The Famous Peruvian Roast Chicken
By Morena Cuadra, April 09, 2013, http://www.quericavida.com/

Two of the most popular kinds of restaurants in Peru are the cevicherías, specializing in ceviche, and the pollerías, or chicken restaurants. Pollerías are locales dedicated to the fine art of Peruvian roast chicken, renowned for its incredible seasoning, delightful aroma, golden color, juicy meat and tasty, delicate skin. The secret of how to prepare this chicken lies in the hands of the master roaster, who know exactly what it takes to elevate these fowl to a state of perfection!

The sage combination of spices and other seasonings are one of the most important factors in transforming these roasts into works of art. They are usually accompanied by some pretty incredible side dishes of thick fried potatoes, golden and crunchy on the inside, and soft and steamy within, and a fresh salad of lettuce, tomato, rings of raw, sliced onions and avocado, dressed in a creamy vinaigrette sauce. These are the perfect pairings for the perfect dish!

Here in the US we’ve found some great places known for their Peruvian roast chicken, where they also serve side dishes such as rice, fried plantains, black beans and much more. Sure, back in Peru these aren’t the usual accompaniments for the roast, but it is important to please customers from all parts of the world, and so these variations have a valued place, as well.

So how do you cook a good roast chicken? Here’s the inside scoop:

The quality of the chicken is of utmost importance. It should be well raised, well fed, and if possible, organic.
The size of the chicken is also essential to its taste.
There are two main kinds of marinades – a moist one made with beer, garlic and spices, and a dry rub with cumin, salt, pepper and the chef’s own secret ingredients.
Finally, roasting the chicken over charcoal or wood is a must.

Usually a few sauces can be found on the tables to accompany the meal. These might include ketchup for the potatoes, mayonnaise, hot sauces, huacatay (a typical Peruvian condiment), and more. Yellow aji, another typical sauce, is practically mandatory in some places, whereas green sauces made with culantro (Mexican coriander) or parsley are common in others. They add an earthy fresh taste to the chicken.

La Granja Azul, arguably the most famous chicken roaster in Lima, also serves fresh baked bread with its birds. The salads are limited to lettuce and tomato, and the ingredients in the vinaigrette are still a mystery – strictly guarded and never replicated. Does it have milk? Does it have cream? Is there mayonnaise? The secret of the mysteriously delicious dressing, delivered to each table in its own little milk jug, remains unknown. All that we do know for certain is that it is delicious.

Roast Chicken is so important in Peru that the third Sunday of July is known as the Día Nacional del Pollo a la Brasa, or National Roast Chicken Day! On this festive day people celebrate by, amongst other things, eating large quantities of this beloved dish.

The bottom line is you don’t need a reason to eat roast chicken! It’s perfect at night, for a picnic, on a weekend, while out with friends, as a celebration, or for any other reason! It’s a great meal no matter when you decide to have it. And if you don’t have the energy to make it, many roasters will deliver their chickens right to your door, so you’ll never have an excuse not to enjoy it. Roast chicken for everyone!

Recipes

Peruvian-Style Grilled Chicken
Peruvian-Style Roast Chicken With Tangy Green Sauce
Aji Amarillo: Peruvian Yellow Chili Pepper
Huacatay - Peruvian Black Mint

A Summer Salad could be made by with leftovers:

Grill avocado halves alongside the chicken. Toss the creamy, charred avocado with grilled chicken in a summery salad with arugula and red bell pepper or another salad mix. Serve with ají verde as a dressing. Aji verde is a staple Peruvian chile sauce made with jalapeño that balances the heat of with cilantro, more lime, and mayonnaise. See either the Peruvian-Style Grilled Chicken or Peruvian-Style Roast Chicken With Tangy Green Sauce recipes above for a recipe for the sauce.