Where the Atlantic very nearly meets the Pacific you’ll find Panama on the thin strip of land between the oceans. While this doesn’t give the country much area, it does put it at key spot at the world’s crossroads. In common with its strategic importance, Panama’s cuisine outshines its modest size.
Today’s entry is Pollo al Ajillo (Garlic Chicken), one of Panama’s prominent culinary offerings. Not only is the preparation big, popping up at street stands throughout the country, so are the flavors. As its name suggests, pollo al ajillo takes garlic. Lots and lots of garlic – just about three entire bulbs for one bird. Now that’s some serious taste.
Surprisingly, though, the garlic doesn’t overwhelm. Part of this is thanks to the grill, as the flames lick away some of garlic’s bite, though most is due to the masterful balance fresh orange juice achieves. Only something as vibrant as citrus juice, in which the pollo marinates for hours before grilling, is sufficient to tame garlic, to round its edges.
Garlic is tamed, but it certainly isn’t muted. It’s big and flashy, without backing into harshness. Moreover, oranges quicken the pace with a sweet tropical melody. Much like Panama itself. In fact, it’s precisely this balancing of intense flavors that recommended pollo al ajillo when it appeared in the June/July 2013 issue of Saveur.
Today’s recipe is served alongside sliced avocado, as often is the case in Panama. Leave to a diminutive country to produce such big-time taste. With pollo al ajillo to inspire them, no wonder Panamanians are capable of such feats.
*****
Pollo al Ajillo
(Panamanian Garlic Chicken)
- 1 3-to-4-pound chicken, quartered (*1)
- 3 bay leaves
- 25 cloves of garlic, peeled (*2)
- 2 teaspoons salt, plus more to taste
- 1 cup freshly-squeezed orange juice
- 1/2 cup sherry vinegar
- 2 tablespoons freshly-ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons ground allspice
Puree in a food processor garlic, salt and two tablespoons of water, until you have a smooth paste. Add the orange juice, Worcestershire sauce, allspice, vinegar and pepper. Puree until smooth.
Pour this into a zip-top bag into which the chicken has been placed, along with 3 bay leaves. Seal the bag and refrigerate for at least four hours, or up to overnight.
Heat a grill at the highest level. Remove the chicken from the marinade and place it on the grill, being vigilant about flare-ups. Cook for 15 minutes per side, or until cooked through.
NOTES:
1 – Instead, I used a similar quantity of bone-in, skin-on thighs. Dark meat is more flavorful, and it saved me the trouble of having to dissect a chicken.
2 – Yes, that’s nearly three entire bulbs. It’s necessary to produce such a wonderful taste.
yum garlic and adv .. skip the meat bit!
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Thanks, Kate! As the weekend’s festivities took shape, I read Panamanians accompany most of their meals with avocado. Well, then…decided. Plus, it looks great on the plate too, don’t you think?
Substantive enough, really, to stand on its own. Sprinkle with a little lime juice and a splash or two of garlic sauce…wowzer!
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just had advo for lunch with lime juice and salt … skip the garlic 🙂
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If you like avocados as much as I do, Kate, you’d love the guacamole my mother makes. I stop by for dinner once a week or so (especially in the summer, when mowing is required at least that often) and guacamole makes a guest appearance every fifth or sixth time!
By the way, you haven’t seen the last of the avocado. Look for it to appear, among other places, in a purely vegetarian preparation.
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yum, looking forward to that .. I could easily live off mushrooms, advo and mango with broccoli for the green 🙂
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Agreed, Kate, agreed, agreed and agreed. Broccoli is late love, though, having only moved in with me in adulthood. Now I put it on salads every day.
Though I’m probably the only person on the planet who prefers it raw, both for taste and for texture. Cooked, broccoli is “meh;” raw, it’s a daily addiction. The cold mistress.
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I prefer the stem slightly cooked … never had it raw, now I’ll have to try
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Naturally, Kate, a more “formal” dinner (i.e. guests) calls for some preparation, i.e., other ingredients and cooking, though when I’m left to my own devices, raw, unaccompanied broccoli it is!
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lol can’t quite bring myself to take that first bite!
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Master your fear, Kate. Do it! Once you go raw…
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I’ll need more veg to gnaw 🙂
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Just be sure to floss after you do, else your dentist will have something to say.
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lol avoid those beggars at all cost!
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Sounds interesting. Blending the contrasts to make something awesome.
Love, light and glitter
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grew up eating this a lot! it’s a very popular recipe in South America. So many happy memories! AND it’s so light and healthy! 🙂
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Isn’t it, though, Daniela? Fortune smiled on your childhood, if this was your fuel. It made you the novelist you are today.
And we haven’t even started on avocados yet, have we? Pure genius, adding them to most meals, if you ask me.
May you continue finding things here that inspire your interest and glisten your memories. Wonderful conversation we’re having!
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I could devour this, and more! Garlic and chicken… now I am craving. 😋
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Most flattered, Tamara! So many flavors the bird picks up in its journeys around the world. We’re just getting started, too.
Why do you think I’m such a poultry fiend?
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Because you like to travel?
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I do, whether in the kitchen, in person or, ideally, both!
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I have nominated you for a sunshine blogger award:)
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Much obliged, ciccolady!
By the way, does the award include a kick in the shin? This afternoon, a stranger approached me, said, “This is for your blog!” then kicked me.
Seriously, though, many thanks!
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Looks delicious. I love the addition of the avocado 🥑😋
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So did I, as did many others too, judging from the comments.
Thanks, JoAnn!
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