Authentic Colombian Ajiaco Recipe With Chicken & Potatoes

Hearty and creamy soup with chicken, potatoes, and corn that’s perfect for a cold night or comforting Sunday dinner.

📝 Ingredients

• 2 large bone-in (skin-on chicken breasts)
• 1 large onion (chopped)
• 5 cloves garlic (chopped)
• 2 tbsp kosher salt
• 2 tbsp ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 lb frozen papas criollas or russets potatoes
• 1 lb mixed potatoes (red &Yukon Gold, peeled and cut into bite-size chunks)
• 3 ears fresh corn (cut into quarters or thirds)
• 1 bunch cilantro (with stems, washed and bound together)
• 1 bunch green onions (tips clipped, washed and bound together)
• 6 guascas leaves
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/4 cup epis seasoning

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Place the chicken breasts in a baking dish topped with the onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
2. 2Remove chicken from refrigerator and allow pieces to come to room temperature.
3. 3Heat the olive oil in a heavy bottomed lidded pot over medium-high heat.
4. 4Add the chicken along with marinade ingredients to the pot and brown the chicken on both sides.
5. 5Pour in the stock, add the guascas, bay leaves, green onions and salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, skimming foam, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, until chicken is cooked through, 10-15 minutes. Remove chicken and reserve broth.
6. 6Add frozen papas criollas (if using russet potatoes, peel and coarsely grate first) and more seasoning with the salt and pepper. Simmer until potatoes begging to break down about 30 minutes. Feel free to aid the process by using the backside of a wooden spoon to mash the potatoes against the sides of the pot until you get the consistency you desire.
7. 7Meanwhile, add the Yukon and New potatoes to the pot and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until almost tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
8. 8While potatoes simmer cut the chicken into shreds
9. 9Add the chicken back to the pot. Add cilantro, corn, the epis, salt and pepper and mix well. Then simmer 15-20 minutes
10. 10Serve topped with avocados, capers, and sour cream