Reviewed: Oct. 1, 2009

I used only a third of a loaf of bread, and a full loaf would be WAY too much. I also substituted regular black olives for kalamata, which I think would be too strong in this. Having followed the recipe this time, next time I'd just use my own chicken stock, and add cooked chicken to it, followed by the other steps. It was a long, unnecessary step for me to boil the meat and veggies to make stock, when I always keep homemade stock on-hand, anyway. You could also use canned stock. It'd be a good recipe if you have leftover chicken to use up.

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Reviewer:

galincognito

Reviewed: May 2, 2009

really good, but do NOT use a whole loaf of bread. I only used half and I could still taste it. I also doubled the aji and omitted the olives. yummy over white rice!

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Reviewer:

Val-Panama

Cooking Level: Expert

Reviewed: Mar. 16, 2009

I love trying out of the ordinary recipes, and this one was great. I didn't have walnuts (someone munched them when I wasn't looking) and it was still great. Added a sweet red pepper and only used 1/2 a loaf of bread as previously suggested. As my veggie stock was lacking a bit, I added some powdered stock and put the veggies in the blender instead of throwing them out.

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Reviewer:

Wishmouse

Reviewed: Sep. 4, 2008

Fantastic recipe! My parents-in-law are Peruvian and I'm in the process of writing my masters thesis about Peruvian food. I'm living away from them for a little while so when I got a craving for Aji de Gallina, this filled the bill to a T! I did change it a little bit to make it a little healthier, and I was so so so happy with the results. I used whole wheat bread instead of white, and fat-free evaporated milk instead of the regular kind. I had to use a little more chicken stock in the sauce because the high gluten content in the wheat bread sucked up all the moisture so quickly. The result was a mere 141 calories and 4 grams of fat. It tasted just like my father-in-law's recipe that he's been cooking for years. So if you care about the nutrition, there you go! I'm so happy that I found a recipe (on paper) that I'm comfortable with.

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Reviewer:

Holly Kapherr

Cooking Level: Professional

Home Town: Orlando, Florida, USA

Living In: Birmingham, Alabama, USA

Reviewed: Jul. 19, 2008

I used to have a maid that made the best Aji de Gallina EVER! and i've been looking for a recipe that was similar this is the closest I have found. It does take a lot of time but it is soooo yummy. I know she used to put OCOPE in it instead of turmeric but I wasn't able to find either. :( I would put a little less cheese and maybe a little more chicken stock to make it more like the one I used to have but it was very yummy just make sure you have time to put into it!

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Reviewer:

greatfoodaddict

Cooking Level: Expert

Living In: Humble, Texas, USA

Reviewed: Jun. 9, 2008

I was very happy to finally find a recipe for aji de gallina. This was great, but an entire loaf of bread was too much--the end product was way too thick and tasted like white bread. Next time I will try half a loaf. I also doubled the aji for more flavor. Edit: A few adjustments can make this recipe restaurant quality. Making homemade chicken stock is a beautiful thing, but I usually don't have time. I like to use rotisserie chicken (for a “pollo a la brasa” flair) and store-bought chicken broth. Use 4-6 slices of bread (I like to use homemade whole wheat bread, and I think it contributes to the nutty flavor). Double the parmesan cheese. Make sure you use aji paste, not powder (find it at the Latino market). Double, or even triple, the aji for more flavor (you can add more to individual plates when serving if some members of your family like more spice). Also, I have successfully used almonds when I had no walnuts. The sauce thickens a lot as it cools, so keep adding chicken broth as needed. Last time I used 2-2 ½ cups total for the recipe. I think the olives give the dish a wonderfully distinctive Peruvian flair, but they are an acquired taste (hence the nickname "mata gringos"). Love this dish--thanks for sharing the recipe, Emma!

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Reviewer:

LisaJoy

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Reviewed: Jan. 11, 2008

This recipe is great, but I left out the nuts and the kalamata olives. Nuts are too hard for a dish that's so smooth and delicious. I agree, the olives are too strong for this dish. Aji Panca is used traditionally, and I like to soak them in orange juice while the chicken stock's simmering and then blend them to make a paste. Also, you don't need to discard the vegetables used in the stock, you can blend them in the blender and put it in the stew as well.

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Reviewer:

kaycook

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Home Town: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Living In: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Reviewed: Dec. 28, 2007

MMMMMMMM!!! It could be my bias as I come from a Peruvian background... tastes just like my mom makes! I put extra garlice, onions and make it super spicy with extra aji! I did not add olives or carrots, they compete with the delicate balance of flavours in this dish; in my opinion.

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Reviewer:

moonie123

Cooking Level: Expert

Living In: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Reviewed: May 4, 2007

Perfect if you're looking for something different. This recipe has a really unusual flavor. I think next time, I'll leave out the olives, though. I'm usually an olive lover, but they just tasted strange in this.

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