Best Peruvian Style Roast Chicken Recipes

PERUVIAN-STYLE ROAST CHICKEN WITH TANGY GREEN SAUCE

Steps:

• Roast the chicken:
• Arrange rack in middle of oven; preheat to 400°F. Mix garlic, cumin, oil, paprika, pepper, oregano, 1/2 tsp. salt, and finely grated zest from 1 lemon in a medium bowl. Quarter zested lemon; set aside 2 quarters. Squeeze juice from 1 whole lemon and remaining 2 quarters to yield 2 Tbsp. juice; stir into spice mixture.
• Place chicken breast side down on work surface. Spatchcock chicken by cutting along both sides of backbone with kitchen shears. Remove backbone; reserve for stock. Turn chicken breast side up and splay open. Press down on breastbone with palms until you hear it crack and chicken is as flat as possible. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Rub chicken all over with 2 reserved lemon quarters. Squeeze juice over bird, then rub skin all over with inside of rinds.
• From both edges of cavity, loosen skin from breasts and thighs, being careful not to tear skin. Using your fingers, gently spread 2 heaping Tbsp. spice mixture under skin (reserve remaining spice mixture), then season chicken all over with remaining 1 tsp. salt. Transfer chicken, spread flat and skin side up, to a roasting pan or large skillet.
• Roast chicken 20 minutes, then brush with spice mixture and pan juices. Continue roasting, basting with spice mixture and pan juices every 20 minutes, until juices run clear when thigh is pierced with a fork or an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 165ºF, 50-60 minutes total.
• Transfer chicken to a cutting board and let rest 15 minutes, reserving pan juices.
• Make the green sauce:
• Purée cilantro, jalapeños, garlic, oil, lime juice, and salt in a blender until combined. Add mayonnaise and purée until well blended. Transfer to a small bowl, cover, and chill until ready to use.
• Make the salad:
• Gently toss cucumbers, avocado, scallions, lime juice, oil, salt, and 1/2 cup cilantro in a large bowl. Sprinkle with more cilantro.
• Carve chicken and transfer to a platter; baste with reserved pan juices. Serve with green sauce and salad alongside.
• Do Ahead
• Green sauce can be made 5 days ahead. Cover and chill.

PERUVIAN-STYLE ROAST CHICKEN WITH POTATOES

Steps:

• Combine cumin, paprika, oregano, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. With kitchen shears, cut chicken along its backbone along one side; open like a book. Place on a rimmed baking sheet, breast-side up; press down flat. Rub all over with 2 tablespoons oil and grated garlic. Sprinkle with spice mixture. Let stand 1 hour (or refrigerate, covered, overnight).
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a saucepan, cover potatoes with 2 inches of water and bring to a boil; add a generous amount of salt. Boil until just tender, 11 to 13 minutes. Drain and immediately return to pan; toss with remaining 3 tablespoons oil and season with salt and pepper. (Potatoes will break apart slightly.)
• Scatter potatoes around chicken. Roast until chicken is golden and a thermometer inserted into thickest part of breast registers 160 degrees, 45 to 50 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate. Flip potatoes and continue to roast until golden and crisp, 5 to 10 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, purée cilantro, jalapeño, chopped garlic, mayonnaise, lime juice, and 1 tablespoon water in a blender until smooth. (If sauce is too thick, add more water, 1 teaspoon at a time.) Season with salt.
• Carve chicken and arrange on platter with potatoes. Sprinkle with cilantro leaves and serve with cilantro sauce and lime wedges on the side.

PERUVIAN-STYLE ROAST CHICKEN WITH SWEET ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425°F Grease a 9 x 13-inch roasting pan and set aside.
• In a small bowl, combine paprika, cumin, salt, pepper, garlic, vinegar and oil to make a paste.
• Place onions in a large bowl and toss with 2 tablespoons of the paste. Rub chicken pieces with remaining paste and place in pan, then cover with onions, peppers and lemon. Roast until chicken is cooked through and onions are very tender, about 35 minutes.
• Spoon pan juices over the entire mixture halfway through roasting.
• Remove chicken from oven and let rest 5 minutes before serving.

PERUVIAN-STYLE ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine water and lemon, and wash chicken in the solution. Remove 5 cloves from the garlic head, then halve the remaining head horizontally. Season the chicken cavity with salt and pepper to taste, then stuff with the halved garlic. Place the chicken in a ziploc bag. Smash the garlic cloves, sprinkle with the 2 teaspoons salt, and, with the side of a large knife, mash and smear the mixture to a coarse paste. Put the garlic in a bowl and mix with vinegar, wine, black pepper, paprika and cumin. Pour the spice mixture over the chicken and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours (and no more than 24). Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and preheat oven to 425°. Whisk the soy sauce and sugar together and brush all over the outside of the bird. Tuck the wings under the back, cross the legs, and tie them with kitchen twine. Set in a roasting pan and brush with oil. Roast until the back is golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and turn the chicken breast side up. Cut the string where it holds the legs together and gently open up the legs a bit. Baste the chicken with the pan drippings and roast again until the breast is golden brown and a meat thermometer inserted in the thigh registers 170° F, 20 to 25 minutes more. Transfer the chicken to a carving board and let rest for 10 minutes before carving.

PERUVIAN-STYLE ROAST CHICKEN WITH GREEN SAUCE

Steps:

• For the Chicken Combine all of the ingredients except the chicken in a blender or mini food processor, and blend until smooth. Remove the giblets from the inside of the chicken and pat the outside of the chicken dry with paper towels; place in a bowl, breast side up with the legs facing you. Using the handle of a wooden spoon or your fingers, loosen the skin from the flesh over the breasts and legs, being careful not to tear the skin or push all the way through (you want the marinade to stay inside the bird). Spoon about 2/3 of the marinade evenly underneath the skin, and spread the remaining 1/3 evenly over the skin. Marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours or overnight. Adjust the oven rack to the lower-middle position, and preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a roasting pan with aluminum foil for easy clean-up. Spray a rack (preferably a v-shape) with non-stick cooking spray and place the chicken on top. Tie the legs together with kitchen string. Roast for 20 minutes, until the skin is golden. Turn the heat down to 375 degrees, and continue to roast for about an hour and ten minutes more, or until the juices run clear when you cut between the leg and thigh. (Keep an eye on it -- if it's browning too quickly, cover it loosely with foil.) Tent the chicken with foil and let rest for about 20 minutes. Tilt the chicken over the roasting pan to release the juices, then transfer to a cutting board. Carve the chicken and serve with green sauce. For the Green Sauce Combine all of the ingredients except the olive oil in a blender or food processor and blend into a smooth sauce. With the motor running, open lid and slowly drizzle in olive oil. It will seem very runny at this point but, don't worry, it will thicken up as it sits. Transfer the sauce to a bowl, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.