Well, I had all of those thoughts when I came across this Peruvian Chicken recipe on The Woks of Life.
A little back story: Two Christmases ago I spent my honeymoon in Chile and Argentina. How does that connect to a Peruvian dish? Quite simply!
Our flight landed in Santiago early in the morning, 5am or so. By the time we got our luggage, got through security, and arranged for a cab (and to pay with a credit card, which isn't common there), we made it to our bed and breakfast around 8am. It was only upon arrival that we realized that we didn't tell the owner that we would be arriving early! Oops!
He was very considerate and let us use a different room until our room became available at 2pm. We were able to nap and shower, then we headed out to explore.
Around 5pm, we were back at the B&B exhausted. After trekking around a new city, in a different time zone, and on airplane sleep, we decided to call it a day. We just wanted somewhere simple to eat dinner and go to bed.
The owner started recommending restaurants throughout the neighborhood. And when we started a preference to stay close, he said we had to go to the Peruvian restaurant around the corner, because "Peruvians have the best food." The sentiment we heard multiple times while in Chile.
I can safely say that the roast chicken my husband and I shared that night was the best one I've ever had. Ever.
Now, about this recipe...
Unfortunately, it does not match up to that chicken. And I will never be able to recreate it. I just wasn't focused enough to document what I liked so much about it. Though I'd bet it had something to do with sour orange.
But this is some of the best chicken I've made in my kitchen!!! I made two chicken breasts, one for each of us. I normally make one and butterfly it into two. But I was feeling lazy, so whole breasts it was.
Also, I would eyeball which piece is bigger and serve that to my husband. This time we didn't pay attention to the plates and I got served the larger piece of chicken. I was worried I wouldn't eat it all.
This wasn't a problem at all! Once I took a bite I couldn't stop eating it! And I was sad there wasn't anymore left when I was done. I wanted more!
Changes I made: None! Well, besides using chicken breasts instead of a whole chicken. And deseeding the jalapeno. I was worried the dish would be too spicy with the jalapeno, cilantro, and red pepper. But it was so tasty! Super flavorful!
Note: Recipe photos are provided by The Woks of Life. Photos of Santiago are mine. Please give credit where credit is due.
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