History
Invented in 1950 by Swiss-Peruvian Roger Schuler at Granja Azul in Santa Clara, Ate, outside Lima; the rotisserie technique used a custom spit built by fellow Swiss metalworker Franz Ulrich. Declared a Peruvian cultural patrimony in 2010; the third Sunday of July is the Dia Nacional del Pollo a la Brasa nationwide.
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Common allergens: Gluten if marinade includes soy
Make it at home
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken (1.5kg)
- 60ml soy sauce
- 60ml red wine vinegar
- 120ml dark beer
- 3 tbsp aji panca paste
- 6 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tbsp paprika
- Sea salt and black pepper
- Lemon wedges
- French fries to serve
- Salad of lettuce, tomato and red onion to serve
Method
- Whisk soy, vinegar, beer, aji panca, garlic, cumin, oregano, paprika, salt and pepper into a marinade.
- Submerge the chicken in the marinade and refrigerate 6-8 hours (overnight is better).
- Preheat oven to 200C with a wire rack over a deep tray; or set up rotisserie attachment over the same.
- Roast chicken breast-up 45-55 minutes; rotate or baste every 15 minutes until skin is mahogany and juices run clear.
- Rest 10 minutes; carve into quarters.
- Plate with chips, salad, lemon and three aji sauces (verde, amarillo, rocoto).
Tip from the editors. Real pollo a la brasa needs the rotisserie; if oven-roasting, brush the skin with extra marinade three times for the canonical mahogany crust.
Where to eat pollo a la brasa
Pollo a la brasa in Lima
Pardos Chicken Benavides ★ 4.3
Pardos Chicken at Av Alfredo Benavides 730 in Miraflores is Lima's canonical pollo a la brasa house, quarter chicken with chips and salads from S/30.
OrderQuarter chicken pollo a la brasa with papas fritas and ensalada (around S/40).
TipOpen till 01:00 Fri-Sat; the brand also runs Larcomar and Salaverry branches with the same carta.
Tanta Larcomar ★ 4.0
Tanta Larcomar at Malecon de la Reserva 610 in Miraflores is Gaston Acurio's casual Peruvian chain in Larcomar, the lomo saltado and ceviche carta from S/35.
OrderLomo saltado with chaufa and a chicha morada (around S/55).
TipOther Tanta branches: Av Felipe Salaverry 2370 (Jesus Maria), Pancho Fierro 115 (San Isidro), same carta everywhere.
Pollo a la brasa in Orlando
Pio Pio Restaurant ★ 4.4
Pio Pio Restaurant on East Washington Street near Lake Eola is the Peruvian rotisserie chicken spot with pollo a la brasa, lomo saltado and tres leches cake.
SignaturePollo a la brasa, Lomo saltado
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