Pollo Al Horno Recipes

POLLO AL HORNO (WHOLE ROASTED CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Clean chicken by rinsing it inside and out. If it has excess fat, remove it, and pat dry with paper towels. Tuck the wing tips under the body. Season the inside of the chicken well with salt and pepper. Place the half head of garlic inside the chicken cavity.
• Mix rosemary, lime juice, lime zest, butter and mashed garlic to form a paste.
• Brush the chicken with the butter-lime mix all over, then season the chicken with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with a kitchen string. Place chicken in roasting pan.
• Roast the chicken for 1 ½ hours; you can use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. The breast temperature should read 180 degrees. (If adding the carrots and potatoes, continue to step 5.)
• Mix carrots and potatoes, then season with salt and pepper. Add the olive oil and 2 sprigs of rosemary. After the chicken has been in the oven for 45 minutes, add the potato/carrot mixture to the roasting pan, where they will cook with the chicken juices and flavors.
• Once the chicken is done, remove from oven, and cover with aluminum foil for about 10-15 minutes. Serve with the vegetables.

POLLO AL HORNO

Steps:

• Season the cavity of the Whole Chicken (1), giblets removed, with Salt (to taste) and Ground Black Pepper (to taste).
• In a small bowl, combine Butter (1/4 cup), Onion Powder (2 teaspoon), Garlic Powder (2 teaspoon), and Dried Oregano (1 teaspoon). Stir together until mixture forms a smooth paste.
• Stuff cavity of the chicken with Lemon (1), Garlic (1 head), Fresh Rosemary (3 sprig), and Fresh Thyme (8 sprig). Tie the drumsticks together with twine.
• Brush the paste all over the chicken. Adjust seasonings.
• Line the bottom of a baking pan with Onion (6 slice). Place the chicken on top. Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until cooked through.
• Let chicken rest for 20 minutes before cutting.
• Serve and enjoy!

POLLO FRITO

Steps:

• In a large casserole dish, whisk the lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil, and salt to blend. Add the chicken pieces and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to 1 day, turning the chicken pieces occasionally.
• In a large cast iron frying pan or other heavy frying pan, add enough oil to come 1/3-inch up the sides of the pan. Heat the oil over medium heat. Meanwhile, drain the marinade from the chicken. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Sprinkle with pepper. Working in 2 batches, dredge the chicken in the flour to coat completely. Shake off the excess flour and then carefully add the chicken to the hot oil. Fry until the chicken is golden brown and just cooked through, turning occasionally, about 25 minutes. Using tongs, transfer the chicken to a paper towel-lined plate to drain the excess oil.
• Arrange the fried chicken on a warm platter and serve with the lemon wedges and parsley.

CHICKEN IN GARLIC SAUCE - POLLO AL AJILLO

Steps:

• Wash the chicken thighs and pat them dry with paper towels. Season the chicken generously with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add as many of the chicken thighs, skin side down, as will fit without touching.
• Cook until the skin is golden brown, about 10 minutes. Flip the chicken pieces and cook until the other side is golden brown, about 5 minutes more.
• Remove the pan from the heat and spoon off all but about 2 tablespoons of the fat, leaving all the lovely brown bits behind. Return the pan to low heat, stir in the garlic and thyme and cook until the garlic starts to turn golden, about 1 to 2 minutes. Pour in the sherry, increase the heat to medium and bring to a boil. Let it boil a minute or 2, then return the chicken to the pan skin side up. Reduce the heat to low, pour in the chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Cover the pan tightly and cook 20 minutes. Flip the chicken pieces (or rotate them top to bottom if using a smaller pan) and cook until the chicken is very tender, about 20 minutes. Serve hot.
• Note: If you like a mix of white and dark meat, substitute a 4-pound chicken cut into 10 pieces. Let the thighs, drumsticks, and wings cook in the sauce for 15 minutes before adding the browned breast pieces. If you'd like to use all white meat, cut the breasts in half crosswise, brown them as described above, but let the sauce cook down 10 to 15 minutes before adding the chicken breasts.

POLLO ASADO

Steps:

• Place onion, olive oil, lime juice, vinegar, cumin, garlic, red peppers, sea salt, and black pepper in a blender. Blend until smooth. Place chicken in a container or resealable plastic bag and pour marinade on top; toss to coat. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2 to 24 hours.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Grill chicken until no longer pink in the centers, 6 to 7 minutes per side, depending on thickness. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the centers should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

CUBAN ROASTED CHICKEN (POLLO ASADO CUBANO)

Steps:

• Rinse chicken, pat dry. Place chicken breast up in foil-lined shallow roasting pan. In mortar, place garlic, salt, oregano and black pepper, mash them well together. Mix garlic mixture with butter and lemon juice. With your fingers, carefully separate skin from breast, massage 1/2 of mixture gently between breast and skin, then spread the remaining mixture evenly over the whole chicken. Tuck wings under and tie legs together. The chicken will taste better if marinated overnight.
• Place pan in center of rack and cook for 55 minutes at 350° F, basting occasionally. Cook uncovered at 400° F for 5-7 minutes.

POLLO ASADO

Steps:

• Cut chicken breasts into two halves.
• Heat oil in small saucepan over medium high heat until very hot.
• While oil heats, mash cumin, salt, oregano, garlic and achiote powder into a paste with a mortar and pestle. Place the paste in a heat-proof bowl.
• Whisk hot oil into the garlic paste. Allow to cool slightly then add lime and orange juice, stirring well to combine.
• Pour marinade into a large ziploc bag, add chicken breast halves. Shake or knead to spread marinade throughout chicken.
• Refrigerate at least four hours to overnight.
• Grill over medium heat, turning, until chicken reaches internal temperature of 180 degrees.
• Place chicken on cutting board and let rest several minutes.
• Serve individually, or cut into bite sized pieces for making tacos or burritos.

MOJO ROAST CHICKEN (POLLO ASADO)

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until very hot. While the oil heats, mash the cumin, salt, oregano, and garlic together into a paste in a heat-proof bowl; whisk the hot oil into the paste. Allow the mixture to cool slightly. Add the lime juice and orange juice; stir. Place the chicken in a large sealable bag; pour the marinade over the chicken and shake to assure an even coating. Refrigerate at least 4 hours, up to overnight.
• Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Arrange the marinated chicken in a roasting pan.
• Bake the chicken in the preheated oven until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 1 hour. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 180 degrees F (82 degrees C).