Recipe: Salpicón de pollo (Peruvian chicken salad)
Salpicón de pollo is a salad with chicken, cooked vegetables and mayonnaise commonly found in many Latin American countries. In Perú it’s often served as an entrée but it makes a wonderful main meal particularly during warmer months.
This recipe is gluten-free and dairy-free. It keeps well in the fridge for a few days, especially if you dress it just before eating. On that note, I recommend you make your own mayonnaise (it’s super easy!) because most commercial ones are made with less-than-ideal ingredients.

Salpicón de pollo (Peruvian chicken salad)
Ingredients
- 1 chicken breast approx. 500 grams
- 1 medium potato
- 1 medium carrot
- 1/2 cup corn kernels
- 3/4 cup peas frozen is fine
- 1/2 small red onion
- juice of 1/2 lime
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise homemade preferred
- 1/2 tsp salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- parsley chopped
- lettuce leaves
Instructions
- In a pot, pour enough water to cover the chicken breast. Bring water to a boil, reduce heat to a minimum, add some salt and put chicken in. Poach for 15-20 minutes. When done, reserve and cool down.
- While chicken cooks, peel and cube potato and carrot. Boil water in a pot with a steamer insert (or equivalent kitchen tool). Add potatoes and steam for 10 minutes. Add carrot and steam for another 5 minutes.
- Add corn kernels and peas and steam for another couple of minutes.
- Reserve vegetables and let cool down.
- Finely chop onion and place in a bowl, squeeze lime juice on it.
- When chicken is at room temperature, chop with a knife or shred with a knife. Mix with onion, vegetables, mayonnaise, salt and pepper.
- Serve on lettuce leaves.
Want more Peruvian recipes? Check out the e-cookbook below!

Peruvian recipes from abroad
This e-book contains my favourite Peruvian recipes developed from the point of view of an expat who learned to find her way with the ingredients that were available in her new home.
This website is for educational and informational purposes only. Click here if you need personalised nutrition advice.


