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    Home / Dinner / Pollo Garnachero

    Pollo Garnachero

    A traditional Oaxacan specialty — Pollo Garnachero, the festive fried chicken of Juchitán in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.

    ⏱ 40 minPrep time
    🔥 60 minCook time
    🍽 6Servings
    🏷 DinnerCategory
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    Juchitán pollo garnachero fried chicken with potatoes

    A traditional Oaxacan specialty — Pollo Garnachero, the festive fried chicken of Juchitán in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Chicken pieces are boiled, then fried until burnished and crisp, and served with golden potato slices, a quick-pickled cabbage, and a hot tomato salsa fired with morita and chipotle chiles. It is the dish of Juchitán evening dinners, eaten with hands and tortillas.

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    Step by stepInstructions

    1. Simmer the chicken in salted water until just cooked through, then drain and pat very dry.
    2. Soak the shredded cabbage in a bowl of salted water with the vinegar for 20 minutes to make a quick curtido, then drain.
    3. Heat the oil in a large skillet and fry the chicken pieces until deep golden and crisp all over, about 10 minutes; set aside.
    4. Fry the potato slices in the same oil until golden and tender, then season with salt.
    5. Soak the morita and chipotle chiles in hot water for 15 minutes, then blend with the roasted tomatoes, garlic, onion and salt into a smooth salsa; simmer for 5 minutes.
    6. Serve the chicken and potatoes with the curtido cabbage and the hot salsa on the side, garnachas-style, with warm tortillas.

    💡 Chef tips & storage

    Drying the boiled chicken thoroughly before frying is what gives it its crackling skin. The salsa should be hot — moritas and chipotles are smoky and piquant, so adjust the quantity to your tolerance.

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    Recipe details

    Prep40 min
    Cook60 min
    Servings6
    CategoryDinner
    PublishedAugust 17, 2026
    Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

    Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

    Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →

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