Garlic chicken: A Classic Recipe with Intense Flavor

Pollo al Ajillo: Una Receta Clásica con Sabor Intenso

Recipe of Chicken to the Garlic Step by Step

Below, we present the detailed recipe for you to prepare this Spanish classic in your own kitchen. Get ready to enjoy a feast of taste with the Garlic chicken!

Ingredients for the Garlic Chicken

These are the ingredients that you will need to prepare a delicious Garlic chicken to share:

  • 1 kg of chicken thighs (you can use also other parts of the chicken as contramuslos chunks or varied)
  • 6 large cloves of garlic (the amount of garlic can be adjusted to taste, but for a taste of authentic, don't skimp)
  • 150 ml dry white wine (a white wine of good quality will enhance the flavor of the dish)
  • 50 ml of extra virgin olive oil (essential for a sofrito is an aromatic and healthy)
  • 1 teaspoon of paprika (brings a touch of color and flavor lightly smoked)
  • Salt to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste (for a touch of flavor and the fresh scent)

Preparation of Garlic Chicken: The Secret of Flavor

Follow these simple steps to cooking a Garlic chicken perfect:

  1. Prepare the Chicken: Clean the chicken thighs, by removing the excess fat if desired and dry them with kitchen paper. Salt & pepper generously on both sides. This step is crucial for the chicken is tasty and with a crispy skin.

  2. Cook the Garlic: Peel the garlic cloves and lámalos in sheets thick. In a large pot and preferably of clay (for a touch more traditional and a better distribution of the heat), heat the extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Add the slices of garlic and sofríelas slowly, being careful not to burn. Should be golden brown and release their aroma, but without becoming bitter.
  3. Seal the Chicken: Turn up the heat to medium-high and add the chicken thighs to the pan, skin side down. Seal the chicken on both sides until golden brown and the skin is crispy. This step helps to keep the juices from the chicken and gives you a color appetizing.
  4. Add the White Wine: Pour the white wine over the chicken and let the alcohol evaporate for a couple of minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan to lift the flavors caramelized. The white wine will provide acidity and complexity to the dish.
  5. Incorporates the Paprika and cook over low Heat: Reduce the heat to low, add the paprika, stir well to blend and cover the pan. Simmer for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken is tender and cooked on the inside. During cooking, you can turn the chicken thighs so that they cook more evenly and infuse well in the sauce.
  6. Rectify Seasoning and Served: Test the sauce and rectify salt and pepper, if necessary. If the sauce is too liquid, you can uncover the pan and go up a little heat to reduce slightly. Serves the Garlic chicken hot, accompanied by a delicious sauce of garlic.

Nutrition information of the Garlic Chicken (for serving approximately)

It is important to have an idea of the nutritional values of the dishes that we eat. Here you have an estimate for the portion of Garlic chicken (considering a portion as a chicken leg medium with sauce):

  • Calories: 350-450 kcal (depending on the size of the chicken thighs and the amount of oil)
  • Proteins: 35-45 g
  • Fats: 20-30 g (mainly healthy fats from the olive oil)
  • Carbohydrates: 5-8 g (mainly in the white wine and garlic)

It is important to remember that these values are approximate and may vary depending on the specific ingredients and amounts used. The Garlic chickenwithin a balanced diet, it can be an excellent source of protein and healthy fats.


Garlic chicken much more than a simple recipe

Is a trip to the traditional Spanish cuisine, a dish that evokes flavors of home and family reunions. Its simplicity hides an explosion of flavours, where the garlic, golden and fragrant, it becomes the undisputed protagonist. If you're looking for a recipe with chicken that is easy to prepare, but at the same time offer a spectacular result, the Garlic Chicken is your ideal choice.

This dish perfect for both a food journal as a surprise to guests, noted for the tenderness of the chicken, juicy and full of flavor, complemented perfectly with the aromatic touch of garlic and a touch of white wine. Prepare Garlic Chicken is to immerse yourself in the traditional cuisine, using basic ingredients, and accessible to create a dish that warms the soul and delights the palate. The magic resides in the slow cooker, which allows the flavors fuse together, creating a symphony of flavors and textures which make this dish a true gastronomic gem.


The Garlic Chicken: A Classic with History and Flavor

The Garlic chicken it is much more than a simple recipe; it is a dish with deep roots in the Spanish cuisine. Although its exact origin is unclear and is lost in the folk tradition, it can be said that it is a recipe humble, born in the kitchens more simple, where the basic ingredients, and accessible transformed into dishes full of flavor.

It is believed that the Garlic chickenin their most primitive forms, could arise in rural areas of Spain, where the chicken and the garlic were common ingredients and abundant. The technique of cooking the chicken in garlic and olive oil is ancient, and is found in various mediterranean cultures. However, the version we know today, with white wine and paprika, it seems to be a more recent evolution, possibly consolidated during the TWENTIETH century.

The Garlic chicken it was popularized in the sales and taverns road, becoming a signature dish of the popular cuisine of spain. Its simplicity and its intense flavor made him irresistible to travelers and diners are local, they appreciated the authenticity and comfort of this dish home. With time, the Garlic chicken crossed the sales of road and settled on the menus of restaurants and homes across Spain, consolidating its status as a classic essential to the national cuisine.

A curious fact of the Garlic chicken it is his presence in the Spanish popular culture. It is mentioned in songs, books, and movies, as a symbol of traditional cuisine and authentic. Its unmistakable aroma and its taste is comforting to evoke childhood memories and family gatherings, making it a dish full of emotion and cultural significance.


Beyond the Recipe: Benefits, Variations, and Suggestions for the Garlic Chicken

The Garlic chicken not only is it delicious, but it also offers a number of benefits and possibilities that make it even more attractive:

Benefits of Garlic Chicken

  • Source of High Quality Protein: The chicken is an excellent source of protein essential for the construction and repair of tissues, as well as for the proper functioning of the body.
  • Healthy Fats: The extra virgin olive oil provides monounsaturated fats, which are beneficial for cardiovascular health and antioxidant-rich.
  • Properties of Garlic: Garlic is known for its antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory, in addition to being rich in antioxidants and compounds that are beneficial for health.
  • Simple recipe and Economic: The Garlic chicken it is prepared with basic ingredients and economical, which makes it an affordable option for all pockets.
  • Dish Versatile: You can enjoy any time of the year and in various occasions, from a family meal to a dinner party and more formal.

Creative variations of the Garlic Chicken

Although the classic recipe of Garlic chicken it is delicious by itself, there are some variations that can add a different touch and amaze your guests:

  • Garlic chicken with Herbs: Add fresh herbs such as thyme, rosemary or parsley during cooking to enhance flavors and aromas.
  • Garlic chicken with Mushrooms: Incorporates seasonal mushrooms, like mushrooms, chanterelles or porcini mushrooms, to enrich the dish with a touch of earthy and autumnal.
  • Garlic chicken Spicy: Adds a cayenne pepper or a few slices of fresh chili for the sauce of garlic for a touch spicy, and bold.
  • Garlic chicken Lemon: Grate the peel of one lemon and add the juice at the end of cooking for a touch citrusy and refreshing.


Tips to Enjoy the best Garlic Chicken

To ensure that your experience with the Garlic chicken even more pleasant, we offer a few suggestions:

  • Accompaniments Ideals: The Garlic chicken pairs perfectly with garnishes simple as French fries, potato bread, white rice or a fresh salad. A good crusty bread to dip in the sauce is a must.
  • Wine pairing: A dry white wine and fresh, as an Albariño, a Verdejo or a Ribeiro, will enhance the flavors of the Garlic chicken. You can also opt for a red wine, young and light, such as a Rioja or a Mencía.
  • Tips for Cooking: Don't be in a hurry when cooking the garlic. Sofríelo to simmer it to release all its aroma without burning. The slow cooking of the chicken is the key to that is tender and juicy.
  • Attractive Presentation: Serves the Garlic chicken in clay plates single or in a large bowl to share. Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top to decorate and add a touch of freshness.


Conclusion: Dare to Prepare this Classic

The Garlic chicken it is a jewel of Spanish cuisine, a dish that combines simplicity, taste and tradition in equal parts. Its easy preparation and ingredients accessible makes it a perfect option for any occasion, from a quick lunch between a week to a family celebration.

Now that you know all the secrets and details of this classic recipe, I encourage you to prepare at home and enjoy the authentic taste of the Garlic chicken. Surprise your loved ones with this dish full of flavour and tradition!

Do you dare to try this recipe? Share your photos and comments in social networks using the hashtag #PolloAlAjilloCasero #MenuCity360. We love to see your creations!

Learn more about Recipes with Chicken in our article:

10 Recipes with Chicken Easy for Any Occasion

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