4 to 5 servings

Cooking time

1 hour 5 minutes

Rate this recipe

3.72 from 7 votes

Ingredients

1/2 large white onion cut into pieces
6 cloves garlic unpeeled
2 pounds (about 7 or 8) roma tomatoes
5 whole cloves
12 black peppercorns
1 1-inch stick ceylon cinnamon or canela
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 3-pound chicken cut into serving pieces (wings removed for later use and breasts cut in half)
1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt
2 cups chicken broth divided
1 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup black raisins
1/2 cup manzanilla olives stuffed with pimiento sliced
1/4 cup capers chopped
1/2 cup pickled jalapeño rajas or slices

To Prepare

Place onion, garlic and tomatoes under the broiler, or on an already heated skillet, griddle or comal set over medium heat. Roast or char for about 10 minutes, flipping in between, until ingredients are completely charred, cooked and mushy. Set aside and peel the garlic cloves when cool enough to handle.
In a small skillet set over medium heat, toast the cloves, peppercorns and cinnamon stick for a couple minutes, moving and flipping them around to toast evenly. Set aside. Toast the oregano for 10 to 15 seconds and remove from the heat.
In the jar of a blender, place the charred onion, peeled garlic and charred tomatoes, along with the tops from the whole cloves (discard the stems), the peppercorns, cinnamon and oregano. Puree until completely smooth.
Heat the oil in a large casserole set over medium-high heat until very hot, but not smoking. Season the chicken with the salt and brown the chicken pieces for 2 to 3 minutes per side. You may need to do this in batches in order to not to crowd the casserole. Once you have removed all the chicken, immediately pour the tomato sauce into the hot oil and cover, as it will splatter. Reduce heat to medium.
Add a cup of chicken broth to the blender and puree for a few seconds to get all the remaining thick sauce out of the blender, pour into the simmering sauce and cover again. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Incorporate the remaining cup of chicken broth, almonds, raisins, olives and capers. Add the browned chicken pieces, cover and reduce heat to low and cook for 20 more minutes.
Remove the lid and add the pickled jalapeño slices. Increase heat to medium and cook for another 10 minutes, allowing all the flavors to blend and the sauce to thicken. Serve with rice.

Comments

77comments inAlmendrado with Chicken

Carola Diaz

Sep 20

Made it! Love it! Thank u Patti!!

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Oct 04
  
  Yay, SO happy Carola 🙂
  
Luanne Elizabeth Wilczynski

Jan 25

Thank you so much for this recipe. It is a family favorite, and friends have even asked for the recipe. Your meals are magical, Pati, as is your show.

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Jan 25
  
  Thanks to you Luanne, you are incredibly kind, un abrazo!
  
Ellie

Oct 25

I made this recipe many times!
Is the favorite dish of my family 😋

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Oct 27
  
  Loved this! Thanks so much Ellie 😉
  
Laurie Williams

Sep 17

Pati,
I made this tonight! I also made it with boneless, skinless thighs (only because it was a goof by my Instacart shopper). I made it with your Arroz con Coco recipe, and it was AWESOME! We want to go visit Oaxaca when Covid-19 lets us travel again.

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Sep 17
  
  Please do Laurie, Oaxaca is one of the most magical places on Earth, and the food! 🙂
  
Anna

Sep 07

This was delicious and easy

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Sep 17
  
  Glad you liked it Anna 😉
  
Ryan H

Aug 29

Damn this was good Pati!! It’s going into reg rotation. I used ground spices and boneless thighs. It was awesome!

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Sep 05
  
  So glad you enjoyed it Ryan, thanks!
  
Ruby Cesena

Aug 27

Hola Patti!!! Me encantan tus cooking videos!!! Nos hablas como si nos consieramos! Esta esta receta en video? Por que se ve muy bueno, y me gustan tus instruciones paso a paso !!! Saludos desde Los Angeles! Love your accent!!

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Sep 05
  
  Si Ruby, aqui esta el video, mil gracias! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAa95O5bcSA
  
Denisse

Aug 26

Looks delicious this recepie is one I must try this weekend can’t wait to try it.❤️❤️

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Sep 05
  
  Gracias Denisse, how did you like it?
  
Kurt

Jul 18

Made exactly to the recipe except added some paprika to the tomato mixture and bay leaf to the chicken stock. I also used boneless skinless thighs and rough cut them after the growing step to make it easy to eat. Served with lime wedges-excellent!

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Jul 19
  
  Thanks for sharing your secrets Kurt! Love it when you guys give your own twist to these recipes, enjoy 😉
  
Nancy Corbin

Jul 12

What brand is your blender nice and large!!!

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Jul 14
  
  It is a Vitamix Nancy, it is really amazing, I love it!
  
Dawne Ward

Jul 11

My family likes mid dishes. How could I adapt your recipe without losing too much of the flavor?

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Jul 12
  
  Hi Dawne! This dish is really not spicy or hot at all, but if you rather, just leave the jalapenos out. Enjoy 😉
  
Jon Morrison

Jun 14

Made a 2 1/2 recipe. Made the tomato, garlic, onion sauce Friday. Finished the mole on Sunday. Finished in the oven at 250F for 2 hours, then added the jalapeño and cooked for another hour. Incredible. Chicken fell off the bone. A lot of work, but incredible.

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Jun 18
  
  Yay Jon, great tips! Thanks for giving this recipe a chance, enjoy 😉
  
Susan

Jun 12

Tonight’s dinner!
Thank you!

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Jun 21
  
  Thank you Susan! How did you like it?
  
Jon Morrison

Jun 12

Made the sauce today, Friday, for Sunday night dinner with friends.

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Jun 21
  
  Great job Jon, did your friends liked it?
  
Anonymous

Jan 10

Cant wait to try will be cooking this Tuesday

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Jan 10
  
  Have fun!
  
Jordan

Dec 30

I plan to make this dish tonight, however, I only have bone-in thighs at the moment. Will that be okay rather than using the breast?

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Dec 30
  
  Absolutely! Enjoy, Jordan.
  
Paula Quick

Sep 21

Would a cilantro rice compliment the Alemndrado Chicken? I just get tired of the same ‘ole plain rice.
Thanks,
Paula
PS: Pati, I have been watching your show/s for years. I love love love Mexican food and you, along with Rick Bayless, have given me the ability to ‘visit’ Mexico through food.
You are amazing!!!

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Sep 24
  
  Go for it, Paula! And thank you so much for watching for so many years.
  
Edna

Sep 19

Me encantan tus recetas porque aparte de ser deliciosas, son faciles para preparar…next I’m making the Dulce de Leche CHEESECAKE! ¡Gracias Pati! 😘

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Sep 20
  
  Mil gracias, Edna!
  
Mari

Sep 16

Pati, I loved this episode, but I really loved the dress you were wearing when you visited your friend’s kitchen in Oaxaca, you know, where you had to leave the kitchen due to fumes from charring the chilis. Where did you get that dress please, I would love to find one like it. Gracias.

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Oct 03
  
  Oh I have a wonderful stylist who helps me…you can reach out to her directly: https://www.facebook.com/SybilStreetStylist/
  
Rhonda Barovsky

Sep 12

My husband does not eat chicken or meat. How could I adapt this to salmon?

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Oct 03
  
  You can make the sauce as is and then add your favorite fish, Rhonda. I hope you guys enjoy it.
  
Gloria

Mar 10

Muy delicioso. Mi esposo se comio casi toda la cacerola.. Lo voy hacer nuevamente. Me llevo mas tiempo en cocinarlo. De lo que lo saborie.!! Gracias paty por tus deliciosas recetas.!

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Mar 21
  
  Uy gracias, Gloria!
  
Fafi:)

Oct 30

Hola Pati!
Esta es la primera receta tuya que yo hago y que crees? Me encanto. No conozco Oaxaca pero gracias a ti ya probé una de sus delicias..
Mi plan es cocinar una de tus recetas a la semana, así que la siguiente serán los pambasos….:)

1. Pati
  
  Oct 31
  
  Super! Gracias, Fafi 🙂
  
Sandy & Tom

Jun 10

Our first ‘Pati Dish’ (of many to come) and we’re SOOOOO happy! Wild about the rich smoky notes from the charred veg and the sweet and salty hits from the raisins and olives/jalapenos/capers. We’re super-excited to have found a wonderful Latin tienda not far away, and are now the proud owners of a new comal and a pantry-full of ingredients. !Muchas gracias por ensenarnos, Pati!

1. Pati
  
  Jun 13
  
  Oh wow! Thank you so much Sandy and Tom. I hope you have lots more fun cooking up my recipes with your new comal and Mexican pantry.
  
Andres Saenz

Jan 24

Wow, I just made this and it was incredible! The tomato sauce was so thick, savory, and bursting with flavor! The chicken was so moist and almost falling off the bone, infused with so much flavor from the sauce. Thank you so much, Pati! Viva Mexico! 🇲🇽🇲🇽

1. Pati
  
  Jan 25
  
  Thank YOU Andres!
  
Jessie

Jan 24

Super delish !!!

1. Pati
  
  Jan 25
  
  🙂
  
Carlota

Dec 13

Hola Pati,gracias por compartir deliciosas recetas.Feliz Navidad.

1. Pati
  
  Dec 13
  
  Mil gracias, Carlota! Feliz Navidad!
  
Doug Goularte

Nov 19

Delicious my friend! We thoroughly enjoyed it! Thanks for a great recipe.

Raquel Battle

Oct 29

Thank!!!!!, is so delicious. I try this Sunday dinner.

1. Pati
  
  Oct 30
  
  Have a great Sunday dinner, Raquel!
  
Lea Grisemer

Oct 28

Hi Pati,
I saw your show for the first time today. This recipe reminds me of my Mom’s recipe that is a family favorite that I call “Mexican Chicken”. Key ingredients are the holy trinity of celery, bell pepper and onion cooked til caramelized then add whole canned tomatoes with camino, salt and pepper which is combined with browned chicken.

I can’t wait to make your recipe for Mi Mama, with all the different ingredients. Unfortunately, I took a fall walking my dog and have use of only one arm (temporarily). Muchas Gracias, Lea

1. Pati
  
  Nov 02
  
  Feel better soon Lea…and I hope you and your mom enjoy the chicken!
  
Carl

Oct 08

Pati,, Pati, Pati ! All I had to do was read the ingredients then said I want to try this. I did last night. So good. Though it was warm outside everyone agreed this is a great fall-winter dish. So rich in flavors with balance. We can taste everything on the list. I will share this with friends and I know they will love it too. It is a Mexican Caccitore. Everyone here loved it. Thank you for another outstanding recipe. I might even have it for breakfast this morning.

1. Pati
  
  Oct 12
  
  I’m thrilled to hear that Carl…thank you so much!
  
Lyn

Oct 07

Its nice…i will try to make this recipe soon

1. Pati
  
  Oct 12
  
  Super!
  
Margarita

Oct 05

Pati – this sounds alot like Pollo Guisado…or can you post a Pollo Guisado recipe, please? My friend from Guatemala makes the most amazing guisado and I have watched her make it but since she does not measure, I tried to estimate her ingredients but it does not taste the same! 🙁

Sge also does a turkey dish in a similar way (green olives and all).

Please help me get a Pollo Guisado recipe! Thank you! ♡

1. Pati
  
  Oct 06
  
  I will try to post a recipe soon….
  
Jennifer

Sep 30

We made this for dinner tonite and my family loved it. The aroma of toasting the cinnamon and cloves was amazing. The unique combination of ingredients are a perfect match.

1. Pati
  
  Oct 02
  
  So glad your whole family loved it, Jennifer!
  
Pat Sanchez

Sep 30

Wow !!! The this dish is delicious ‘!!! Hope to one day visit this beautiful town.

1. Pati
  
  Oct 02
  
  I hope you get to go soon too, Pat! So glad you liked the dish!
  
Sidney

Sep 29

It looks delicious but I would like to see more recipes that are faster and easier to make than so many ingredients.

1. Pati
  
  Oct 02
  
  Thank you for the suggestion Sidney. I’ll try to post some more soon.
  
Eli Espino

Sep 29

this sounds delicious and I don’t see much sugar in the recipe other than the raisins, I will try it in the near future, its not your typical mole sounds like, thank you.

1. Pati
  
  Oct 02
  
  Yay!
  
tgobbi

Sep 29

Hola, Pati —

Thank you, muchas gracias, merci beaucoup and danke schön for the recipe!!!!!

I first had pollo almendrado in Oaxaca years ago at a restaurant called La Casa de la Abuela. To this day it remains my favorite dish of all time. But we never see it on restaurant menus where I live (Chicago area) so I’m looking forward to trying your version (which I’m sure will be every bit as good).

1. Pati
  
  Oct 02
  
  Thank you for sharing! And I hope you enjoy it!
  
Anne Jordan

Sep 29

Sounds delicious, but then, all your recipes are!

1. Pati
  
  Oct 02
  
  Thank you Anne!
  
Tom Natan

Sep 29

I had this chicken years ago when I was in Oaxaca for work, but had forgotten about it. Thanks for the recipe!

1. Pati
  
  Oct 02
  
  Oh I hope you enjoy it as much as you did years ago!

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