Pollo a la Brasa (Peruvian Chicken)
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The famous and incredibly finger-licking delicious Peruvian chicken known as Pollo a la Brasa! A variety of spices and ingredients come together to create a mouthwatering flavor combination. The skin is perfectly crispy and the chicken is served with an amazing homemade aji verde sauce. This Peruvian chicken recipe is a guaranteed winner!
Did you know that Peruvian cuisine was listed among the top 3 of the nation’s hottest foods this year? And did you know that Pollo a la Brasa was ranked #1 as the most popular dish in Peru? There is even a designated national day for it in July! Yes, Peruvians love their famous roast chicken, and so do we!!
What is Pollo a la Brasa?
Pollo a la brasa, or Peruvian chicken, is a dish of roast chicken commonly served with aji verde sauce. It was created back in the 1940’s when a Swiss immigrant to Peru named Roger Schuler started breeding chickens and in an effort to make extra money decided to start roasting some of them and selling them to the public at a low cost and on an all-you-can eat basis. Delicious food + low cost + all you can eat….it was bound to make him wildly popular! He eventually opened a restaurant at his farm and as far as I am aware it is still in operation today, either by his descendants or others.
My Peruvian chicken recipe came by way of special request years ago from one of my readers, Lajoiedu, who wanted a recipe that imitated the Pollo a la Brasa she and her husband enjoy at a local restaurant. Her description of this dish is beautiful:
“It is the most delicious chicken I have ever eaten…The marinade is full of spices and herbs. I can tell it’s been brined/marinated. The coating/marinade also seems to stick to the skin even through the roasting process. It is fragrant, too. I would loosely describe this as herbaceous, savory, well spiced (without being overly spicy from capsicum), somewhat salty, and just as juicy as one can imagine. The skin is beautifully crisp, too.”
Who wouldn’t want to eat that? With such detailed specifications – everything from flavor to texture to fragrance to appearance – I’ll admit I kind of gulped for a second at the thought of such an undertaking. But you know how I love challenges and this one left me feeling inspired! So with my two little ones running around me, finger-painting the kitchen window, squashing Play-Doh on the floor, and banging pots and pans, I got to work. I did a lot of research, consulted with two Peruvian friends, and experimented to ensure I got the most authentic flavor possible. The end result? It’s phenomenal! This Peruvian chicken recipe has become a favorite in our home and you’ve tasted it I’m confident you’ll feel the same.
Tips for Making Peruvian Chicken
Besides a great marinade, the key to great Pollo a la Brasa is the actual cooking method which involves a rotisserie over wood coals to give it that sublime smoky flavor. Most of us don’t have the equipment necessary for that, so this recipe uses a regular oven to achieve that perfectly crispy skin while leaving the meat delicately tender and juicy.
- Use the convection setting on your oven if you have one. It really made the skin crispy while leaving the meat tender and moist. Just be sure to keep an eye on the chicken because it cooks much faster using convection than the conventional setting.
- Use a roasting rack. That is an absolute must. That allows the air and heat to circulate under and around the chicken to prevent the chicken getting from soggy sitting in its juices and to produce that crispy skin and even cooking.
- Make the homemade Aji Verde Sauce, aka “Peruvian Green Sauce”, the traditional accompaniment.
Pollo a la Brasa Recipe
Let’s get started!
You’re going to need 3 key Peruvian ingredients (2 chili pastes and a black mint paste from an herb indigenous to Peru). I picked these up at a local Mexican grocery store. If you don’t have one, you can purchase them online here: Aji Panca Paste, Aji Amarillo Paste, Huacatay Paste. (You’ll need the aji amarillo paste to make the aji verde sauce for serving with the Peruvian chicken.)
Combine all of the marinade ingredients.
In a food processor, blend it to a smooth puree. Yes, this is the magical concoction here.
The marinade is enough for one whole chicken (you can either roast it whole or cut it in pieces). But you can use whatever bone-in/skin-on chicken pieces you want. This time I just used two leg quarters and a breast.
Loosen the skin and rub some of the marinade under the skin. Then put the chicken pieces in a large ziplock bag (or you may need to divide it in two bags) and pour the rest of the marinade over them. Swish around to coat. Marinate the chicken for at least 6 hours or overnight, turning it every now and then evenly marinate the chicken.
Place some foil under the rack of a roasting pan (this will make cleanup much easier!).
Lay the chicken pieces on it. Spoon some extra marinade over each piece.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (if using a convection oven, adjust the temperature and cooking time accordingly) and roast the chicken on the middle rack of the oven until the internal temperature of the chicken reads 165 degrees F on a meat thermometer, about an hour. If the skin begins to brown too much too fast, move the roasting pan to the bottom rack. You can also reduce the oven temperature.
Note: I used the convection setting on my oven. If you have one, use it. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F and roast the chicken for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 325 degrees F and roast the chicken for another 15-20 minutes or until the internal temp reads 165 degrees F. I couldn’t believe how much faster the chicken cooked using the convection setting. And the results were fantastic.
It is recommended that you tent the chicken with foil for 10-15 minutes before serving. It’s not necessary but it’s often recommended.
Serve with our homemade Peruvian Aji Verde Sauce.
Traditional side dishes include a leafy green salad and thickly cut French fries.
Enjoy!
For more delicious chicken dishes from around the world be sure to try our:
- Chicken Paprikash
- Chicken Piccata
- Doro Wat
- Jerk Chicken
- Chicken Marsala
- Mongolian Chicken
Chicken Stroganoff - Tandoori Chicken
- Thai Peanut Chicken
- Chicken Teriyaki
- Chicken Machboos
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Pollo a la Brasa (Peruvian Chicken)
Ingredients
- 1 whole broiler/fryer chicken , 2-3 pounds, or bone-in/skin-on chicken pieces of your choice
- For the marinade:
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari (GF: use tamari)
- Juice of 2 limes
- 5 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger , minced
- 1/4 cup dark beer
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoons huacatay paste
- 1 tablespoon aji panca paste
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 3/4 teaspoon ground annatto , for the red color
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper , more or less according to heat preference
- Aji Verde Sauce , for serving
Instructions
- Combine all the marinade ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.
- Loosen the skin on the chicken and rub some marinade under the skin. Place the chicken or chicken pieces in a large ziplock bag and pour the marinade over. Swish around to even coat the pieces. Marinate for at least 6 hours or overnight.
- If using a convection oven (that's what I use for crispier skin): Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F and roast the chicken for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 325 degrees F and roast the chicken for another 15-20 minutes or until the internal temp reads 165 degrees F.If using a conventional oven: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and roast the chicken pieces on the middle rack of the oven until the internal temperature of the chicken reads 160 degrees F, about an 45 minutes. If the skin begins to brown too much, move the roasting pan to the bottom rack. You can also reduce the oven temperature.Remove the chicken from the oven. It is recommended that you tent the chicken with foil for 10-15 minutes before serving. If using a whole chicken, cut the chicken into serving pieces.
- Serve the chicken with our homemade Aji Verde Sauce. Traditional sides include thickly cut French fries and a leafy green salad.
Notes
* The oven-roasting instructions are for chicken pieces. If using a whole chicken, increase cooking time until internal temperature of chicken reaches 160 degrees F.
Nutrition
Originally published on The Daring Gourmet September 26, 2013
Hi, I’m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!
I’ve never had Peruvian food, but now I won’t be able to get this chicken out of my head. The color (and I’m sure, flavor) looks to die for! Now I just have to buy the ingredients so I can make it for myself. Thanks for including the links :)
I am officially starving!! This chicken looks perfect!
What a fabulous recipe! Delicious!! I used a split, whole chicken. Marinated overnight. Roasted in the oven using cabbage slices and carrot sticks instead of a grate. The veggies were just as amazing in flavour as the chicken. The bones, and pan scrapings, I simmered into soup stock. Very tasty for a spicy soup. Thank you!
Wonderful, leva, I’m so glad you enjoyed it, thank you! What a great idea to incorporate the leftovers into a soup, I’ll need to remember that!
I can’t wait to try this….I like the yellow sauce more so than the green. Do you have a recipe for it? Thank for posting this recipe and your pics are beautiful
Thank you, Glenda :) I haven’t developed a recipe for the yellow sauce yet. I hope you find what you’re looking for and enjoy this chicken!
I love Peruvian roasted chicken but never thought it do-able at home…you’ve changed my world.
Ha, Michelle! :) Well, hopefully it’s a change for the better, we love this chicken!
I know this is an older post, Kim, but this recipe was a revelation-lick your plate kinda revelation. The Aji Verde sauce pairs perfectly with it. The spiciness is unlike any other I’ve tasted, but it was love at first sight and bite. I made a green salad and some homemade grilled flatbread to go with it. We’ve enjoyed leftovers 2 nights in a row and we’re still not tired of it and it tastes as great as the first night.
Valerie, I’m so thrilled to hear that and really appreciate the feedback, thank you!!
Ok I just did this for tomorrow’S Thanksgiving…they are in ziplock bags right now…will let you know how it comes out!
Wonderful! Happy Thanksgiving, Milena!
I married a half Peruvian woman and her mother approved the dish after I made it using this recipe.
High fives to you and everyone else involved!
That makes me very happy, Gene, thank you! :)
Okay, I tried your recipe today on my Weber Kettle Rotisserie grill using lump hardwood charcoal. My only variation – I sprinkled garlic salt on the chicken just before I put it on over the coals. I didn’t have enough time to marinade the chicken for six hours or more as recommended. I think I was able to get in 2 hours, so I boiled the leftover marinade and basted the chicken as it rotated. What an amazing bird it turned out! It was soooo good. Juicy, tender and moist….with a crispy skin! Absolutely delicious. Thank you for sharing thus recipe!
Fantastic, I’m so thrilled to hear that, Andrea!! And using the hardwood charcoal rotisserie grill – heavenly! Thank you for making this and for taking the time to leave feedback. Best, Kimberly
Thank you very much for posting this recipe. I am addicted to pollo a la brasa. While this recipe may not be exactly like the one at my favorite local Peruvian spot, it is still FANTASTIC! I hope you don’t mind that I will sharing this on my blog.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I’m happy that you want to share it on your blog. I’m sure you’re already aware of copyright laws, so please be sure to credit me if you’re adapting my recipe, and if you’re using my recipe as is, please don’t post it in full but instead provide a link to the recipe on my site. Thanks so much! -Kimberly
Thank you. I did make some adaptations to the recipe, but also linked to your recipe. Interestingly enough, I mentioned my experimentation to a Peruvian friend of mine last night, who told me that true Peruvian pollo a la brasa is only seasoned with five ingredients: salt, pepper, garlic, cumin, and the fifth “is a secret.” Maybe I can get that fifth one out of him if I get him drunk enough, lol! No, that would be wrong…
Thanks again!
Thank you! You know, I’ve communicated with several Peruvians who have each told me different things with respect to the ingredients. But in looking over my final recipe, they’ve each given it a vote of authenticity. Through the extensive research I’ve done online about Peruvian cooking, looking into Peruvian cooking forums and articles, and in talking to several Peruvian people, I’d have to disagree with your friend. It’s like any traditional dish from any country – there will always be variations of the same thing (though all will generally contain some of the same key ingredients), and all can be equally authentic. Which variation a person chooses comes down to personal preference and taste. And of course what matters most is that it tastes amazing, right? :) Thanks again for making this and for the link. Happy cooking! Best, Kimberly
It’s our preferred dish served here in Lima and comes with salad and a pile of french fries. Delicious.
Hello, Pelusa! Lima has excellent taste! :) I hope to visit Peru someday and enjoy the Pollo a la Brasa – and many other dishes – while in your beautiful country!
Kimberly: I could not resist…I had to come here just to say that looking at these pictures made me insanely hungry! What a mouthwatering pollo!!!
Denise, I am so flattered that you stopped by!! And coming from you the compliment is especially meaningful :) Thank you!
It looks delectable! Can’t wait to try it!
Thanks, Cindy! Looking forward to your feedback!
Oh, I can almost smell this. I cannot wait to get all of my supplies and make this recipe. Thank you from my toes for this! :)
You’re very welcome! I really enjoyed experimenting with the flavors. Again, keep in mind, it’s not going taste like the one at the restaurant. Not having tried that one I can’t imitate the flavor. But this recipe includes all of the ingredients common to authentic Pollo a la Brasa and it’s made to Daring Gourmet specifications. :) So whether similar to the actual one you described or not, what I can say is that this Pollo a la Brasa is fantastic!
Good timing. I had never eaten Peruvian food until last night when I went to Ceviche in Soho, London. Great food, ambiance and staff. Your Peruvian fare looks equally tasty.
Thank you, chilliandmint!
Too lazy to make; any good restaurants which make exactly same way as you show in State of Virginia in cities of Chantilly, Centreville, Fairfax, Reston, Manassas?
LOL, too lazy to make :) Part of my wife’s family is Peruvian. We eat this stuff all the time and I learned to cook a lot of it myself. I notice your name is Indian/South Asian…besides my interest in Hispanic culture and speaking Spanish, I am also equally interested in Indian culture and speak Hindi conversationally and am learning to write Telugu presently. I live near you as well ;) I would recommend you get food from Pollo Peru in the Home Depot shopping center at the intersection of Baron Cameron and Reston Parkway, although there are several other places. If you’d like to, I’d be happy to meet you in person and eat with you and discuss Peruvian food…email me at anastasios0513 @ gmail . com if so…!
POLLO Peru by the Home Depot!
Edy’s Chicken & Steak at Bailey’s Crossroads on Leesburg Pike is my favorite!!! Been around since I was a kid and is always busy!