Pollo al Ajillo

Pollo al Ajillo is a classic Spanish dish featuring chicken pieces slowly simmered in a generous amount of olive oil with whole or sliced garlic cloves, often seasoned with bay leaves and paprika. It's a rustic, flavorful main course that highlights the simple, aromatic marriage of chicken and garlic, a cornerstone of Spanish home cooking.

🍳 View the full Pollo al Ajillo recipe →

🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

This dish is high in protein from the chicken and healthy fats from the olive oil, with minimal carbohydrates. A typical serving provides a good source of monounsaturated fats, selenium, and B vitamins, with a calorie range of approximately 400-600 depending on the cut of chicken and amount of oil used.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	280 kcal
Protein	28 g
Carbs	4 g
Fat	16 g
Fiber	0.5 g
Sugar	0.5 g
Sodium	650 mg
Potassium	350 mg
Phosphorus	200 mg
Vitamin B6	0.5 mg
Niacin (B3)	7 mg
Selenium	20 mcg
Iron	1.5 mg
Vitamin C	5 mg
Zinc	2 mg

Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

The technique of cooking the garlic cloves until they are soft and sweet, almost like a confit, is a hallmark of the dish, transforming pungent garlic into a mellow, spreadable treat. It's a prime example of how Spanish cuisine elevates humble ingredients through patient cooking and quality olive oil.