Peruvian Baked Chicken Recipe With Creamy Green Sauce Is Out of This World by Donna John

Peru has become sort of a joke between my husband and I and his side of the family. Any time his mom (or anyone now) asks us to a family event or to go somewhere, my husband says we'll be in Peru. We won't – and never have been yet – but somehow this has become a thing. Thinking this thing may actually become a trip to Peru one day, I love cooking and learning about Peruvian food.

Baked chicken and sauces are other things I love, so this Peruvian lime chicken recipe with creamy cilantro sauce had to happen. This Peruvian chicken dinner is loaded with flavor and the sauce is fantastic. Here is your gluten-free shopping list: a whole chicken (or chicken pieces), olive oil, limes, fresh garlic, salt, black pepper, paprika, cumin, dried oregano, granulated sugar, mayonnaise, sour cream, jalapenos and fresh cilantro.

To make this high-protein recipe, start by blitzing olive oil, lime juice, garlic, salt, black pepper, paprika, cumin, dried oregano and a touch of sugar in a blender until smooth. Rub this mixture all over a whole chicken, including under the flesh, and marinate as long as you have time to. While the chicken bakes, put all the sauce ingredients into a blender and pulse until smooth. Serve this creamy green sauce with your carved chicken.

If you like this Peruvian chicken recipe, try these other dishes from Peru:

• Peruvian Grilled Street Corn
• Pollo a la Brasa
• Peruvian Lomo Saltado
• Peruvian Chicken With Creamy Verde Sauce
• Peruvian Vegetable and Chicken Soup

Serve this roasted chicken for dinner with your favorite side dishes. Read about the health benefits of protein.

Cuisine: Peruvian 
Prep Time: 10 minutes plus time to marinate
Cook Time: 1 hour and 35 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken (about 4 pounds)

Chicken Marinade

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 4 - 5 cloves garlic 
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar

Creamy Cilantro Sauce

• 2 large jalapenos, seeds and ribs removed
• 1 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Here's how to make it: 

1. Put all the chicken marinade ingredients into a blender. Pulse until smooth. Put the chicken into a baking dish. Use your fingers to gently loosen the skin. Rub the marinade all over the chicken, including under the skin and inside the cavity. Over the chicken and marinate in the refrigerator at least 4 hours and up to overnight. 
2. When ready to cook, put the chicken into a preheated 425-degree F oven. Cook the chicken for 20 minutes, then reduce the heat to 375 degrees F and continue to cook for about 1 hour and 15 minutes more, or until chicken is cooked through. Check is cooked through at 165 degrees F internal temperature on a food thermometer. (If it starts to get too brown, cover with aluminum foil. The cooking time will vary depending on your oven and size of chicken.) Remove the chicken and let it rest 10 minutes before carving into pieces. 
3. While the chicken bakes, put all the sauce ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth. Refrigerate the sauce until ready to serve with the chicken. Store any leftover chicken and sauce in an airtight container in the fridge. 

Nutritional information for this recipe includes the full amount of the marinade ingredients. Depending on marinating time, ingredients, cook time, etc., the actual amount of the marinade consumed will vary.

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. Any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

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