Hearty Ajiaco: Colombian Chicken and Potato Stew

Written by
Marian Blazes
Marian Blazes is a freelance writer and recipe developer with a passion for South American food. She wrote a cookbook focusing on the cuisine of Brazil.
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Marian Blazes
Updated 09/23/20
Colombian chicken and potato stew

​The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
Prep: 8 hrs 15 mins
Cook: 70 mins
Total: 9 hrs 25 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
498 Calories
27g Fat
37g Carbs
31g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 498
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 27g 34%
Saturated Fat 7g 33%
Cholesterol 80mg 27%
Sodium 1254mg 55%
Total Carbohydrate 37g 14%
Dietary Fiber 8g 28%
Protein 31g
Calcium 126mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Ajiaco is a unique Colombian dish, especially beloved in the city of Bogota. It's a hearty chicken soup made with potatoes and corn on the cob. Small yellow Andean potatoes called papas criollas are the important ingredient—they dissolve and thicken the soup as it cooks. It is a great menu for a cold night, all in one pot. Serve with artisan bread and Spanish Albarino wine.

Ajiaco is seasoned with a Colombian herb called guascas and is traditionally served with slices of avocado, capers, and mild sour cream.

Cubans make a stew version of ajiaco that includes beef, pork, chicken, and vegetables, and in Peru, this dish is a side dish of potatoes, garlic, chilies, and herbs.

You can usually find frozen papas criollas as well as dried guascas at Latin food markets—they are worth seeking out if you decide to make this dish.

Ingredients

  • 2 large chicken breasts, bone-in and skin on (about 1 1/2 pounds)
  • 1 large yellow onion (roughly chopped)
  • 5 cloves garlic (roughly chopped)
  • 1 tablespoon coarse salt
  • 1 tablespoon freshly ground pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 cups chicken stock
  • 1 1/2 pounds mixed potatoes (red, Yukon gold, and russets; peeled and cut into bite-size chunks)
  • 2 to 3 ears fresh corn (cut crosswise into quarters) or 1 1/2 cups frozen corn kernels
  • 1 bunch cilantro, with stems (washed well and tied with twine)
  • 1 bunch green onions (washed and tied with twine)
  • 2 tablespoons dried guascas
  • Toppings
  • 2 avocados (pitted, peeled, and thinly sliced)
  • 1/2 cup Crema Mexicana, sour cream, or creme fraîche
  • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro leaves
  • 2 tablespoons drained capers (chopped)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for Colombian chicken and potato stew
    ​The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  2. Place the chicken in a glass or ceramic dish. Top with the onion, garlic, salt, and pepper.

    Place chicken in glass
    ​The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  3. Cover and refrigerate for 8 to 24 hours.

    Cover
    ​The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  4. Heat the olive oil in a heavy 4-quart lidded pot over medium-high heat.

    Heat olive oil
    ​The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  5. Add the chicken with its marinating bits and brown each side, about 6 minutes.

    Add the chicken
    ​The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  6. Pour in the stock and raise the heat to high.

    Pour in stock
    ​The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  7. When the mixture boils, lower the heat to medium-low, then cover and simmer. Cook until the chicken is tender, about 30 minutes.

    Cover
    ​The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  8. Transfer the chicken to a platter, reserving the cooking liquid in the pot.

    Transfer chicken
    ​The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  9. When cool enough to handle, remove the skin from the chicken and discard. Cut or tear the chicken breasts into bite-size strips and discard the bones.

    Remove skin
    ​The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  10. Place the potatoes in the pot with the leftover cooking liquid and turn the heat to medium. Cover and cook for about 5 minutes.

    Place potatoes in pot
    ​The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  11. Add the corn, cilantro, green onions, and the guascas. Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender, but not overcooked.

    Add ingredients
    ​The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  12. Remove the cilantro and green onions and return the chicken to the pot. Simmer a few minutes more until the chicken is warmed through.

    Remove the cilantro
    ​The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  13. Ladle the soup into individual bowls and place the toppings on the table to be passed around.

    Ladle the soup
    ​The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  14. Serve and enjoy!

    Serve and enjoy
    ​The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska