Ají de Gallina: Peruvian Spicy Chicken Stew Recipe

Name: Ají de Gallina: Peruvian Spicy Chicken Stew
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 4 yellow potatoes; 4 slices white bread; 3/4 cup evaporated milk; 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast; 4 cups chicken stock; 3 to 4 yellow aji peppers; 1/2 cup vegetable oil; 2 cloves garlic (minced); 1 large onion (finely chopped); 3 tablespoons walnuts (chopped); 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese (grated); 3 cups white rice (cooked); 2 hard-boiled eggs (peeled, quartered); 10 black olives (pitted, halved)

Prep: 30 mins

Cook: 30 mins

Total: 60 mins

Servings: 4 to 6 servings

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Peruvian cuisine is starting to gain recognition, thanks to a new generation of chefs who are digging into their roots and bringing back the classic dishes of their youth to a broader audience of adventurous eaters around the world. Many of these chefs are the so-called first generation in the United States and have had the chance to learn firsthand all the classic dishes from their moms and abuelas (grandmothers).

Ají de gallina is one of these traditional dishes: Poached chicken slathered in a spicy and creamy nut-based sauce is served over white rice and boiled potatoes. Bright yellow—amarillo—in color, thanks to the famous ají amarillo, and rich from the unusual sauce of ground walnuts, this dish is hearty, filling, and delicious. Don't be intimidated by how complex it sounds, the recipe is broken down into bite-sized pieces and is well worth the effort.

Heavily influenced by Asian immigration into the country, Peruvian cuisine nowadays is a melting pot of Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian, African, Andean, and local techniques, flavors, and ingredients. Ají de gallina is no exception as it may find its origin in a sweeter Catalonian dish that later evolved into what we know now as a savory dish combining European, South American, and Asian ingredients.

Since finding ají amarillo at your local supermarket might be difficult, go straight to any Latin markets or Hispanic bodegas in your area: If they don't carry fresh ají, buy frozen or jarred paste. They both will yield a flavorful dish. If you can't find ají amarillo in any form, replace with Scotch bonnet or habanero; their fruity and spicy flavors will make fantastic substitutions.

Classic Peruvian Ceviche

Spicy creamed chicken with boiled potatoes, rice, hard-boiled egg, and sliced black olives — The Spruce Eats

What You'll Need to Make This Ají de Gallina Recipe

A Zippy Blender

A Good Stock Pot

A Heavy Skillet

"It's a mild, creamy chicken dish that was delicious over rice and definitely soul-warming, especially on a cold night. I had never worked with aji amarillo peppers and didn't want too spicy of a dish for my family, so I only used 3 peppers, but next time I think I'll add more." —Carrie Parente

Ají de gallina: Peruvian spicy creamed chicken tester image

4 yellow potatoes
4 slices white bread
3/4 cup evaporated milk, plus 1 to 2 tablespoons more if needed
1 1/2 pounds chicken breast
4 cups chicken stock
3 to 4 yellow ají peppers
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, finely chopped
3 tablespoons coarsely chopped walnuts
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
3 cups cooked white rice
2 large hard-boiled eggs, quartered
10 black olives, pitted and halved

Gather the ingredients.

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Cook the yellow potatoes in salted water until tender when pierced with a fork.

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Let cool, peel, cut into quarters, and set aside.

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Place the bread in a small bowl and pour the 3/4 cup of evaporated milk over it to soak. Set aside.

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Place the chicken in a pot with the chicken stock and bring to a simmer.

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Cook for 10 to 15 minutes until chicken is just barely cooked through.

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Set chicken aside to cool, reserving the stock.

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Strain the stock and reserve 2 cups.

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Shred the cooled chicken into bite-sized pieces.

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Remove stems and seeds from the peppers.

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In a blender, process the peppers with vegetable oil. Blend until smooth.

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Add to a medium saucepan the vegetable oil and ají mixture. Add the garlic and onion to the pan and then cook until the onion is soft.

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Remove the mixture from the heat and let it cool.

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Add the soaked bread, walnuts, and Parmesan cheese to the blender and process until smooth. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons evaporated milk, or even some of the strained chicken stock, if the mixture is not smooth.

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Add the cooked onion mixture into the blender and process briefly until well combined.

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Place the yellow mixture into a pan and add 1 1/2 cups of the reserved chicken stock. Stir together until combined.

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Bring the sauce to a low simmer. Add in the chicken and heat until warmed through, adding more chicken stock if the sauce is too thick.

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One portion of chicken goes over 1/2 cup of cooked white rice, garnished with a few quarters of yellow potatoes, a couple of quartered hard-boiled eggs, and black olives. Enjoy.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
843	Calories
34g	Fat
81g	Carbs
54g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories	843
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 34g	43%
Saturated Fat 6g	30%
Cholesterol 175mg	58%
Sodium 583mg	25%
Total Carbohydrate 81g	30%
Dietary Fiber 6g	21%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 54g
Vitamin C 136mg	679%
Calcium 218mg	17%
Iron 6mg	33%
Potassium 1623mg	35%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.