Peruvian Hen
Crispy-skinned and sensationally flavored with a verdant, vibrant mixture of lime, garlic, oil, and heat spices, Peruvian Hen might be a few of the tastiest hen you’ll ever eat. It’s served with a energetic, creamy inexperienced sauce, and as quickly as you end it, you’ll need to make it once more.

Peruvian hen—a dish common all through Peru—entails complete hen elements which are marinated, then grilled or roasted. It’s often served with rice or Oven Roasted Potatoes and a condiment referred to as aji verde.
The sauce (aji verde) is creamy with an herby punch from cilantro and grassy warmth from chile peppers.
Between the juicy, moist meat, crispy pores and skin, and the spirited sauce, it’s exhausting to select a favourite half!

All the things You Must Know About Peruvian Hen
One of the best ways that I can describe Peruvian hen is a spectacular yin and yang between the bracing brightness of the lime and the sultry savoriness of the garlic and cumin.
It’s particular due to its distinctive bitter and spiced style that’s invigorating and comforting on the identical time.
And that aji amarillo sauce? It’s BOSS.
Genuine Peruvian hen is made with aji amarillo peppers, a kind of chili pepper that’s native to Peru. They’re medium-hot with a fruity, barely candy taste.
Since aji amarillo peppers could be exhausting to seek out, good substitutes for them are jalapeo, serrano, or habanero peppers.
I favor jalapeños, that are straightforward to seek out. They’re much less spicy than aji amarillos, so chances are you’ll need to add extra when you favor a kick.

Make Peruvian Hen
Peruvian hen is historically made with an entire hen lower into elements, however for simple residence cooking, I favor to make use of bone-in hen thighs and breasts.
The spiced garlic-lime Peruvian hen marinade is a recent various to basic Hen Marinades. You should use it anytime you make Baked Hen Thighs or Baked Bone-In Hen Breasts.
- For the very best outcomes, marinate the hen for at the very least 4 hours. This may give the signature marinade time to tenderize and absolutely taste the meat.
- I don’t advocate marinating Peruvian hen for greater than 8 hours. The focus of lime juice within the marinade could cause the meat to begin to break down.
The Substances
- Hen. Protein-rich, bone-in, skin-on hen thighs and breasts turn out to be tantalizingly flavorful and juicy after being marinated. Due to our excessive warmth roasting and broiling technique, the pores and skin will get completely crispy!
- Lime Juice. The lime juice provides zip, acidity, and helps tenderize the hen.
- Garlic. For scrumptious garlicky taste to enrich the extra candy and bitter parts.
- Spices. The hen marinade accommodates salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, paprika, and oregano. The combination is earthy, spicy, candy, and savory.
- Sriracha. For a bit of warmth.
- Vinegar. Vinegar helps break down the hen, permitting it to simply take in the marinade.
- Honey. Provides a contact of pure sweetness to the hen marinade.
- Inexperienced Sauce. The delightfully zippy, herby, creamy, and candy sauce pairs flawlessly with the hen. The sauce is manufactured from jalapeños, cilantro leaves, garlic, yogurt (or mayo when you want it dairy free), olive oil, lime juice, vinegar, salt, and honey.

The Instructions

- Mix the marinade substances collectively till easy.

- Pat the hen dry.

- Sprinkle the hen with salt and pepper. Unfold half of the marinade below the hen pores and skin.

- Add the hen to the remaining marinade. Cowl and marinate within the fridge for at the very least 4 hours.

- Make the inexperienced sauce: Mix the cilantro and jalapeño.

- Add the remaining sauce substances, mixing till easy. Let the hen stand at room temperature previous to cooking.

- Bake Peruvian hen for quarter-hour at 425 levels F. Cut back the temperature to 375 levels F and cook dinner for quarter-hour extra.

- Broil for 1 to 2 minutes to crisp the pores and skin. Let the hen cool, then serve it with the inexperienced sauce. DIG IN!

Storage Suggestions
- To Retailer. Refrigerate leftover hen and sauce individually in hermetic storage containers for as much as 3 days.
- To Reheat. Rewarm hen on a baking sheet within the oven at 350 levels F or within the microwave—be aware that the pores and skin might be much less crispy if microwaving.
- To Freeze. Freeze hen in an hermetic freezer-safe storage container for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating. Put together a recent batch of the sauce.
Meal Prep Tip
As much as 1 day upfront, put together the inexperienced sauce as directed. Cowl and refrigerate it till you’re prepared to complete the recipe.

Leftover Concepts
Shred leftover hen and serve it over a mattress of lettuce or cooked, cooled quinoa with the inexperienced sauce for a easy, scrumptious salad. Add your favourite mix-ins like cucumbers, tomatoes, or avocado.
What to Serve with Peruvian Hen
- Rice. This Peruvian-style roast hen would pair completely with Instantaneous Pot Brown Rice, or use this straightforward information for Cook dinner Brown Rice on the stovetop.
- Potatoes. Grilled Potatoes or Air Fryer Potato Wedges can be delicious with this hen.
- Salad. For a recent pairing, serve this hen with Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad.
- Greens. Get pleasure from your hen with a aspect of Grilled Corn or Air Fryer Inexperienced Beans.

Really helpful Instruments to Make this Recipe
- Baking Sheet. No want for a roasting pan, these baking sheets will work completely for this recipe.
- Blender. That is the high-speed blender I personal and love. This extra economical choice will even work effectively.
- Instantaneous Learn Thermometer. One of the best ways to know when your hen items are cooked via.

Deliver dinnertime to life with this show-stopping Peruvian hen!
Between the juicy meat and vivacious sauce, it’s one thing particular.
Often Requested Questions
The origin of Peruvian hen shouldn’t be absolutely recognized. Some sources state that it originated within the Andes Mountains, whereas others consider that it got here from the Peruvian coast. No matter its particular historical past, it’s a common dish all through the nation.
With lean, protein-packed hen and an array of herbs and spices, the hen itself and the marinade are nutritious. The inexperienced sauce additionally accommodates calcium-rich Greek yogurt, antioxidant-rich olive oil, and extra herbs and spices. Hen is much less wholesome when it’s fried (Peruvian hen shouldn’t be).
In the event you’d favor to make your hen on the grill, you may definitely achieve this! Put together the recipe as directed via step 6. Flip your grill to excessive warmth. Simply earlier than including the hen items, cut back the grill to medium warmth. Add the hen items, shaking off any extra marinade. Cook dinner for 10 to 12 minutes, then flip the items over. Cook dinner for an extra 10 to 13 minutes, till all of the items are cooked via. If any of the hen items attain 165 levels F early, set them apart on a baking sheet and tent with foil. (See my Grilled Hen Breast and Grilled Hen Thighs for extra hen grilling suggestions.)
To make dairy-free Peruvian hen, swap the Greek yogurt within the inexperienced sauce for mayo.

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Peruvian Hen
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Substances
For The Hen:
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lime juice about 1 medium lime
- 6 garlic cloves roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt divided
- 1/2 teaspoon floor black pepper
- 2 teaspoons floor cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sriracha or Sambal
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon honey
- 4 kilos bone-in, skin-on hen thighs and breasts about 4 thighs and 1 break up hen breast*
For the Inexperienced Sauce:
- 3 roughly chopped jalapeño peppers about 7 oz (see notes under for spice ranges together with various quantities of seeds)**
- 1 cup packed cilantro 1 ounce
- 2 cloves garlic roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup complete milk plain greek yogurt use mayo to make dairy free
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lime juice about 1 medium lime
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon honey
Directions
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For the hen marinade: In a mini meals processor or high-speed blender, mix the olive oil, lime juice, garlic, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the salt, 1/4 teaspoon of the black pepper, cumin, chili powder, paprika, oregano, honey, sriracha, and white vinegar till principally easy.
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With paper towels, pat the hen very dry on either side. If utilizing an entire hen breast (which seems like a coronary heart form), see notes under to separate it in half.
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Sprinkle the hen items throughout (on the highest and backside of every piece) with the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Along with your fingers or a spoon, gently loosen the hen pores and skin from the flesh. Unfold half of the marinade beneath the pores and skin of the hen items.
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Place the hen items and remaining marinade right into a ziptop bag or massive bowl and blend round to totally coat. Cowl and marinate the hen within the fridge for at the very least 4 hours or as much as 8 hours (you may push the marinade to 12 hours, however at your individual danger—the meat could begin to break down considerably due to the lime juice).
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Make the Inexperienced Sauce: Add the jalapeño and cilantro to a blender (an everyday blender or excessive velocity will each work; you too can use a mini meals processor, however the sauce won’t be *as* easy). Mix in lengthy pulses till chopped.
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Add the remaining sauce substances (garlic, yogurt, oil, lime juice, vinegar, salt, and honey) and mix for about 2 minutes, till easy. Cowl and refrigerate till able to serve. (The sauce is superb served instantly however the taste will intensify and the sauce will thicken a bit if it sits within the fridge in a single day.)
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When able to cook dinner the hen, place the oven racks within the higher third and middle of your oven, and preheat the oven to 425°F. Let the hen stand at room temperature for quarter-hour previous to cooking.
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Utilizing tongs, take away the hen from the marinade (no must wipe it off) and place it onto a rimmed baking sheet, pores and skin aspect going through up. Discard any extra marinade left within the bag/bowl.
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Bake the hen on the middle rack for quarter-hour. Cut back the oven temperature to 375°F and bake for an extra quarter-hour till the hen is cooked via. It ought to register 160 to 165°F on an instant-read thermometer inserted on the thickest half (the FDA instructions to cook dinner to 165°F; I favor to take away my hen just a few levels early, as its temperature will rise because it rests). If any items end early, take away them to a plate and tent with foil when you proceed baking the remainder.
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Flip the oven to broil. Return any hen you pulled off early to the pan. Switch the pan to the higher third of the oven and broil for 1 to 2 minutes, till the pores and skin is golden and crispy. Preserve an in depth eye on the hen to ensure it doesn’t burn. Don’t stroll away!
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Take away the pan from the oven, and permit the hen to chill for 10 minutes. Serve with the inexperienced sauce.
Notes
- Genuine Peruvian Hen: Use the identical quantities of aji panca paste rather than the chili powder and aji amarillo paste rather than the sriracha.
- *Break up Hen Breast: In case your break up hen breasts are HUGE in comparison with the thighs, you may lower them in half crosswise down via the bone into 2 smaller items so the entire hen cooks in roughly the identical period of time. Place your knife firmly on high of the hen and wiggle it slowly so you may break the bone and the knife doesn’t slip. (Word {that a} “break up” hen breast [how they are typically sold] is known as that as a result of it’s half of a whole bone-in skin-on hen breast—the entire breast seems like a big coronary heart form.)
- **Jalapeños and Spiciness Degree: Put on gloves or wash your palms instantly after dealing with jalapeños, being cautious to not contact your eyes too! Adjusting the sauce spice stage: For max spicy, hold the seeds of 1 jalapeño; for medium spicy, hold the seeds of 1/2 jalapeño. For the least spice (however nonetheless spicy), omit the seeds completely. Bear in mind each jalapeño’s spiciness varies. Typically they are often very spicy and different instances barely spicy. I’d go for much less to remain on the protected aspect. However when you’re spicy-obsessed, add nevertheless many seeds you assume you may deal with.
- TO STORE: Refrigerate leftover hen and sauce individually in hermetic storage containers for as much as 3 days.
- TO REHEAT: Rewarm hen on a baking sheet within the oven at 350°F or within the microwave.
- TO FREEZE: Freeze hen in an hermetic freezer-safe storage container for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating. Put together a recent batch of the sauce.