Pollo al Ajillo (Garlic Chicken)
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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.
🍽️ 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.
💡 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.