Pollo Asado con Pipián Verde (Grilled Chicken with Green Pipian)
Citrusy marinated chicken thighs grilled until charred, then served on a pool of green pumpkin seed sauce.
Made with Green mole (pipian verde) and Pollo asado marinade. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time50 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.50 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Coat the chicken thighs in your ready made pollo asado marinade (see the base recipe) and leave in the fridge for at least 1 hour, or overnight.
60 min - 2
Rinse the rice and cook it in the water with a pinch of salt: boil, cover and cook on the lowest heat for 12 minutes, then rest for 5.
12 min - 3
Heat a grill or griddle to high. Cook the chicken for 6 to 7 minutes a side, until charred and cooked through with no pink and clear juices. Rest for 5 minutes.
14 min - 4
Warm your ready made green mole, pipian verde (see the base recipe) with 3 tbsp water for 4 minutes.
- 5
Spoon the green sauce onto plates, top with sliced chicken, rice, coriander and lime wedges.
Tips
- Do not reuse the raw chicken marinade as a sauce unless boiled for several minutes.
- Pat the chicken dry before grilling so it chars rather than steams.
- Check the middle of the thickest thigh reaches at least 75C.
Storing and freezing
Keeps 3 days in the fridge. Cool within 2 hours and reheat until steaming hot all through. Freeze cooked chicken for up to 2 months.
Questions
Can I cook it in the oven?
Yes, roast at 220C for 25 to 30 minutes until browned and cooked through.
Can I use breast?
Yes, flatten it to an even thickness and cook for 5 to 6 minutes a side.
Why serve it with a green sauce?
The nutty, fresh pipian balances the smoky, citrus marinade. It also keeps lean chicken moist.
More made with green mole (pipian verde)
Puerco en Pipián Verde (Pork in Green Pumpkin Seed Mole)
GFDFEFTacos de Hongos con Pipián Verde (Mushroom Green Pipian Tacos)
GFDFEFCerdo en Pipián Verde (Pork in Green Pumpkin Seed Sauce)
DFEFNFChiles Poblanos Rellenos con Pipián Verde (Stuffed Poblanos in Green Sauce)
EFNFVDouble check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.