Vida Recetas Editorial
Anticuchos are Peru's most famous skewers: cubes of beef heart marinated in ají panca, garlic, vinegar and cumin, grilled and brushed with anticuchera sauce as they char. They come out reddish outside, juicy inside and with a smoky, mildly spicy aroma that wins over even people who have never tried offal.
Their origin is Andean and colonial: they were first made with llama or guinea pig meat and, over the years, beef heart became the classic cut, especially on the Lima street carts that sell anticuchos at night. Today they are a must-have starter at cookouts and street fairs, and also a main dish when served with boiled potato, corn and chili sauce.
Prep
25 min
Cook
12 min
Servings
4
Calories
330 kcal
Clean the heart: remove the fat, nerves and veins, then cut it into even 3-4 cm cubes. Pat them dry with kitchen paper instead of washing them.
Make the marinade by mixing the ají panca paste, garlic, vinegar, oregano, cumin, pepper, salt and oil into a thick paste.
Coat the cubes with the marinade and massage well; cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours (overnight is even better).
Meanwhile, boil the potatoes and corn in salted water; drain and keep them warm.
Make the anticuchera sauce: mix the ají panca paste, oil, beer, cumin and oregano and set it aside for brushing.
Thread the skewers with 3 or 4 cubes each, leaving a small gap between them so the heat circulates.
Heat the grill, griddle or air fryer to medium-high and grease lightly with oil.
Grill the anticuchos 4 to 6 minutes per side, brushing them with the anticuchera sauce and turning every 2 minutes.
Pull them off once charred outside and juicy inside; rest 1 or 2 minutes before serving and never overcook them or they turn tough.
Serve the anticuchos over the potatoes and corn, with salsa criolla and chili sauce on the side and a squeeze of lime on top.
This recipe has a medium difficulty level, which means it's accessible for cooks of all levels.
The preparation time is 25 minutes and the cooking time is 12 minutes.
This recipe is designed for 4 servings.
Yes, many ingredients can be substituted with similar alternatives. We recommend checking the recipe variations.
Store the preparation in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Some preparations can be frozen for up to 3 months.
