Uchucuta Marinated BBQ Pork Chops | Peruvian Recipe

Uchucuta Marinated BBQ Pork Chops | Peruvian Recipe

Uchucuta is a traditional Peruvian salsa predominantly made with chilli, herbs and cheese – but I love using it as a marinade for my Peruvian Pork Chops cooked on the BBQ.

Uchucuta is totally addictive, I use it as a marinade, a dressing and even a good old fashioned dip to help paint my nacho’s.

The Peruvians know how to make a salsa, there are actually quite a few Peruvian salsa’s, but Uchucuta is one of my favourites. I’m just starting to get into Peruvian recipes a bit more..

No, not just because it has feta in it, although that helps. Obviously feta isn’t a traditional cheese of Peru, but it makes a good substitute to queso fresco (fresh cheese) which is still made a lot in Peru.

I travelled through Peru years ago; trekked 4 days to Machu Picchu, ate guinnea pig in Cusco, became friends with Pisco sours, had lunch in Lima.. Peru is a beautiful country, and have a few tricks up their sleeves when it comes to food…and this is one of them.

Uchucuta Peruvian Salsa | Andean Hot Sauce by Theo Michaels
Uchucuta Peruvian Salsa

In saying that, it was my mate Dave back in the UK who introduced me to his own homemade Peruvian salsa and it was lovely! So much so that it got me thinking of how I would make it and use it.

Nonetheless the next day I found myself knee deep in Peruvian salsa experimenting with different recipes and ideas.. (I still get stupid excited to start devising new recipes).

Usually served as a Peruvian salsa, it works equally aswell as a marinade and is perfect if you’re pork chops are cooked on the BBQ. Peruvian BBQ Pork if you like.

To be fair, pretty much everything tastes better when cooked on the BBQ – and my Peruvian BBQ pork chops are no exception!

Ultimately what I created was delicious and really hot. Mouth tingling hot, which I love, but if you want to tone it down a little just take note of my ‘tips’ in the recipe.

It’s got a kick like a mule and smells strong enough to burn your nasal hairs off! 

But it’s not all about the sauce; it’s also about the pork. The beautiful thing that is the pork chop.

Now when I say pork chop I’m not talking those flimsy things found lurking in plastic containers in your supermarket.

I’m talking about pork chops with attitude. The ones that are thick, on the bone, with the skin and a hefty layer of fat.

A proper pork chop. A bad-ass pork chop. The sort of pork chop you are almost embarrassed to buy it’s so big and mean.

A bad-ass pork chop no less!

To get the best from your Peruvian BBQ pork chop, marinate the pork chop in the Uchucuta overnight and then stick it on the BBQ and you’ll be in love! The Peruvian marinade really comes into its own like this.

There is only one caveat – don’t overcook your pork chop. If cooking this on the BBQ as soon as the pork chop gets a nice deep char on the outside, take it off the grill and let it rest for a good 10 minutes (it will continue to cook from the residual heat) and it usually comes out just perfect.

Pork chops has to be one of my favourite cuts of meat, but they need to be big, thick and served slightly pink! Here’s a simpler pan fried Greek version if you just want a quick porcine fix!

So first things first – time to make the Peruvian marinade (surprisingly quick and easy)…

TIP: for a milder salsa swap the scotch bonnet for two more green jalapeno chillis.

Uchucuta Peruvian Salsa Ingredients | Andean Hot Sauce by Theo Michaels
Uchucuta – Peruvian Salsa Ingredients

Uchucuta Recipe:

Ingredients:

2 green jalapeño chillis

1 scotch bonnet

100g feta cheese

1 tbl vinegar

Juice 1 lime

1 clove garlic

80ml extra virgin olive oil

20g fresh coriander (about a handful)

Pinch salt

Serve with:

1 Pork Chop per person (about 350g / 1.5-2inches thick)

Sweetcorn kernels (cook on the BBQ until charred and then cut off the kernels to use as a garnish).

Method:

  1. Put the chilli’s under the grill or over an open flame until charred, then pull stalk off.
  2. Add the chilli’s and all the other ingredients (except the pork chop!) to a blender and blend till smooth.
  3. Reserve few tablespoons of the marinade for garnish (don’t let it be in contact with raw meat).
  4. Add the pork chops to the rest of the marinade and marinate overnight, if not, an hour will do. Tip: I put my pork chops into a zip lock bag in a bowl in the fridge.
  5. Remove the chops from the fridge an hour before you want to start cooking.
  6. Once your BBQ is hot, place the pork chops on the BBQ in direct heat for about 4-5 minutes each side or until it is nicely charred.
  7. Remove the pork chops and rest on a warm plate for 10 minutes (if you don’t do this your chops will be tough).
  8. To serve, thickly slice half the pork chop, drizzle a tablespoon of the marinade over the meat (add a dash of water or lemon juice if the marinade is too thick), sprinkle the sweetcorn kernels over the pork chops, season well with salt and finish with some freshly chopped coriander sprinkled over the pork chop.

Goes well with an ice cold beer and some nacho’s to soak up that surplus Uchucuta dip!


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1 thought on “Uchucuta Marinated BBQ Pork Chops | Peruvian Recipe”

  • Just look at that picture! Uchucuta the Peruvian salsa is great as a dip, marinade and dressing. Works really well to marinate pork or lamb and then cook on the BBQ!

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