Aji Panca Paste Recipes

PERUVIAN CHICKEN RECIPE (POLLO A LA BRASA)

Steps:

• Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel and set it into a large bowl.
• Whisk together the garlic, soy sauce, aji amarillo paste, honey, aji panca paste, paprika, oregano, coriander, cumin, lime juice and salt and pepper in a small bowl. Pour it over the chicken and gently rub it into the skins.
• Cover and refrigerate. Marinate the chicken at least 1 hour, or overnight for more flavor penetration. A longer marinade is best.
• Heat oven to 450 degrees.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade and set into a large cast iron skillet or baking dish. Pat dry with paper towels. Drizzle with olive oil.
• Bake the chicken for 30-40 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Chicken should measure 165 degrees F internally when measured with a meat thermometer.
• Remove, tent with aluminum foil, and rest for 10 minutes before serving.
• Whisk together the aji amarillo paste, mayonnaise, crema or sour cream, tomato paste, shallot, lime juice and salt and pepper. You can either mix by hand or use the processor for a thinner consistency.
• Adjust for salt and pepper and serve with the roasted Peruvian chicken.

CHICKEN THIGH ANTICUCHOS

Steps:

• Make the aji panca puree: Put the aji panca chiles in a large bowl and cover with 1 1/2 cups boiling water. Cover with plastic wrap; let soak at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Puree the chiles and their soaking liquid with 1 teaspoon salt in a high-powered blender. You should have 2 cups; remove 1 1/2 cups and reserve.
• Make the marinade: Add the olive oil to the remaining puree in the blender along with the vinegar, tamari, gochujang, garlic, cumin, oregano and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Season the chicken with salt and toss with the marinade in a large bowl; let sit 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the serrano-cilantro sauce: Blend the serranos, poblano, cilantro, lime juice, orange juice, olive oil, mayonnaise and 1 teaspoon salt in a blender until mostly smooth. Set aside.
• Preheat a grill to medium high. Thread 4 or 5 pieces of chicken skin-side up onto each of 10 wooden skewers, leaving space between each piece. Grill the chicken skewers skin-side down until marked, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook until charred and cooked through, 3 to 4 more minutes.
• Transfer the skewers to plates and top with some of the reserved aji panca puree and the serrano-cilantro sauce. Sprinkle with cilantro and peanuts.

POLLO A LA BRASA (PERUVIAN ROAST CHICKEN)

Steps:

• 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.

AJI PANCA PASTE

Steps:

• Stem and devein the ajies (keep some veins if you want a very spicy paste).
• Toast in dry skillet over high heat for a few minutes, then blanche.
• Blanche 1, 2, or 3 times (in a change of water each time) for more or less spiciness. Spiciness reduces with each blanching.
• Process ajies in a blender or food processor with a steel blade, with just enough water and oil to make a thick paste.
• Push the mixture through a fine sieve.
• Discard any remaining skin and veins.
• Prep and cooking time is estimated.
• Recipe from The Art of Peruvian Cuisine by Tony Custer.