
Crispy Huacatay Chicken with Lime Sweet Potato Mash and Sautéed Corn
An original Peruvian-inspired recipe featuring chicken thighs marinated with huacatay, garlic, and ají amarillo, then roasted until golden and crisp. It is served with a smooth lime-scented sweet potato mash and a criollo-style sauté of corn, red onion, and cilantro.
Ingredients
- 800 g bone-in skin-on chicken thighs (secados with papel of cocina)
- 45 g huacatay paste (or huacatay ground)
- 30 g ají amarillo paste (ajusta to taste)
- 12 g garlic (chopped or grated)
- 45 ml lime juice (divided)
- 30 ml vegetable oil (divided)
- 8 g salt (or to taste, divided)
- 2 g black pepper (freshly ground)
- 700 g sweet potato (pelado and cut en trozos)
- 30 g butter (for the puree)
- 120 ml evaporated milk (hot)
- 300 g corn kernels (preferiblemente choclo peruano)
- 120 g red onion (cut en pluma fina)
- 15 g fresh cilantro (chopped)
- 1 g ground cumin (for the chicken)
Nutrition facts
per serving
Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.
Allergens
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 220 °C / 425 °F. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and place them in a bowl.
- 2
In the bowl, combine the huacatay paste, ají amarillo paste, garlic, 2 tablespoons of the lime juice, 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon of the salt, black pepper, and cumin. Rub this marinade all over the chicken and let it rest for 15 minutes.
- 3
Arrange the chicken on a baking tray skin-side up. Roast for 30 to 35 minutes at 220 °C / 425 °F until cooked through and deeply golden. For extra crispness, broil for 2 to 3 more minutes, watching closely.
- 4
While the chicken roasts, cook the sweet potato in a pot with water and 1/2 teaspoon salt for 15 to 18 minutes, until very tender. Drain well.
- 5
Transfer the cooked sweet potato to a bowl and mash with the butter, warm evaporated milk, and the remaining tablespoon of lime juice until smooth. Adjust salt to taste.
- 6
Heat the remaining tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the red onion and cook for 2 minutes. Add the corn kernels and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until tender but still juicy.
- 7
Stir the fresh cilantro into the sautéed corn, cook for 30 seconds, and remove from the heat. Taste and adjust with an extra pinch of salt if needed.
- 8
Serve a portion of sweet potato mash on each plate, place the crispy huacatay chicken on top or alongside, and finish with the sautéed corn with red onion and cilantro.
Chef tips
For crispier skin, leave the chicken uncovered in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before marinating. If the corn is very tender, sauté it only briefly to preserve its texture.
Substitutions
You can replace the sweet potato with yellow potatoes for a more classic side. If you cannot find huacatay fresh or in paste form, use a mix of cilantro and mint, though the flavor will be different. Evaporated milk can be replaced with a bit more butter and some hot water.
What I used to make it
Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.
Illustrative imageNinja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
Illustrative imageCosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
Illustrative imageTempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
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