Smoked Peruvian Chicken Thighs
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
20 mins
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Cook Time
40 mins
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Additional Time
4 hrs
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Servings
8
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Calories
525 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Peruvian
Smoked Peruvian Chicken Thighs
Description
The recipe for Smoked Peruvian Chicken Thighs starts with a vibrant marinade that incorporates minced garlic, soy sauce, sriracha, lime juice, pasilla chili powder, Dijon mustard, ground cumin, and freshly ground black pepper. These ingredients coat the chicken thighs, allowing them to absorb complex flavors when marinated for at least two hours or ideally overnight in the refrigerator. Cooking involves smoking or grilling the chicken at 350°F until the skin turns golden and the meat is thoroughly cooked, usually between 25 to 35 minutes.
The flavor profile is rich and smoky, with heat from sriracha balanced by the brightness of lime juice and the depth of pasilla chili powder and cumin. The green sauce is a fresh, creamy accompaniment made by blending cilantro leaves and tender stems, seeded jalapeños, crumbled feta cheese, garlic, lime juice, sea salt, Dijon mustard, sriracha, honey, cumin, and extra virgin olive oil until smooth. Its cool, tangy, and slightly spicy flavor contrasts the smokiness of the chicken.
This dish is well-suited for serving alongside rice, grilled vegetables, or warm tortillas. The aromatic marinade and sauce provide a dynamic combination that can brighten a casual dinner or a weekend gathering. The recipe notes recommend serving two chicken thighs per person, making it straightforward to portion.
The marinade benefits from ample resting time to maximize flavor absorption, and excess marinade should be shaken off before cooking to avoid flare-ups on the grill. The sauce can be adjusted with additional salt or lime juice to balance the flavors after blending.
Ingredients
Marinade
- 1/4 cup garlic finely minced
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sriracha
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon pasilla chili powder
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon cumin ground
- 1 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- 3 pounds chicken thighs
- vegetable oil as needed
Sauce
- 1 cup cilantro leaves and tender stems
- 1/3 cup jalapeno pepper seeded and diced
- 1/3 cup feta cheese crumbled
- 2 teaspoons garlic chopped
- 1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice
- 3/4 teaspoon salt sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 tablespoon sriracha
- 1/2 teaspoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Marinade Preparation
- In a large bowl, whisk together garlic, soy sauce, sriracha, lime juice, pasilla chili powder, mustard, cumin, pepper and salt.
- Add chicken thighs, turning to coat them all over with marinade. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours, these are best made the night before, and allowed to marinade all night
Smoker Instructions (the same cooking times work for a gas grill or an oven)
- Heat the smoker or grill to 350 degrees. Remove chicken from marinade shake off excess marinade.
- Smoke/grill chicken until skin is golden and chicken is cooked through,25 to 35 minutes.
- While chicken is cooking, make the sauce.
Green Sauce Instructions
- In a blender, blend cilantro, jalapeños, feta, garlic, lime juice, oregano, salt, mustard, sriracha, 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.
Notes
- Marinate chicken thighs overnight for the best absorption of flavors.
- Shake off excess marinade before smoking or grilling to prevent burning.
- Serve two thighs per person as recommended for portion size.
- Adjust green sauce seasoning by tasting and supplementing with salt or lime juice if needed.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 525 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 525kcal | 26% |
| Carbohydrates | 4g | 1% |
| Protein | 30g | 60% |
| Fat | 43g | 66% |
| Saturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 172mg | 57% |
| Sodium | 873mg | 36% |
| Potassium | 385mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 159IU | 3% |
| Vitamin C | 5mg | 6% |
| Calcium | 57mg | 6% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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