A quick guide to Peruvian cuisine
Peru. The ancient and mysterious land of the Incas. As a huge country spanning a range of different climate zones and with a rich history dating back more than 10 millennia, it is not hard to understand why Peru continues to be one of the most desirable tourist destinations in all of South America. But did you know that on top of Machu Picchu and spectacular nature, Peru is also world-famous for its cuisine? In fact, many consider Peruvian cuisine, with its distinct flavors influenced by places as far as Japan, to be among the best in the world. Indeed, World Travel Awards have crowned Peru as the top culinary destination in South America almost every year between 2012 and 2022. And adding to that, Lima, the bustling capital of Peru, is home to two of the world’s 10 best restaurants according to the World’s 50 Best Restaurants List. So, if you are going to visit the ancient land of the Incas, please do not hesitate with trying out as much delicious Peruvian cuisine as possible. To help you a bit along the way with navigating the many options, this post highlights some selected food, which we think everyone should try during a trip to Peru.
Ceviche
Peru’s national dish and arguably the most famous. Ceviche is a dish based on raw fish cured in citrus juices and is eaten throughout the whole of South America. For the seafood lover, here’s a dish that you just can’t miss.
Lomo saltado
Another extremely popular Peruvian dish, which is eaten throughout the whole country. Lomo saltado is based on stir-frying marinated strips of steak together with vegetables and is one of the best examples of the influence that the Asian countries have had on the Peruvian cuisine.
Aji de gallina
Another Peruvian classic. Aji de Gallina is a creamy, spicy chicken stew based on a walnut and cheese base. If you feel very hungry, here’s a rich and tasty dish that will fill you up.
Anticuchos
The Peruvian version of skewered meat, which is typically sold in some of the many street-food stalls scattered around the city. They are basically sticks of different types of marinated meat, the most common being beef heart, and is a great cheap and fast eat.
Cuy
Another must-try for those who are not afraid to try new things. Cuy is guinea pig, and these little fluffy beasts are eaten with great pleasure throughout the whole country. It is typically served as the whole animal directly from the skewer, so while it may not be the prettiest looking dish, you will get some fun pictures to show your family at home.
Causa
Peru is home to more than a 1000 different varieties of potato, and this is celebrated in this dish. Typically served as a starter, Causa consists of a delicious mix of vegetables (sometimes including tuna and egg) layered between mashed potato.
Rocoto Relleno
Are you into spicy things? Then make sure to try rocoto relleno – a delicious dish consisting of spicy peppers stuffed with ground beef, onion, garlic, raisins and herbs.
Fruits
While not a dish in itself, we are mentioning the fruit selection in Peru because it is simply beyond comparison. If you find the time, we highly encourage you to go to a local market and try some of the fresh fruit available (whether raw or in a delicious smoothie). On top of the normal fruits you find in any supermarket around the world, you will surely encounter more exotic fruits such as chirimoya or lucuma.
