Simple Arroz Valenciana Recipe

This simple Arroz Valenciana or Arroz a la Valenciana recipe is the perfect all-in-one dish to serve on special occasions due to its attractive visuals and amazing flavors! Made by cooking the chicken, glutinous rice, vegetables, and spices in a pan first then simmering them in coconut milk. It is served topped with hard-boiled eggs.

What is Arroz Valenciana?

It is almost guaranteed that you will see this dish when you attend fiestas in provinces as it is one of the most popular dishes that Filipinos make during celebrations and festivities. 

Arroz Valenciana or Arroz ala Valenciana is a Visayan adaptation of the famous Spanish paella. While Paella uses round ground rice and meat stock, this dish uses glutinous or sticky rice and coconut milk instead. It is also characterized by using turmeric (luyang dilaw), chicken, and chorizo de Bilbao. 

It bears a lot of similarities to its regional sister dish, the Bringhe of Pampanga. Bringhe is actually a fusion of two dishes- the South East Asian Biryani and the Spanish Paella.  

Ingredients Variations

This is a simple version of this recipe that is really quick and easy to make. It is ideal for an everyday meal. You can get away with making this dish using only a few ingredients as long as the main ones are present: sticky rice, turmeric, coconut milk, and chicken. It is quite a customizable dish as well. 

If you want to give it some flair for serving on special occasions, you can add Chorizo de Bilbao, green peas, and raisins. You can also use seafood and other meats like pork, beef, or duck. I have also encountered this dish served with some chicken gizzard and liver as well. 

Cooking Tips

• Make sure to use a wide enough pan/pot so the glutinous rice cooks properly and evenly. 
• I used chicken wings cut at joints for this recipe, but feel free to use other chicken parts like thighs or breasts.
• After adding the coconut milk and water, lower the heat and cover your pan/pot with the lid. Refrain from stirring too much to get the sought-after socarrat, the roasted bottom layer of the rice. Just make sure not to burn it. 
• Since it contains coconut oil, it can quickly spoil if left on the dining table for hours. Make sure to always check for freshness before eating. 
• For any leftovers, store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to three days. You can reheat using a microwave or on a stovetop over low heat. 

More Filipino Fiesta Dishes

Serving and Storage

To serve on a special occasion or event, line a bilao with banana leaves or use a large shallow serving dish. Arrange the toppings as desired. Alternatively, you can also use a llanera to shape it and then invert it to a serving plate.

To store leftovers, make sure to spread them in an airtight container or ziplock to prevent them from drying out. Unfortunately, rice does not last too long in the fridge, it is best to reheat them after a day or two. You can also freeze it for a month or two, but I normally don't because the quality is not the same

To reheat, first, break the huge lumps and you can use a microwave if using a microwave-safe container with a lid. The best way, I find, would be to reheat using a steamer. If you have banana leaves use that to line the steamer basket and transfer the cold/frozen Arroz Valenciana on it then cover and steam for a few minutes. Skip the banana leaves if not available. No need to thaw.