Authentic Pollo al Ajillo Recipe (Spanish Garlic Chicken)
This authentic pollo al ajillo recipe is made with chicken, 25 garlic cloves, extra virgin olive oil, and sherry wine for a classic Spanish garlic chicken dish with a rich pan sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 kg chicken pieces
- 25 cloves garlic peeled
- 200 ml extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 250 ml dry sherry wine
Instructions
- Heat ¾ cup (200 ml) extra virgin olive oil in a large casserole pan over medium-high heat. Add the 25 peeled garlic cloves and sauté for 1–2 minutes until lightly golden and fragrant. Remove the garlic with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Pat the 2 pounds (1 kg) chicken pieces dry with paper towels, then season both sides with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Add the chicken to the same pan and sear for 5–7 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
- Carefully discard most of the oil, leaving about 4 tablespoons in the pan.
- Return the browned chicken and garlic to the pan. Pour in 1 cup (250 ml) dry sherry wine and gently scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen the browned bits into the sauce. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 10–15 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce has reduced slightly.
- Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if needed. Serve the pollo al ajillo hot with the garlic and pan sauce spooned over the top.
Notes
Brown the Garlic Gently: I like to remove the garlic as soon as it turns lightly golden because it keeps the flavor sweet and mellow instead of bitter.
Dry the Chicken First: Patting the chicken dry is something I never skip because it helps the pieces brown properly in the hot oil.
Keep a Little Oil in the Pan: I leave about 4 tablespoons of oil because it gives the sherry wine enough richness to turn into a glossy garlic sauce.
Serve It While Hot: This pollo al ajillo tastes best to me right away, while the sauce is warm and the garlic cloves are soft.
Nutrition
Calories: 680kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 57g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 35g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 102mg | Sodium: 566mg | Potassium: 356mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 193IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 2mg
