Description
Peruvian chicken with green sauce brings zesty South American flavors to your dinner table, blending herbal cilantro, tangy lime, and succulent grilled chicken. Creamy aji verde sauce elevates each bite, promising a delicious journey through Peru’s culinary landscape you won’t want to miss.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1.5 to 2 pounds chicken thighs or breasts
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
Liquid and Oil Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons lime juice or white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons oil of choice
Instructions
- Craft a flavorful marinade by thoroughly blending all designated ingredients in a mixing vessel, setting aside a quarter portion for later basting purposes.
- Submerge chicken pieces completely in the marinade, ensuring even coating, and refrigerate for a minimum of 60 minutes or ideally overnight for maximum flavor absorption.
- While marinating, prepare cooking surface by preheating grill to medium-high heat or oven to 450°F.
- Simultaneously, initiate rice preparation by rinsing grains and allowing them to soak for 10-15 minutes.
- In a separate pan, sauté aromatic onions and garlic in butter or oil until translucent, then incorporate rice and complementary seasonings.
- Pour chicken stock into rice mixture, bringing liquid to a rolling boil before reducing heat, covering, and allowing to simmer for 15 minutes.
- Gently fold in green peas during final moments of rice cooking, then remove from heat and let rest.
- Carefully position marinated chicken onto heated grill or baking surface, cooking 5-7 minutes per side or approximately 30 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Midway through cooking, delicately brush chicken with reserved marinade to enhance moisture and flavor.
- Simultaneously, transform green sauce ingredients into a silky, uniform mixture using blending technique, adjusting seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Elegantly plate fluffy rice as foundation, crown with perfectly grilled chicken, and generously cascade green sauce over entire dish.
Notes
- Marinate chicken overnight for deeper flavor penetration and more tender meat.
- Ensure chicken reaches exact 165°F internal temperature to prevent dryness while guaranteeing food safety.
- Use a meat thermometer for precise temperature checking instead of guessing cooking time.
- Swap chicken for tofu or tempeh to create a vegetarian version with similar marinade and cooking techniques.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Peruvian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 275 kcal
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1.5 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg