In our last few posts, we’ve been blabbing excitedly about subjects as far ranging as winter produce, Bollywood DVDs  and ginger’s lesser known cousin galanga. For this post, we stop typing and head to the kitchen to make a cooking video. We’re whipping up Ají de Gallina: a Peruvian spicy chicken in a creamy yellow pepper sauce. Join us! Our featured cook is Silvia de la Sota, who hails from Lima, Peru. Silvia first came to this country to enter a karate contest in Las Vegas. These days she lives just outside Union Square and has traded in her black belt for the restaurant biz (exciting news about her new restaurant venture coming soon).

Before you start the video, a word about the key ingredient in this recipe:  ají amarillo. This yellow chili pepper dates back to Inca times and is the key ingredient in many Peruvian recipes. It infuses dishes with heat, a mildly citrusy flavor—and a sunny hue. For more on this Peruvian powerhouse chili, here’s a good Atlantic article called The Soul of Peruvian Cuisine: A Yellow Pepper. In Somerville you can find jars of ají amarillo chiles at Latino Americas Market at 501B Medford Street in Magoun Square. Make the trip: this dish is worth it! The printed version of this recipe is also in our recipe section. And without further ado…

http://vimeo.com/20071243