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Peruvian Food: 24 Must-Try Traditional Dishes of Peru

Peruvian Food: 24 Must-Try Traditional Dishes of Peru

Peruvian food (or comida Peruana) is one of the most underrated cuisines in the world. Rich in history and culture, authentic Peruvian dishes all have amazingly interesting backgrounds that make them what they are.

Throughout the 20th century, various different cultures brought over their cooking styles, which made Peruvian food the melting pot that it is today.

Most Popular Peruvian Foods

All across Peru the styles of dishes change from region to region. Climate plays a big role as it determines what foods are available.

This list is an absolute must-try collection of dishes to eat when visiting Peru and exploring the famous cuisine.

There are so many to try but the below are the most famous, authentic, traditional Peruvian dishes that I recommend on your next trip to Peru.

Cuy (guinea pig)

Peruvian cuy and sides
A typical meal of cuy (guinea pig) served with salad and potatoes

One of the more unique delicacies in Peruvian food is Cuy, a baked or fried guinea pig served with potatoes.

It’s not a regular meal for Peruvians but is often served on special occasions such as holidays and birthdays.

In fact, Peru loves cuy so much that they even have a national holiday to celebrate the guinea pig! It happens every year on the second Friday of October (put it in your calendar!).

However, despite cuy not being eaten regularly by Peruvians, many canny restaurants have it as a permanent fixture on their menus to take advantage of the influx of tourists looking to try the delicacy. So cuy is easy to find if you are ever in Peru.

Cuy as a meal originated in the Andes region of Peru and has reportedly been around for over 5,000 years!

Guinea pigs are an indigenous animal and an easy source of protein for locals.

There are two main cuy dishes popular in Peru:

  • Cuy al horno – (sometimes also called Cuy al palo) – baked guinea pig, cooked over a spit served whole and stuffed with herbs
  • Cuy Chactado – fried guinea pig, often squashed under stones before frying

Before cooking they are often doused in salt and garlic to make the skin crisp.

Cuy is then served with either potatoes, salad, fries, rice, corn, Salsa Criolla (a red onion relish), or Salsa Huacatay (a spicy, green, herb-based sauce).

Lomo Saltado

Lomo Saltado, stir fried beef with fries and rice
Lomo Saltado consists of stir fried beef, fries and rice.

What’s great about Lomo Saltado is that it’s a celebration of the multi-cultural cooking techniques that make up Peruvian cuisine.

There are clear influences from Asia, South America and the Western world, making this dish a real melting pot of cultures.

The dish is hugely popular across Peru and is eaten by young, old, rich and poor alike.

Lomo Saltado is a stir fry dish that consists of marinated beef, onions, tomatoes, soy sauce, chili’s, vinegar, spices, cilantro and french fries; usually served with rice.

There are many variants of Lomo Saltado that you can try depending on where you go in Peru. But beef steak with fries, chilies and soy sauce is the most common and is the base for most variations.

Ceviche

Traditional Peruvian ceviche
Traditional Peruvian ceviche – raw marinated fish with cancha, onions and potatoes

Ceviche is the most famous dish that comes to mind when you talk of Peruvian food. It is very much a traditional staple of Peru.

Peruvian Ceviche has many variations but typically consists of chunks of raw marinated white fish cured in lemon or lime juices, spiced with chili and seasoned with salt. It is then served with sliced onions, cilantro, and sometimes tomato.

Traditional-style ceviche was marinated for about three hours. Modern-style ceviche, created by Peruvian chef Dario Matsufuji in the 1970s, usually has a very short marinating period.

With the appropriate fish, it can marinate in the time it takes to mix the ingredients, serve, and carry the ceviche to the table.

Typical sides for Ceviche include camote (creamy sweet potato), cancha (dry-roasted corn kernels), vegetables, lettuce, tamales, avocado or plantain.

The dish is served cold which presents risks of food poisoning so it’s important that the dish is served fresh. Peruvians use a range of fish to make Ceviche, the most common ones being:

  • Sea Bass
  • Snapper
  • Halibut
  • Mahi-mahi
  • Tilapia
  • Shrimp

Other seafood used to make ceviche can include shrimp, scallops, squid or octopus. Alternatively, there is a Fijian version of ceviche that is served in a coconut.

Salchipapas

Salchipapas

Salchipapas is a dish made using deep fried potatoes and stir-fried beef sausages. It’s a simple yet hugely popular street food throughout Peru.

Various different condiments are added on top including ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard and aji chilli sauce.

Causa Limeña

Causa limeña

Causa limeña roughly translates as ‘the cause of Lima’ and refers to the war between Peru and Chile over 100 years ago where it is said that the only ingredient left was potatoes, and so inventing dishes to utilize potatoes was ‘for the cause’!

Traditionally Causa limeña was prepared using the yellow potato along with lemon, boiled egg, lemon pepper and olives.

Over time there have been numerous additions and variations, most notably the avocado and lettuce salad but in more recent times fillings such as tuna, chicken and seafood have been added along with mayonnaise.

Pachamanca

Pachamanca earth oven
Pachamanca is made using a variety of meat ingredients, cooked in an earth oven

Pachamanca is actually more of a cooking method than a single dish, but it has huge cultural relevance in Peru. It is used across all regions but with many different variations. The traditional Peruvian pachamanca dates back to pre-Hispanic times, during the Inca Empire but has since evolved and spread throughout Peru.

Pachamanca means “earth oven” and is a baking technique using hot stones to cook a range of marinated meats such as cuy, chicken, lamb, mutton, pork and alpaca. You then add in a range of vegetables such as potatoes, cassava, yuca, sweet potato, lima beans, corn, tamale, humitas… the list is endless!

The traditional Peruvian Pachamanca is made by placing hot rocks into a fire in order to heat them, and then putting them into a hole in the ground in order the create an “earth oven”.

Meat is then covered in herbs and spices, and then sometimes wrapped in leaves or just placed directly onto the hot stones. Often layering on stones between the meat to disperse the heat for better cooking.

A variety of vegetables are also included, such as potatoes, corn, cassava, lima beans and, of course, chili’s. Potatoes usually go towards the bottom whereas lighter vegetables go towards the top, or are placed on top of the hot stones.

The fire is then covered with grass, leaves and earth, and covered for a period of 2 – 4 hours whilst it cooks. After several hours the food will have finished cooking and the Pachamanca is ready to be opened up. The result is a deliciously smoky flavour with a rich array of tastes to sample, with all the ingredients flavouring one another.

Pachamanca is usually prepared for a large group of people, using a large quantity of food, sometimes even whole animals. It is a popular dish for family gatherings or fiestas, and is hugely popular across all regions of Peru.

Tacu Tacu

Traditional Tacu Tacu made of beans and rice
Tacu Tacu is a patty made up of leftover beans and rice

Tacu Tacu is a delicious, traditional Peruvian breakfast dish that was invented by slaves during Colonial times. Their goal was to make a hearty and filling meal using only leftovers. 

Tacu Tacu is essentially a patty made up of mashed canary beans and rice, and also sometimes onions and spices, fried in a skillet until crispy.

It can be served as a meal on its own or with a fried egg, steak, salsa criolla, or even fried banana.

As with most Peruvian dishes, there are many variations of Tacu Tacu. Meat or spices are sometimes added depending on the availability and region of Peru.

Aji de Gallina

Aji de gallina is a popular Peruvian dish of chicken in a creamy walnut sauce
Aji de gallina is chicken in a creamy walnut sauce

Aji de gallina is a delicious spicy creamed chicken stew dish named after the aji amarillo chili peppers used in its preparation.

The dish has an interesting history, with its roots being traceable back to Roman and Arabic cuisine. Specifically a dish called Manjar Blanco which was to become Aji de Gallina once it was adopted and evolved by the Peruvians.

Cooking techniques used in Manjar Blanco were brought to Peru by French chefs who lost their jobs during the French Revolution. The wealthy families they worked for were killed or imprisoned leading them to Peru for opportunities.

The result is Aji de Gallina; a stunning cultural infusion of European and Peruvian traditions and methods.

Aji de Gallina is chicken in a creamy sauce made from ground walnuts, onion, garlic, cumin and, of course, aji amarillo chili peppers, served with rice.

Pollo a la Brasa

Peruvian pollo a la brasa
Pollo a la brasa is marinated chicken cooked on a grill, served with fries and an aji sauce

Pollo a la brasa is a Peruvian dish that is particularly popular in the USA and Australia. It consists of roasted, marinated chicken served with french fries and aji sauce.

The dish was originally eaten by the upper class Peruvians due to the cost and scarcity of chicken throughout Peru. However, today it is much cheaper and can be found in many restaurants throughout Peru, Colombia and Brazil.

An immeasurably simple dish, the chicken is marinated in soy sauce, garlic, lime juice, paprika, pepper and paprika for 8 hours before being cooked on a wood fire or coal grill.

A sauce is then made from either the yellow aji chili (aji amarillo) or the green aji chile (aji verde), which is placed on the side of the dish.

Tiradito

Tiradito

Tiradito is similar to ceviche in that the main ingredient is raw fish, however it is much more delicate and is served with a spicy sauce marinade made with tiger’s milk.

Tiradito is another notable Peruvian dish because it is influenced by Japanese cuisine, and is a very similar dish to sashimi as the fish is very thinly sliced. It is then typically garnished with sweet potato, boiled corn and additional ingredients such as scallops.

Anticuchos (Beef Heart Skewers)

Peruvian Anticuchos (Beef Cow Heart) Recipe

Anticuchos are beef heart skewers that are found all over Peru from street food stalls to typical family homes where it is eaten as a meal with delicious sides. Aji panca sauce is what makes the anticuchos so delicious, with a marinade so authentically Peruvian in taste!

The aji panca marinade creates earthy flavors and anticuchos is traditionally also served with a yellow pepper sauce made from scotch bonnet peppers. The end result is a tangy, spicy flavor that is absolutely adored throughout Peru.

Papa a la Huancaína

Papas a la Huancaina

Papa a la Huancaína is a dish of sliced potatoes in a creamy, spicy cheese sauce. In order to make this dish so authentically Peruvian, of course, Aji panca is used along with fresh cheese, garlic, lime juice, milk and saltine crackers. The ingredients give Papa a la Huancaína its distinctive bright yellow sauce which is then served with salad and boiled eggs.

Peruvians often eat Papa a la Huancaína as a side dish to another main meal, such as anticuchos, or as an appetiser. It packs a bit of a spicy kick but it’s a very warming, homely meal that is well-loved throughout Peru.

Tamalitos Verdes

Tamalitos Verdes

Tamalitos are the vegetarian version of the famous Tamales, and Tamalitos Verdes are quite simply “green tamales” because they are made using corn and cilantro.

Tamalitos Verdes are particularly popular in the north of Peru, specifically the region of Piura.

Rocoto Relleno

Rocoto Relleno

Rocoto Relleno are exquisite Peruvian stuffed spicy peppers, originating in Southern Peru but now widely enjoyed throughout the country. The aji red peppers are stuffed with a mixture of ground beef, onions, garlic and other spices. Queso fresco is added on top and the peppers are baked in a sauce of egg and milk.

The aji red peppers are of course chilli peppers meaning that this dish packs an incredibly spicy punch! However, the ingredients somewhat calm down the initial kick and, together, the flavors combine to create a stunningly delicious flavor that only could have come from Peru!

Alpaca Stew

Alpaca stew

Alpaca stew utilises the meat of abundant alpacas throughout Peru, which is high protein and low-calorie. It tastes a little bit like beef but is fairly tender and almost sweet in taste. Of all meats, Alpaca is believed to consist of one of the lowest cholesterol levels.

Turron de Doña Pepa

Turron de Doña Pepa

Turron de Doña Pepa is an anise flavored confection from Peru, best described as a bar made from thick cookie layers. The cookie dough which contains anise seeds is rolled out or shaped into sticks then baked.

The layers are stacked and held together by chancaca honey. The top is also covered with honey, then covered with candy sprinkles or dragees and fruit.

Ceviche De Conchas Negras

Ceviche De Conchas Negras

Ceviche De Conchas Negras is a variation of ceviche, made using large black clams. It is rich in nutritional value and said to have aphrodisiac properties.

Conchas negras are now at risk of extinction and so the Peruvian government has set limits on harvesting and consuming them. This means that the dish is somewhat more rare and sought after in Peru.

Causa Rellena

Causa Rellena

Causa Rellena is a unique Peruvian appetizer consisting of potatoes, protein and avocados presented as a small layered cake. First, yellow potatoes are boiled, flavored and mashed and then the protein, which is usually tuna or chicken, is mixed with mayonnaise, herbs and spices.

Papa Rellena

Peruvian Papa Rellena

Papa Rellena is a dish prepared by mixing mashed potatoes with ground beef. A seasoned ground beef stuffing, bearing resemblance to empanada stuffing, is covered in a layer of mashed potatoes, which is later shaped into an oblong oval shape and then deep-fried until it’s golden brown and crunchy.

Guarapo (Sugarcane Juice)

Guarapo

Guarapo is a traditional drink made from sugarcane juice enjoyed throughout Latin America. To make guarapo, fresh sugarcane stalks are crushed to extract the juice. The juice is then served as a natural, sweet and thirst-quenching drink. In some variations, guarapo is mixed with lime juice or served over ice for added flavor and coolness.

Arroz Con Pollo

Arroz Con Pollo

Arroz con pollo is a popular, traditional Latin American dish that combines chicken and rice with onions, bell peppers, garlic, and various seasonings such as cumin, paprika, and oregano. The chicken is simmered in a broth or tomato-based sauce until it becomes tender and infused with the rich flavors of the spices.

The rice is cooked separately and then combined with the chicken and its sauce. This allows the rice to absorb the delicious flavors from the chicken and the aromatic seasonings.

Suspiro Limeña

Suspiro Limeña

Suspiro de Limeña is a dessert consisting of two distinct layers: a creamy dulce de leche base and a meringue-type topping. The dessert is extremely sweet and often paired with Pisco – a Peruvian liquor made from distilled grapes.

It is served in a cup or a glass and often topped with ground cinnamon. 

Revolcado

Revolcado
Photo Credit: DiegoRamSi

Revolcado is a stew made using pork offal cuts, fresh tomatoes, vegetables, herbs and spices like chilli peppers and annatto. The pork is cooked first while the chillies and tomatoes are blended together into a sauce.

The sauce is then added to the meat before cooking them together. It is usually served with rice or tortillas. Revolcado originated in Guatemala but is also now popular in Peru, Colombia and Bolivia.

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