Flavors · Aragão

Pollo al chilindrón

Chicken stewed in a sauce of red peppers, tomato, onion, garlic and ham — chilindrón. It’s the dish chosen to represent Aragon and, made the same way, is also prepared with lamb.

Traditional dish from Aragão

Also known as: frango ao chilindrón, chilindrón

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Spain
Spain
Pollo al chilindrón — Aragão, Spain
Pollo al chilindrón
Pollo al chilindrón — Aragão, Spain
Pollo al chilindrón
Pollo al chilindrón — Aragão, Spain
Pollo al chilindrón
Pollo al chilindrón — Aragão, Spain
Pollo al chilindrón

Pollo al chilindrón — Aragão, Spain

Chilindrón is the Aragonese name for a sauce of red peppers, tomato, onion and garlic, often with ham. Spain’s official tourism service describes pollo al chilindrón as one of the most admired dishes of Aragonese cuisine and notes that the same preparation is used for lamb. It was the dish chosen to represent Aragon in the postage-stamp series by the postal service with the Real Academia de Gastronomía, presented in Huesca.

The chicken, cut into pieces, is browned in olive oil. In the same oil the onion, garlic and pepper strips are sautéed, diced ham and tomato are added, and the chicken returns to the pan to simmer slowly in the sauce until tender. Some recipes add wine or the pulp of dried pepper.

Zaragoza’s tourism authority treats chilindrón as one of the oldest sauces of the city’s cuisine, used with lamb, chicken and even cod. One of the preserved recipes is attributed to the writer Julio Alejandro, screenwriter for Luis Buñuel.

In the past, chicken was meat for festive days, which explains the dish’s place in celebrations. In Huesca it is associated with the fiestas of San Lorenzo in August, and the city organizes a contest dedicated to it in summer.

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Where it comes from

Aragão

Ingredients

Chicken pieces, red peppers, tomato, onion, garlic, serrano ham, olive oil, salt; sometimes white wine or dried pepper pulp.

How it is eaten

Served hot, with the sauce, as a main course. Bread for the sauce; sometimes with potatoes.

When it is eaten

A year‑round dish, traditional on festive days. In Huesca it’s linked to the fiestas of San Lorenzo in August.

Your questions

Questions about Pollo al chilindrón

What does chilindrón mean?

It is the Aragonese name for a sauce of red peppers, tomato, onion and garlic, often with ham.

Is chilindrón only made with chicken?

No. With the same recipe lamb al chilindrón is made, and there are versions with other meats.

Is pollo al chilindrón spicy?

Generally no. The flavor comes from sweet red pepper and the ham.

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