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Let’s make the very best Peruvian roasted hen with aji verde sauce impressed by Pio Pio, my all-time favourite rotisserie hen restaurant in NYC. This oven-roasted hen recipe comes very near the unique with juicy marinated meat and crispy, golden pores and skin, served with creamy, spicy do-it-yourself Peruvian inexperienced sauce.

Peruvian Roasted Rooster with Spicy Inexperienced Sauce
One of the best hen spot in New York is Pio Pio. It’s a spot identified for its superb pollo a la brasa, or Peruvian rotisserie hen, and for its spicy aji verde sauce. They’re very secretive about their sauce recipe, however my Peruvian inexperienced sauce is the closest I’ve tasted in a do-it-yourself model.
Since I don’t have a rotisserie, I roasted a complete hen within the oven and minimize it in half to verify all of the pores and skin will get crispy. Serve this with an avocado salad, air fryer tostones, or rice and beans. For finest outcomes, marinate the hen in a single day earlier than roasting.
Reader Assessment
“That is such a scrumptious recipe. I like Pio Pio and this nice recipe provides me the entire similar flavors proper at residence. The aji verde sauce is terrific as nicely. I’ve been making each for some years now. Thanks, Gina!” – Jewel
Elements You’ll Want
These are the important thing substances you’ll must make restaurant-style Peruvian roast hen with do-it-yourself aji verde sauce. See the recipe card for actual measurements.

- Entire hen: I take advantage of a complete hen, minimize into halves. One 5-pound hen is often sufficient to feed 4. You possibly can additionally make this with a spatchcock hen or particular person bone-in hen items, like thighs, breasts, and quarters. Notice that the roasting time will fluctuate relying on the minimize of hen used.
- Beer is the bottom for the Peruvian hen marinade. I take advantage of Corona Mild, however Modelo or any crisp, mild beer, like a beer or pilsner, will work on this recipe. You don’t actually style the beer within the ultimate consequence, nevertheless it helps tenderize the hen.
- White vinegar: You’ll be able to substitute the white vinegar with white or purple wine vinegar or cider vinegar if wanted.
- Lime: You’ll need to use recent juice from one entire lime.
- Spices: Cumin, garlic powder, dried oregano, salt, and paprika. You possibly can additionally season your hen with a mix, like sazon seasoning.
Aji Verde Sauce
- Jalapeño: Eradicating the seeds helps tame the warmth. You’ll be able to alter the variety of chilies to style, relying on how scorching you want your sauce.
- Contemporary cilantro or recent herbs are important right here. If you happen to dislike cilantro, take into account changing it with parsley or mint. Nonetheless, the flavour profile might be totally different.
- Olive oil or your alternative of neutral-flavored oil. Avocado oil is one other good choice.
- Garlic: If wanted, you’ll be able to change the recent garlic clove with 1 tablespoon of pre-minced jarred garlic.
- White vinegar or use whichever vinegar you used within the hen marinade.
- Cumin provides a touch of earthy taste.
- Bitter cream provides the sauce its creaminess. Greek yogurt is an effective substitute. For a dairy-free sauce, use a non-dairy bitter cream various.
The best way to Make Peruvian Roasted Rooster
What I like most about this scrumptious roasted hen recipe is that many of the work is left to the oven. It takes only a few minutes of prep between the marinade earlier than and the aji verde afterward for serving. Listed here are the steps.


- Marinate the hen. Start by rinsing the entire hen below chilly water and trimming away the fats. Subsequent, add the hen to a big bowl to season with the beer, vinegar, lime juice, and spices. Switch the hen and marinade to a freezer bag to refrigerate in a single day.


- Get able to roast. If you’re prepared, take the hen out of the bag. Reduce it in half and prepare each halves in a baking dish, skin-side up. You’ll be able to discard the leftover marinade. (You can too minimize the hen earlier than you marinade it).
- Bake. Give your hen one final season with paprika, extra garlic powder, and salt earlier than transferring it to the oven, and roast at 425ºF for about 50 minutes. Set a timer for midway by means of, and use a baster or basting brush to cowl the hen with the pan juices. Afterward, permit the hen to relaxation for 5-10 minutes earlier than carving.
The best way to Inform When Your Rooster Is Performed
Essentially the most dependable technique to test for doneness is with an instant-read thermometer. Insert it into the thickest a part of the breast and thigh with out touching the bone. The hen is prepared when each areas attain 165°F. Let it relaxation for five to 10 minutes earlier than carving so the juices can redistribute.

Various Cooking Strategies
So lots of you have got had success cooking this Peruvian hen on the grill! It’s a good way to recreate these restaurant-style char-grilled flavors. Each time I grill it, I divide the entire hen into particular person items (or I’ll purchase them pre-cut) earlier than marinating. This makes it simpler for the hen to prepare dinner by means of evenly on the grill.
- Grill the hen 4-6 inches above the hearth for 20-25 minutes, turning usually. Shut the duvet in between. The hen is completed when it reaches 165ºF, or when the juices run clear.
- Use skewers. I even have my Peruvian grilled hen skewers recipe created particularly for the grill.
- Prepare dinner this Peruvian hen within the air fryer. On this case, I’d recommend following the cooking instructions for my air fryer rotisserie hen. Prepare dinner the entire hen at 350ºF for about 50 minutes, flipping midway by means of.
Selfmade Aji Verde Sauce (Spicy Peruvian Inexperienced Sauce)
Final however not least, to make the inexperienced sauce for serving, merely mix the entire substances in your blender or meals processor and purée.


This sauce is able to use instantly. Typically, I’ll make further to retailer within the fridge for as much as 1 week. Leftover aji verde sauce is nice as a dip for fries, and you’ll drizzle it over grilled and roasted meats, veggies, tacos, beans, and bowls, like these candy potato black bean bowls.


Yield: servings
Serving Dimension: 4 oz cooked hen with pores and skin plus ¼ of the aji verde sauce
Reduce hen in half or spatchcock it. Place the hen in a big bowl and season generously with beer, vinegar, lime juice, 1 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder, cumin, and oregano.
Switch to a big bag and marinate in a single day.
Take away hen from marinade, and place each halves on a big oven-safe baking dish, pores and skin aspect up. Discard the marinade.
Season the hen with paprika, remaining 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Bake at 425°F for about 50 minutes, basting with the pan juices midway by means of, till a thermometer inserted into the thickest a part of the hen registers 165°F. Let relaxation for five minutes earlier than carving.
Aji Verde Sauce
Place all substances in a blender and puree till easy. Serve over hen, rice, beans, or plantains.
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- Grilling Methodology: If you wish to make this hen on the grill, I might advocate slicing the hen into particular person items earlier than you marinate. Place the grill rack 4-6 inches above the hearth. Prepare dinner lined, turning usually, about 20-25 minutes, till juices run clear when the thigh is pierced with a knife.
Serving: 4 oz cooked hen with pores and skin plus ¼ of the aji verde sauce, Energy: 335 kcal, Carbohydrates: 5 g, Protein: 34 g, Fats: 17 g, Saturated Fats: 4 g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 7 g, Monounsaturated Fats: 17 g, Trans Fats: 0.2 g, Ldl cholesterol: 146 mg, Sodium: 265 mg, Potassium: 454 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 1 g, Vitamin A: 481 IU, Vitamin C: 9 mg, Calcium: 57 mg, Iron: 3 mg
Ideas for Making Peruvian Roasted Rooster
- If you happen to’d wish to skip the bowl when marinating, seal all the pieces proper within the freezer bag, and therapeutic massage the marinade into the hen earlier than refrigerating.
- Not a fan of hen pores and skin? I like to recommend following the recipe as written, and relatively take away the skins when serving. Solely as a result of skinless hen is extra prone to dry out within the oven with out the pores and skin to lock within the moisture.
- To make the marinade with out alcohol, you’ll be able to substitute common beer with non-alcoholic beer or use hen inventory as a substitute. You can too make this recipe gluten-free by utilizing gluten-free beer or inventory.
- Marinate in a single day. The hen ought to marinate for at the very least a number of hours, however in a single day is finest to essentially infuse it with taste.
Storage and Reheating
- Refrigerate leftover hen. Retailer the cooled hen in hermetic containers within the fridge for as much as 4 days. The sauce could be saved individually, in a sealed jar or container, for as much as 1 week.
- Reheat. The easiest way to reheat this Peruvian-style hen is within the oven or air fryer to crisp up the skin.



