In this video, you will learn how to make your own authentic Anticuchos (Peruvian Grilled Heart kebabs), in 5 easy steps.

If you have ever visited Peru or a Peruvian Restaurant, chances are you tried those amazing skewered grilled meats served with potatoes and spicy sauces. You may have even not realized you were eating beef heart! These grilled meats are called Anticuchos.


What are Anticuchos? They are are a popular Peruvian dish consisting of skewered marinated grilled meats, traditionally using beef heart. It's history traces back to the 16th-century Spanish colony in Peru, where African slaves learned to prepare meat innards that were discarded by the Spaniards.

What are they made of? Anticuchos are made of marinated beef heart, although they can also be made with steak or chicken. The marinade uses vinegar to soften the beef heart, and aji panca, a red pepper with a smoky flavor. The meats are accompanied by Peruvian giant corn, Peruvian yellow potatoes and two spicy pepper salsas: Rocoto sauce and Aji de Huacatay.

What ingredients will I need?

Main Ingredients:
1 beef heart (you can also use steak or chuck roast)
Wooden Skewers: Make sure to have bamboo or wood skewers to grill the anticuchos.
Peruvian yellow potatoes (you can also use Russet potatoes)
Peruvian giant corns, boiled, and cut in thick slices (you can also sweet corn)

Marinade:
Aji Panca Paste - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LX1OBMZ
Red Wine vinegar
Minced Garlic
Cumin
Salt
Pepper

Rocoto Sauce:
Rocoto Paste - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M1LQAZC
Green Onions
Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper

Aji de Huacatay:
Huacatay paste - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M19PGM1
Ají Amarillo paste - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LWPZX6N
Rocoto Paste - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M1LQAZC
Queso Fresco
Toasted Peanuts
Lime Juice
Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper

STEP 1: Prep your Main Ingredients
Beef Heart: Trim all the veins, arteries, fat and connective tissue from the heart. Rinse thoroughly with water. Slice the heart meat into pieces that are roughly ½ inch thick.
Potatoes: Boiled until cooked, peel, and cut into thick slices.
Corn: Boiled until cooked and cut in thick slices.

STEP 2: Prepare the marinade
In a large mixing bowl mix: ½ cup of aji panca paste, ¾ cup red vinegar, 2 tablespoons of minced garlic, 1 tablespoon of cumin and 1 tablespoon of pepper. Add salt to taste. Mix thoroughly. Add the sliced beef heart to the marinade, mix thoroughly, set aside and refrigerate for 3 hours.

STEP 3: Make the Aji de Huacatay
In a blender, add 3 tablespoons of Huacatay paste, a handful of queso fresco, a tablespoon of toasted peanuts, a teaspoon of lime juice and a teaspoon of olive oil. Ají Amarillo and Rocoto will provide the spiciness to the sauce, so start by adding small amounts of each until reaching the desired level of spiciness and flavor. Add salt to taste. Blend.

STEP 4: Make the Rocoto Sauce
Blend 2 tablespoons of rocoto paste with ½ cup of water, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, add salt and pepper. Once blended add finely chopped green onions. Warning: this sauce will be very spicy.

STEP 5: Grill Your Anticuchos
Start by sliding 3 or 4 pieces of heart onto each skewer. Preheat your grill to medium flame.
Cook the anticuchos over the grill on each side, generously basting the marinade, until medium rare, being careful not to overcook them so that they still are tender on the inside. Place the boiled potatoes on the grill and cook for a few minutes until golden brown.
Once all the anticuchos are grilled and cooked, set on a plate alongside sliced potatoes, halved corncobs, aji de huacatay sauce, rocoto sauce and enjoy!

Now that you have learned how to make anticuchos its time to shop the ingredients! You can then impress your friends and family with a delicious and authentic Peruvian feast!

Aji Panca Paste - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LX1OBMZ
Huacatay paste - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M19PGM1
Ají Amarillo paste - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LWPZX6N
Rocoto Paste - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M1LQAZC