Peruvian starters, Peruvian main courses, Peruvian desserts, Peruvian drinks
Peruvian Food
A Culinary Journey in Lima
Peruvian cuisine, particularly in Lima, is a gastronomic treasure that has gained international acclaim for its fusion of flavors, diverse ingredients, and cultural influences. Lima is famous for the quality and freshness of its seafood dishes, but there is much more than that.
Lima's culinary scene is a dynamic fusion of tradition and innovation, and you'll find lovely dishes in a variety of settings, from high-end restaurants to humble street food stalls. Prepare your taste buds for an unforgettable journey through the flavors of Peru in the culinary capital of Lima. We'll introduce you to the culinary delights that wait in the bustling streets and acclaimed restaurants of Lima.
Peruvian Starters (Entradas):
Ceviche
Perhaps Peru's most iconic dish, ceviche is a zesty and refreshing appetizer made with fresh seafood (typically fish or mixed seafood), marinated in lime or bitter orange juice, and seasoned with onions, aji peppers, and cilantro.
Ceviche is one of the most typical culinary specialties in Peru, with a remote and lost-in-time story. Elaborated with small fish pieces marinated and cooked in lemon juice, ceviche is served with hot pepper, onion, lettuce leaves, seaweed, corn, and boiled potato or yam. It is indeed a cold culinary specialty. A "ceviche mixto" is a fantastic dish to try and is named "mixto" when shellfish is added. It can also take the name of the fish or shellfish such as "ceviche of corvine", "ceviche of sole", "ceviche of octopus", etc. If you want to enjoy this delight but are not too keen on hot better, it is best to ask for the dish served without. Most ceviche is served with a spicy flavor.
Peruvian food Lima Ceviche
Tiradito
Similar to ceviche but with thinly sliced fish. It's often served with a spicy rocoto pepper sauce and offers a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth experience.
Anticuchos
These marinated and skewered beef heart or beef meat skewers are popular street food, often served with boiled potatoes and a spicy peanut sauce.
Anticuchos is made up of pieces of beef heart, which are then macerated in vinegar and spices and then threaded in cane skewers. It is grilled and served hot. Eat this delicious dish with corn, yam, or potato boiled with hot pepper sauce. In the popular neighborhoods, it is frequent to see the "anticucheras" in walking carts that prepare and sell the anticuchos outdoor; anti cuchos are probably Peru’s most popular street food.
Causa
Causa is a potato-based dish made by layering mashed potatoes with various fillings such as avocado, chicken, or seafood. It's often served as a cold appetizer . Causa is unique dish made with boiled and mashed yellow potato, served with lettuce leaves, pieces of country cheese, olives, corn and hard-boiled egg. It is served cold and great to enjoy with a nice cold beer on a lovely afternoon.
Papa a la Huancaína
Boiled potatoes smothered in a creamy, spicy cheese sauce called "Huancaína." This street food classic offers a burst of flavors.
Peruvian Main Courses (Platos Principales):
Lomo Saltado
A flavorful stir-fry that combines marinated strips of beef with onions, tomatoes, and French fries. It's served with rice and offers a fusion of Chinese and Peruvian flavors.
Aji de Gallina
A creamy chicken dish featuring shredded chicken in a rich yellow chili pepper and walnut sauce. It's often served with rice, boiled eggs, and olives.
Seco de Res
A hearty beef stew with a cilantro-infused sauce, accompanied by rice and beans. It's a comforting, traditional dish.
Carapulcra of Lima
There are varieties of how this dish can be prepared and is usually found in the town of Chincha 300 south of Lima. Carapulcra is a culinary specialty prepared with dried potato, pork and chicken meat, hot pepper, garlic, clove, olives, toasted peanuts, cumin, basil, onion and sweet wine. It is served with grained rice.
Cau Cau
Cau cau is a Creole dish prepared with tripes, potato, onion, hot pepper, garlic, mint, parsley and lemon juice. It is served with grained rice and has a unique flavor and interesting texture.
Peruvian Desserts (Postres):
Suspiro a la Limeña
A sweet and velvety dessert, a true delight. Suspiro a la Limeña is a fabulous dessert elaborated with "manjar blanco" (prepared with sweetened milk, a caramel-like sauce) and then covered with syrup and meringue.
Tres Leches Cake
A sponge cake soaked in three types of milk (condensed, evaporated, and whole milk) and topped with whipped cream. It's a dessert lover's dream.
Mazamorra Morada
Mazamorra Morada is the most traditional dessert found in Lima. The texture is similar to a pudding, but it is prepared with water. Purple corn is boiled with sugar, clove, cinnamon, quince, pineapple, "guindas" (kind of cherries), "orejones" (dried peaches), potato starch, yam flour and lemon juice. Many restaurants serve this dessert as part of their daily menu.
Picarones
If you are a donut lover, than Picarones are the dessert for you. This donut-like dessert is prepared with yam or squash flours. You then add cinnamon, anisette and salt to give it its unique taste. The dough is formed into the shape of rings or other shapes done by the " picaroneras " (people who prepare this dessert) and fried in hot oil. This delicious dessert is then served with syrup and prepared with Chancaca (made of sugar cane).
As with anticuchos, it is frequent to see walking carts of "picaroneras" in the popular neighborhoods and areas with a great public concentration. Picarones are often served for dessert following the anticuchos.
Lomo saltado Peruvian food
Peruvian Drinks (Bebidas)
Pisco Sour
Peru's national cocktail, made from pisco (a grape brandy), lime or lemon juice, simple syrup, egg white, and bitters. It's both tangy and frothy.
Chicha Morada
This is a lovely refreshing non-alcoholic drink made from with water in which a variety of purple corn is boiled. Sugar, lemon juice, pineapple, cinnamon, and cloves and small pieces of chopped fruit are then added. You will find that most restaurants serve this beverage as part of their daily menu. It's sweet, fruity, and often served with ice.
Inca Kola
Peru's beloved golden soda with a unique bubblegum-like flavor. It's a fizzy favorite among locals.