Best 5 Aji Panca Recipes

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Ají Panca is a versatile Peruvian chili pepper paste made from sun-dried red peppers called Panca peppers. It's known for its deep red color, mildly sweet flavor, and smoky aroma. This flavorful paste is a staple in Peruvian cuisine and widely used in various dishes. Ají Panca adds a vibrant hue and unique flavor to sauces, stews, soups, stir-fries, and marinades. Its subtle heat and complex flavor profile make it a popular choice for both spicy and non-spicy dishes. This article offers a collection of recipes that highlight the versatility of Ají Panca paste, from traditional Peruvian dishes like Ají de Gallina and Lomo Saltado to creative fusion recipes that showcase its diverse applications. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or just starting your culinary journey, these Ají Panca recipes will inspire you to create delicious and memorable meals that capture the vibrant flavors of Peruvian cuisine.

Let's cook with our recipes!

ESTOFADO DE POLLO RECIPE - PERUVIAN CHICKEN STEW



Estofado De Pollo Recipe - Peruvian Chicken Stew image

Estofado de pollo is a hearty stew made with chicken, vegetables, potato and ají panca chili pepper, and can be found in Peruvian households and restaurants year-round. Great for lunch or dinner. This dish takes about an hour to prepare and serves 4 people.

Provided by EatPeru.com

Categories     Lunch     Main Dish

Number Of Ingredients 14

4 pieces of chicken
2 medium-sized carrots (sliced)
3.5 ounces of peas
3 medium baking potatoes (peeled and cut into 8 pieces)
1 Russet potato (peeled and cut into 8 pieces)
9 ounces of rice (uncooked)
2 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)
1 red onion (diced)
3 medium tomatoes (finely chopped)
2 cups of chicken stock
¼ cup of vegetable oil
2 tbsp of ground ají panca chili pepper
3 cilantro stem
Salt, pepper and cumin ( to taste)

Steps:

  • Place the rice in a pot or electric rice cooker, adding a teaspoon of salt, boil until cooked.
  • Heat the vegetable oil in a pot and lightly fry the chicken pieces for a few minutes until they are sealed but not cooked inside. Remove from the pot and set aside.
  • In the same oil, fry the onion, tomato, garlic and ground ají panca chili pepper.
  • Add the salt, pepper and cumin to taste.
  • Add the carrot slices, chicken pieces and the chicken stock, potatoes, peas and cilantro stem. Cook for roughly 25 minutes.
  • Serve with a generous portion of rice and decorate with chopped cilantro.

CHICKEN THIGH ANTICUCHOS



Chicken Thigh Anticuchos image

"I was inspired to create this recipe by all of the delicious anticuchos [grilled meat kebabs] I ate while traveling through Peru," says Stephanie.

Provided by Stephanie Izard

Categories     appetizer

Time 1h45m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

6 dried aji panca chile peppers, stemmed, some seeds removed
Kosher salt
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon tamari
1 tablespoon gochujang (Korean chile paste)
2 small cloves garlic
1/2 tablespoon cumin seeds, toasted and ground
1/4 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
Freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 pounds skin-on, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch cubes
Kosher salt
6 small serrano chile peppers, stemmed and seeded
1/2 small poblano chile pepper, stemmed and seeded
2 cups packed fresh cilantro, plus more for topping
Juice of 3 limes
Juice of 1/2 orange
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup mayonnaise (preferably Kewpie)
Kosher salt
Crushed peanuts, for topping

Steps:

  • Make the aji panca puree: Put the aji panca chiles in a large bowl and cover with 1 1/2 cups boiling water. Cover with plastic wrap; let soak at least 1 hour or overnight.
  • Puree the chiles and their soaking liquid with 1 teaspoon salt in a high-powered blender. You should have 2 cups; remove 1 1/2 cups and reserve.
  • Make the marinade: Add the olive oil to the remaining puree in the blender along with the vinegar, tamari, gochujang, garlic, cumin, oregano and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Season the chicken with salt and toss with the marinade in a large bowl; let sit 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, make the serrano-cilantro sauce: Blend the serranos, poblano, cilantro, lime juice, orange juice, olive oil, mayonnaise and 1 teaspoon salt in a blender until mostly smooth. Set aside.
  • Preheat a grill to medium high. Thread 4 or 5 pieces of chicken skin-side up onto each of 10 wooden skewers, leaving space between each piece. Grill the chicken skewers skin-side down until marked, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook until charred and cooked through, 3 to 4 more minutes.
  • Transfer the skewers to plates and top with some of the reserved aji panca puree and the serrano-cilantro sauce. Sprinkle with cilantro and peanuts.

PERUVIAN ROASTED CHICKEN WITH SPICY CILANTRO SAUCE



Peruvian Roasted Chicken With Spicy Cilantro Sauce image

Burnished-skinned, deeply flavored and more than just a little spicy, it's no wonder that Peruvian chicken has become something of an obsession here in the United States. There are dozens of way to make this dish, but most recipes call for two different kinds of Peruvian chile pastes - aji amarilla and aji panca - to add the necessary complexity and heat. You can find them at South American markets and online. But in a pinch, you can substitute a red chile paste (like sriracha or sambal) for the aji amarillo, and ground pasilla chile powder for the aji panca. The flavors won't be traditional, but the chicken will still be tasty - especially when slathered with the irresistibly creamy, spicy cilantro sauce that goes alongside.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories     dinner, easy, weekday, poultry, main course

Time 50m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 24

6 garlic cloves, finely grated or minced
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon aji amarillo paste or another chile paste such as sriracha or sambal
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 teaspoon aji panca paste or 1 teaspoon pasilla chile powder
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 (3 1/2- to 4 1/2-pound) chicken, halved (see Note) or 4 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken parts
Extra-virgin olive oil, as needed
1 cup cilantro leaves and tender stems
3 to 4 jalapeños, seeded and diced
1/4 cup/1 ounce crumbled feta cheese
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice, more to taste
2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano or basil
3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, more to taste
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 tablespoon aji amarillo or other chile paste (see headnote)
1/2 teaspoon honey
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Lime wedges, for garnish

Steps:

  • For the marinade: In a large bowl, whisk together garlic, soy sauce, aji amarillo paste, lime juice, aji panca paste, mustard, cumin, pepper and salt.
  • Add chicken halves, turning to coat them all over with marinade. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to 12 hours.
  • Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Remove chicken from marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Arrange skin-side up on a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with oil.
  • Roast until skin is golden and chicken is cooked through, 35 to 45 minutes (if using chicken parts, remove the breasts after 25 to 35 minutes). Remove from oven and let sit, loosely covered with foil, for 10 minutes before serving.
  • While chicken is roasting, make the sauce. In a blender, blend cilantro, jalapeños, feta, garlic, lime juice, oregano, salt, mustard, aji amarillo paste, honey, and cumin until smooth. With the motor running, slowly drizzle in oil until mixture is emulsified. Taste and adjust the seasonings with salt or lime juice or both.
  • Carve the chicken and serve with the sauce and lime wedges on the side.

PERUVIAN AJI-STYLE SAUCE



Peruvian Aji-Style Sauce image

I got this recipe from a restaurant in California 10 years ago. It's been a staple in my refrigerator ever since. It's excellent with rotisserie chicken. You can lower the calories if you stream in olive oil in replace of the mayo.

Provided by Dorothy

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes     Sauce Recipes

Time 15m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 head romaine lettuce, stem-end trimmed and discarded
½ bunch fresh cilantro, stems removed
5 green onions
¼ cup mayonnaise
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded
1 clove garlic
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Place romaine lettuce, cilantro, green onions, mayonnaise, jalapeno peppers, garlic, salt, and black pepper into a blender; blend until smooth, about 2 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 49.5 calories, Carbohydrate 2.2 g, Cholesterol 2.1 mg, Fat 4.5 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 0.7 g, SaturatedFat 0.7 g, Sodium 36.5 mg, Sugar 0.8 g

AJI PANCA PASTE



Aji Panca Paste image

Make and share this Aji Panca Paste recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Wendy H.

Categories     Sauces

Time 30m

Yield 1 cup

Number Of Ingredients 3

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 lb aji panca chile, dried
water

Steps:

  • Stem and devein the ajies (keep some veins if you want a very spicy paste).
  • Toast in dry skillet over high heat for a few minutes, then blanche.
  • Blanche 1, 2, or 3 times (in a change of water each time) for more or less spiciness. Spiciness reduces with each blanching.
  • Process ajies in a blender or food processor with a steel blade, with just enough water and oil to make a thick paste.
  • Push the mixture through a fine sieve.
  • Discard any remaining skin and veins.
  • Prep and cooking time is estimated.
  • Recipe from The Art of Peruvian Cuisine by Tony Custer.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 240.4, Fat 27.2, SaturatedFat 3.5

Tips for Cooking with Aji Panca Paste:

  • Choose ripe aji panca peppers: Look for peppers that are deep red and have smooth, unblemished skin.
  • Roast the peppers before using: Roasting the peppers enhances their flavor and makes them easier to peel and blend.
  • Use a food processor to make the paste: A food processor will help you achieve a smooth and consistent paste.
  • Add aji panca paste to your favorite dishes: Aji panca paste can be added to soups, stews, sauces, and marinades.
  • Start with a small amount of paste and adjust to taste: Aji panca paste can be spicy, so start with a small amount and add more to taste.

Conclusion:

Aji panca paste is a versatile and flavorful ingredient that can be used to add a unique touch to a variety of dishes. Its smoky, slightly sweet flavor is perfect for adding depth and complexity to soups, stews, sauces, and marinades. Whether you're looking to add a little spice to your next meal or simply want to explore new flavors, aji panca paste is an excellent choice. So, next time you're at the grocery store, be sure to pick up a jar of aji panca paste and experiment with this delicious and versatile ingredient.

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