Aj� de Gallina (Peruvian Chili Chicken)

Name: Aj� de Gallina (Peruvian Chili Chicken)
Cook time: 45 min
Yield: 8 servings

Aj� de gallina, traditional meal of Peruvian creole cuisine. ? Photo by Dtarazona, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Cuisine of Peru ' (Spanish for chili pepper chicken) is a traditional Peruvian dish which has its roots in the social upheaval of the French Revolution in 1789.[http://friendseat.com/Aji-de-Gallina-Recipe Info on aj� de gallina recipe on the Friends Eat website] Chefs working for wealthy families lost their jobs after French aristocrats were imprisoned and executed. Some of these chefs travelled to the New World, including Peru, bringing with them French culinary expertise. Wealthy Peruvian creole families hired them to demonstrate their wealth to the ruling Spaniards. The fusion of local cuisines with French cooking traditions led to many new recipes, including aj� de gallina. This is a shredded chicken dish in a spicy sauce flavored with cheese, garlic, nuts and Peruvian chili peppers.[http://www.grouprecipes.com/29399/aji-de-gallina.html Info on aj� de gallina recipe on the Group Recipes website] Peruvians love eating this dish on cold days. The dish is often referred to as aj� de pollo when it is prepared with frayed chicken breasts ? especially nowadays in which, unlike egg hens raised traditionally on farm lots, the poultry industry breeds caged birds for meat within three months.[http://recetasdecomidaperuana.org/aji-de-gallina-para-10-porciones.html Info on aj� de gallina recipe on Peruvian recipes website]

Cooking time: 45 minutes
Servings: 8

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