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Food in Peru

Foodies rejoice, because Peru is a food lover's dream destination. Here are 9 typical dishes of Peruvian cuisine.
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When it comes to food in Peru, it is worth knowing beforehand what the main staples are in this South American cuisine, and you can expect to find many meals containing either corn, legumes, amaranth and potatoes, or even all of them. 

Of course, they inherited some other staples from the Spanish like rice and meat too, so there is a great variety of meals to try and flavors to discover in this wonderful cuisine. Oh, and did you know that Peru has the widest variety of potatoes in the world?

Chapter Trail

Peruvian Cuisine

When travelling in Peru, you will certainly notice that there are many cooking classes available, whether you are in Lima, Cusco, or perhaps a small rural village, you might just find yourself signing up for a cooking class, which we believe is a great idea.

No one knows Peruvian cuisine better than the locals and our top tip would be to get in touch with our Local in-Destination Experts who can advise you on some of the best dishes, which vary from region to region. But first, we will dive right into some must tries in Peru and give you an overall idea of what to expect when it comes to food in Peru.

So, let’s get started with food, glorious food!

Ceviche

ceviche in peru

This very traditional and popular Peruvian dish is one to try and that will be easy considering you will find it everywhere in the country. It is prepared differently to other ceviche’s, using lime, fish, sweet potatoes and spicy hot peppers, which sets it apart from the others. As well as this, the fish marinates in the lime juice for less time than the others, and this combination of preparation seems to be successful, in fact they even have their own National Ceviche Day to honor the dish, which is June 28th.

This dish which is over 2000 years old was traditionally marinated for several hours and served at room temperature, generally with pieces of corn on the cob and slices of cooked sweet potato. When in Peru, it is your duty as a traveler to try this historic dish, which will blow your mind and tickle your taste buds. Why not take a culinary trip to do just this!

Lomo Saltado

peruvian family having a meal together around a table

This ultra-delicious and comforting food is full of flavor and is the Peruvian take on a stir fry. In Peru they use strips of sirloin with onions, tomatoes, soy sauce and even French fries, to make the main dish and it is then typically served with a side of rice. This is served as a main course, so be hungry when ordering Lomo Saltado in Peru, you won’t regret it.

Tiradito

This ultra-delicious and comforting food is full of flavor and is the Peruvian take on a stir fry. In Peru they use strips of sirloin with onions, tomatoes, soy sauce and even French fries, to make the main dish and it is then typically served with a side of rice. This is served as a main course, so be hungry when ordering Lomo Saltado in Peru, you won’t regret it.

Aji de Gallina

Walking Tour in Lima

The Peruvian version of Chicken Curry, is Aji de Gallina, which translates as chicken chili or hen’s chili. It is a well-known comfort food and was invented way back in the 16th Century, so you just know it has to be good, being around all these years.

Pollo a la Brasa

This is the Peruvian version of rotisserie chicken, which has been marinated with typical Peruvian ingredients and is served with fried potatoes, salad and various Peruvian dips.

Papas a la Huancaína

Papas a la Huancaína​ in peru
TROPICAL CHEESE INDUSTRIES

Judging by the name, you might be forgiven for thinking that this dish originated in the city of Huancayo, but in fact the dish comes from Lima, and the name is just to trick you it seems. Of course, as mentioned, Peru has the widest variety of potatoes in the entire world, so they make good use of them and include them wherever possible and Papas a la Huancaina is one of them.

Unlike some of the other dishes we mentioned earlier, this is in fact an appetizer, so be sure to get a plate of these bad boys for the table, before indulging in something more substantial. The dish is made up of boiled potatoes, saturated in a spicy and creamy sauce, known as Huancaina sauce, and is eaten both for special occasions throughout the year and an everyday side dish.

Empanadas

empanada in peru
Delfina Iacub / Unsplash

You just cannot miss out on empanadas when in Peru, or any Latin American country for that matter, because they are literally everywhere, and for good reason. These baked goods are traditionally filled with fried ground beef, onions, olives, hard-boiled egg and raisins and can be found almost anywhere in Peru. The fillings can differ from country to country, but the original empanada recipe came from the Galicia region in Spain, which was then altered as it travelled across the world.

These are not generally a main dish, although you can make it one by ordering several, but are more like an appetizer or a snack, especially a street food dish, which is why you cannot miss out on this when exploring the streets of Peru by foot. You will come across empanada stands everywhere, so be sure to take some time to stop and try a few different types.

Butifarras is a typical Peruvian sandwich which is an amazing snack for on the go, especially when sightseeing or stopping off for a quick bite to eat. It is made up of Peruvian ham, sliced onions, sliced chili peppers, lime, salt, pepper and oil, all combined in a white bread roll. Sounds delicious, doesn’t it?

Chicharrones is a snack made up of diced pork, deep-fried in its own fat, so you can only assume that this is a very flavorsome accompaniment to any meal. They can be pork skin, but also deep-fried squid and other seafoods and are typically eaten with most meals, especially breakfast. If you like crispy bacon with your fried breakfast, then you will definitely love Chicharrones.

Cooking Class

women in a cooking class in peru
The Peruvian Cooking Experience

Foodies rejoice, because Peru is a food lover’s dream destination, with many opportunities to take cooking classes and learn about the local cuisine. The best spots to do this are Cusco and Lima, and this Peruvian Culinary Tour includes everything you could possibly want in a food tour.

As well as trying local dishes, you will get to try Pisco, which is a local amber colored brandy, most commonly used in the cocktail Pisco Sour. Take note of the fantastic recipes, so that you can recreate your trip once you return home.

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