Two traditional Peruvian dishes, Pollo a la Brasa and Aji de Gallina, were included in the 50 Best Rated Chicken Dishes in the World list released by the TasteAtlas global food mapping site.
TasteAtlas rankings, which purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you have not tried before, ranked Pollo a la Brasa at 10th place, giving it a score of 4.5.
Meanwhile, the emblematic Aji de Gallina was ranked 35th —with a score of 4.3— on the list, for which 7,428 ratings were recorded until June 23, 2023.
Pollo a la Brasa
The international food guide describes Pollo a la Brasa as a popular Peruvian dish consisting of crunchy and juicy charcoal-grilled chicken that is traditionally served with French fries and salads.
“Today, it is one of the most consumed meals in Peru, so much that 27 million Peruvians eat it daily,” TasteAtlas stated.
The dish was first invented in Lima in the 1950s, when it was seasoned only with salt, but nowadays the chicken is often marinated in a special combination of ingredients, usually consisting of vinegar, salt, pepper, rosemary, chili, and dark beer.
Main ingredients
Pollo a la Brasa’s main ingredients include chicken, vinegar, salt, black pepper, rosemary, and hot peppers.
According to the food encyclopedia, the places to eat the best Pollo a la Brasa are:
-Los Toldos chicken (Cusco)
-Pardos Chicken (Lima)
-Granja Azul (Lima)
-Norky’s (Lima)
-Pio Pio 8 (New York)
-Caravana Restaurante (Lima)
-Pollo a la Brasa Vermont (Gardena, California, EE.UU.)
-Tinajas Chicken & Grill (Lima)
Aji de Gallina
Often consumed on rainy or cold days by many Peruvians, Aji de Gallina is a spicy dish consisting of shredded chicken in a creamy sauce, the world food atlas describes it.
It is traditionally served over rice and garnished with black olives and boiled potatoes.
The sauce is made with aji amarillo chilis, garlic, onions, walnuts, cheese, and crustless bread, and it is usually flavored with spices such as cumin, pepper, oregano, turmeric, and parsley.
It is believed that Aji de Gallina originated from a dish called Manjar Blanco, made with a combination of chicken, almonds, sugar, and rice.
After its arrival in Peru, the people adapted it using local ingredients such as the aji chili, and a new dish was created in the process.
Main ingredients
Aji de Gallina’s main ingredients include chicken, aji amarillo chillis, garlic, onion, cheese, walnuts, bread, and olives.
According to TasteAtlas, the places to eat the best Aji de Gallina are:
-El Rincon Que No Conoces (Lima)
-Restaurante Huaca Pucllana (Lima)
-Brujas de Cachiche (Lima)
-Pachapapa (Cusco)
-Panchita (Lima)
-Tanta (Lima)