Aji Verde Sauce For Peruvian Chicken Recipes

PERUVIAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine the rosemary, cumin, garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, oregano, lime juice, hoisin sauce, beer, salt and pepper in a blender and blend until completely combined. Pour the marinade over the chicken in a container and let it marinate, refrigerated, for 24 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade (discard the marinade) and put on a rack in a roasting pan. Roast until the internal temperature registers 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, about 1 hour. Let the chicken rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

PERUVIAN STYLE ROAST CHICKEN WITH AJI VERDE (GREEN SAUCE)

Steps:

• Prep and spatchcock whole chicken (see notes for how-to prep and spatchcock chicken). Place on half baking sheet.
• In a small bowl, mix all marinade ingredients together until fully combined: brown sugar, chili powder, smoked paprika, ground cumin, pressed garlic, ground ginger, soy sauce, lime juice, lime zest, olive oil, and kosher salt.
• Using a marinade brush, brush whole surface of the chicken, ensuring to get the nooks and crannies. Place in refrigerator and allow to marinate overnight for maximum flavor.
• Preheat oven to 425F
• You can roast the chicken on a sheet pan, but I prefer roasting in my cast iron pan to keep the heat even throughout the skillet. Take two heads of garlic and cut the top 1/4 off to expose the bulbs. Tuck these cut side down next to the legs.
• Roast chicken until thickest part of breast and leg reach 165F. Depending on the size of your bird, should take about 45 minutes. If the skin begins charring too much for your liking, you can tent with foil.
• While the chicken roasts, prepare the aji verde (green sauce). Using a food processor or an immersion blender, blend cilantro, peppers, lime juice, garlic, cotija cheese, mayo, and salt. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
• To remove the legs from the chicken, lift by the bone to expose where the leg meats the breast and cut through where thigh meets the breast. To separate leg from thigh, cut through joint. Slice breast down the middle and you can additionally cut into slices to serve. Rest of bones can be discarded in ziplock bag and frozen until trash day.
• Serve with drizzling aji verde green sauce over the top or on the side as a dipping sauce and with roasted garlic cloves to spread on every bite.

AJI VERDE SAUCE (FOR PERUVIAN CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Place cilantro, cojita cheese, olive oil, water, jalapenos, garlic, vinegar, and salt in a blender and puree until smooth.
• Serve with roasted chicken.