Juane (Amazonian Rice and Chicken Bundles in Leaves)
In short: Turmeric rice wrapped with a piece of chicken, egg and olive in banana leaves, then boiled for an hour. A festive dish from the Peruvian Amazon. It takes about 2 h 40 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 1 h
- Cook
- 1 h 40 min
- Total
- 2 h 40 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Calories
- 440 kcal
Juane is a traditional dish of the Peruvian Amazon, eaten above all on the feast of San Juan on 24 June. Rice seasoned with turmeric and cumin is packed around a piece of chicken, half a boiled egg and an olive, then wrapped in large leaves and boiled for about an hour. The leaves perfume the rice. Each guest unwraps their own bundle at the table and eats it warm.
Instructions
- Simmer the chicken in the water with the onion, garlic, cumin, turmeric and salt for 25 minutes, until cooked through and at least 74°C (165°F). Lift out and cool.
- Heat the oil in a pot, stir in the rice for 1 minute, then add the turmeric, cumin, salt and water. Bring to a boil, cover and cook on low heat for 10 minutes. The rice will still be firm. Spread it out and cool completely.
- Mix the 2 beaten eggs into the cooled rice.
- Pass the banana leaves over a flame for a few seconds to soften them, then wipe them clean.
- Place about 1/2 cup of rice in the center of a leaf. Press a hollow in the middle and set in a piece of chicken, half an egg and an olive. Cover with another 1/4 cup of rice.
- Fold the leaf over the filling into a neat parcel and tie it securely with twine. Repeat to make 8 bundles.
- Place the bundles in a large pot, cover with water and weigh them down with a plate. Simmer for 1 hour.
- Lift out the bundles, drain and rest for 10 minutes. Serve each one unwrapped on its leaf.
Tips
- Banana leaves are sold frozen at Latin and Asian grocers. If you cannot find them, wrap each portion in parchment, then in foil, and boil as directed.
- The rice should still be firm when you wrap it. It finishes cooking inside the bundle.
Questions and answers
What is juane?
It is turmeric rice wrapped with chicken, egg and olive in leaves and boiled. It comes from the Peruvian Amazon and is eaten above all on the San Juan festival on 24 June.
Can I freeze juanes?
Yes. Cool the cooked bundles completely, then freeze them for up to 2 months. Reheat in a steamer for 20 to 25 minutes.
Can I use a different leaf?
Bijao leaves are traditional, but banana leaves work well. Parchment and foil are a fallback and will not add the leaf aroma.
How long does it take to make Juane (Amazonian Rice and Chicken Bundles in Leaves)?
About 2 h 40 min in total: 1 h of preparation and 1 h 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Juane (Amazonian Rice and Chicken Bundles in Leaves)?
About 440 kcal per serving, with 23 g of protein, 41 g of carbohydrates and 20 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 440 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 23 g |
| Carbohydrates | 41 g |
| Fat | 20 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Sodium | 700 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
