Recipe Ideas for Peruvian Food and Drinks

Appetizers

There are so many delicious Peruvian appetizers. If you make a few, you could have just appetizers for a whole meal.

• Causa Rellena con Pollo (Yellow Potatoes with Chicken Salad)
• Humitas (Fresh Corn Tamales)
• Papa a la Huancaina (Potatoes with Spicy Cheese Sauce)
• Empanadas de Carne (Beef Empanadas)
• Empanadas de Pollo (Chicken Empanadas)
• Empanadas de Jamon y Queso (Ham and Cheese Empanadas)
• Yuquitas Rellenas (Fried Yuca Root)
• Anticuchos de Carne

Salads and Sauces

Salads made with fresh ingredients and simple vinegar, oil, and herb dressings accompany most midday meals in Peru. Salsa Criolla, made with sliced onions and hot peppers, is almost more like a salad than a sauce and it's a great condiment for sandwiches.​

• Soterito Arequipeño - Mixed Vegetable Salad
• Salsa Criolla
• Salsa a la Huancaína
• Aji Amarillo Sauce

Main Courses

Some of Peru's most popular dishes are part Asian in origin, such as arroz chaufa (Peruvian fried rice) and lomo saltado, a beef and potato stir-fry. ​

Ceviche is a hugely popular dish in Peru, and especially in the summer at the beach. Anticuchos are another beach/BBQ favorite since the marinated grilled meat kabobs (traditionally made with beef heart, but also good with chicken) are easy and tasty. Stuffed foods, or "rellenos", are common, like meat-filled potatoes (papas rellenas) and stuffed peppers (rocotos rellenos). Many wonderful Peruvian dishes are seasoned with aji amarillo (a yellow/orange chile pepper with a fruity aroma) and aji panca (another chile pepper with a sweet smoky taste).​ Try one of these main dishes for your next dinner:

• Arroz Chaufa
• Arroz con Pollo
• Arroz con Camarones
• Lomo Saltado
• Classic Peruvian Ceviche
• Papa Rellena
• Peruvian Roasted Chicken
• Rocoto Relleno
• Aji de Gallina: Peruvian Spicy Creamed Chicken
• Jamon de Pais
• Butifarra Sandwich

Peruvian Breads

Peru has a great variety of traditional breads. Pan de anis is a sweet anise-flavored snack bread. Pan de papa is made with mashed potatoes, yielding tender rolls that keep well. T'antawawas are special breads made for November 1 (Día de los Muertos) celebrations.

Desserts

Peru is known for its wonderful desserts. Many feature manjar blanco, the Peruvian version of dulce de leche. Native South American tropical fruits, such as lúcuma and chirimoya, also figure prominently in Peruvian desserts.

• Suspiro de Limeña
• Mazamorra Morada
• Arroz con Leche
• Pastel de Tres Leches
• Picarones: Peruvian Pumpkin Doughnuts
• Alfajores
• Turrón de Doña Pepa
• Lucuma Ice Cream

Peruvian Beverages

The Peruvian cocktail known as the Pisco Sour is one of the world's most famous. But there are some other excellent cocktails based on the famous local brandy known as Pisco, as well as many traditional nonalcoholic beverages.​

• Pisco Sour
• Maracuya Sour (Passionfruit Pisco Sour)
• Chilcano (Another Pisco Cocktail)
• Limonada Frozen