Food of Peru
Peruvian cooking blends Andean staples like potatoes, corn and quinoa with Pacific seafood, Amazon fruits and the influence of Chinese and Japanese cooks. Bright aji peppers, lime and cilantro define the flavors, and a single meal can move from a citrusy raw-fish plate to a hearty stir-fry. Lunch is the main meal, often shared at casual cevicherias and family tables.
Ceviche
Fresh raw fish cured in lime juice with red onion, chili and cilantro, served with sweet potato and toasted corn.
How to make Ceviche- Main dishes (14)
- Breakfast (3)
- Street food (5)
- Soups (4)
- Salads (3)
- Breads (2)
- Desserts and sweets (6)
- Drinks (6)
- Fruits and produce (7)
Staples
- potatoes
- corn
- quinoa
- rice
- fish
- beef
- aji peppers
- yuca
Signature flavors
- aji amarillo
- lime
- cilantro
- cumin
- huacatay
- red onion
Main dishes
Fresh raw fish cured in lime juice with red onion, chili and cilantro, served with sweet potato and toasted corn.
Key ingredients: fresh white fish, lime juice, red onion, aji limo, cilantro, sweet potato, cornFull guide →
Beef strips stir-fried in a hot wok with onions, tomatoes and soy sauce, served over french fries and rice.
Key ingredients: beef sirloin, red onion, tomato, soy sauce, aji amarillo, french fries, riceFull guide →
Shredded chicken in a creamy, mildly spicy yellow pepper sauce thickened with bread and nuts.
Key ingredients: chicken, aji amarillo, bread, evaporated milk, walnuts, parmesan, potatoes, olivesFull guide →
Peruvian green rice cooked with chicken, cilantro and peas, colored deep green by a blended herb base.
Key ingredients: chicken, rice, cilantro, peas, carrot, aji amarillo, garlicSlow-braised lamb in a cilantro-based green sauce, traditionally served with beans and rice.
Key ingredients: lamb, cilantro, aji amarillo, onion, garlic, beans, rice
A mashed potato shell stuffed with spiced beef, olives and egg, then fried until golden.
Key ingredients: potatoes, ground beef, onion, olives, hard-boiled egg, raisins, cumin
A hot rocoto pepper stuffed with spiced meat and baked under melted cheese, a specialty of Arequipa.
Key ingredients: rocoto peppers, ground beef, onion, peanuts, cheese, milk
Leftover rice and beans pressed together and pan-fried into a crisp-edged cake, often topped with an egg or steak.
Key ingredients: rice, canary beans, onion, aji amarillo, egg, steak
Charcoal-roasted chicken marinated in garlic, cumin and soy sauce, served with fries and a green aji sauce.
Key ingredients: chicken, garlic, cumin, soy sauce, aji panca, potatoes
Peruvian-Chinese fried rice with egg, scallions and soy sauce, a staple of chifa restaurants.
Key ingredients: rice, egg, scallions, soy sauce, chicken or pork, ginger
Meats and tubers slow-cooked with herbs in an earth oven heated with hot stones, shared at big gatherings.
Key ingredients: lamb, pork, chicken, potatoes, sweet potato, corn, huacatayWhole guinea pig flattened and fried crisp, a traditional Andean celebration dish.
Key ingredients: guinea pig, garlic, cumin, potatoes, cornSpaghetti tossed in a basil, spinach and cheese sauce, usually served with steak.
Key ingredients: spaghetti, basil, spinach, queso fresco, evaporated milk, steak
A rich Arequipa river-shrimp chowder with potato, corn, cheese and egg.
Key ingredients: river shrimp, potatoes, corn, queso fresco, egg, milk, rocotoBreakfast
A crusty roll stuffed with fried pork, sweet potato slices and onion salsa, a favorite weekend breakfast.
Key ingredients: pork belly, bread roll, sweet potato, red onion, lime, aji
Corn dough tamales stuffed with pork or chicken, wrapped and steamed, eaten at breakfast with bread.
Key ingredients: corn masa, pork, aji panca, peanuts, olives, banana leafA soft roll filled with shredded chicken and mayonnaise, a simple morning snack.
Key ingredients: bread roll, shredded chicken, mayonnaise, lettuceStreet food
Marinated beef heart skewers grilled over coals and served with potato and corn.
Key ingredients: beef heart, aji panca, vinegar, garlic, cumin, potatoes, cornFull guide →
Sliced fried sausages mixed with french fries and drizzled with sauces.
Key ingredients: sausages, french fries, mayonnaise, ketchup, aji
Ring-shaped fritters of squash and sweet potato dough drizzled with spiced cane syrup.
Key ingredients: squash, sweet potato, flour, yeast, chancaca, cinnamon, cloveBoiled giant-kernel Andean corn served with slices of fresh cheese.
Key ingredients: choclo corn, queso fresco
Baked or fried turnovers filled with beef, olives and hard-boiled egg, often dusted with sugar.
Key ingredients: flour, ground beef, onion, olives, egg, raisinsSoups
A restorative hen soup with noodles, potato and egg, popular as a morning pick-me-up.
Key ingredients: hen, noodles, potato, egg, ginger, scallion
A bright green chicken and rice soup colored with cilantro.
Key ingredients: chicken, rice, cilantro, peas, carrot, aji amarilloA quick, comforting soup of noodles, beef and milk.
Key ingredients: beef, noodles, milk, tomato, onion, eggA hearty seafood soup with fish, shellfish and a spicy tomato broth.
Key ingredients: fish, shrimp, crab, mussels, tomato, aji panca, cilantroSalads
Layers of chilled seasoned mashed yellow potato filled with chicken or tuna salad and avocado.
Key ingredients: yellow potatoes, lime, aji amarillo, chicken or tuna, avocado, mayonnaiseFull guide →A chopped salad of fava beans, corn, tomato and fresh cheese from the Andes.
Key ingredients: fava beans, corn, tomato, red onion, queso fresco, olivesA cool salad of cooked quinoa with vegetables and lime dressing.
Key ingredients: quinoa, tomato, cucumber, red onion, lime, olive oilBreads
A crusty Andean-style roll baked until golden, eaten with butter or cheese.
Key ingredients: wheat flour, yeast, salt, butterA soft sweet-potato bread, lightly sweet and good with coffee.
Key ingredients: sweet potato, flour, yeast, sugarDesserts and sweets
A silky caramel custard topped with sweet meringue.
Key ingredients: condensed milk, evaporated milk, egg yolks, egg whites, sugar, vanillaA thick purple-corn pudding with dried fruit and spices.
Key ingredients: purple corn, pineapple, quince, sweet potato starch, cinnamon, clove, sugarCreamy rice pudding with cinnamon and a hint of orange peel.
Key ingredients: rice, milk, cinnamon, sugar, raisins
Delicate shortbread cookies sandwiched with dulce de leche and dusted with powdered sugar.
Key ingredients: flour, cornstarch, butter, dulce de leche, powdered sugarCreamy ice cream made from the caramel-flavored lucuma fruit.
Key ingredients: lucuma pulp, milk, cream, sugarCrumbly anise cookie sticks stacked and glazed with a fruity honey syrup.
Key ingredients: flour, anise, butter, chancaca, sprinklesDrinks
A sweet-tart drink of purple corn simmered with pineapple, cinnamon and clove, served cold.
Key ingredients: purple corn, pineapple peel, cinnamon, cloves, apple, lime, sugarFull guide →
A bright golden, bubblegum-sweet soda that is Peru's best-loved soft drink.
Key ingredients: carbonated water, sugar, lemon verbena
A warm herbal drink of toasted barley, flaxseed and herbs sold by street vendors.
Key ingredients: barley, flaxseed, horsetail, alfalfa, lime, honeyFresh passion fruit juice, tangy and aromatic.
Key ingredients: passion fruit, water, sugarMild, bright coffee grown in highland regions like Chanchamayo and Cusco.
Key ingredients: coffee beans, water
An Andean herbal infusion served in the highlands, traditionally drunk to help with altitude.
Key ingredients: coca leaves, hot waterFruits and produce
A starchy orange-fleshed Andean fruit with a maple-caramel taste, loved in ice cream and desserts.
Key ingredients: ice cream, milkshakes, cakes
Creamy, custard-like fruit with a tropical sweetness, nicknamed custard apple.
Key ingredients: eaten with a spoon, smoothies, ice cream
Small golden berry wrapped in a papery husk, tart and sweet, used in jams and desserts.
Key ingredients: jam, sauces, desserts
Tangy purple-skinned fruit with fragrant pulp, used in juices and sauces.
Key ingredients: juice, mousse, saucesFull guide →
Amazon berry famously high in vitamin C, mostly used in juices and powders.
Key ingredients: juice, powder, ice cream
Sweet, juicy pineapple grown in the jungle regions and used in drinks and desserts.
Key ingredients: juice, chicha morada, fruit saladFull guide →
Deep violet corn varieties used to make chicha morada and mazamorra.
Key ingredients: chicha morada, mazamorraDish guides from Peru
More cuisines of South America
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Chile
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Falkland Islands
- French Guiana
- Guyana
- Paraguay
- Suriname
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
Descriptions written by Intercontinental Chef. Dishes are listed as commonly eaten today; many are shared across neighbouring countries.
- Cebiche de corvina: Picanteria karol, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Lomo Saltado - Lima, Peru Miraflores (Tiendecita Blanca): Chasqui (Luis Tamayo), CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Ají de gallina: Feralbt, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Arroz-con-Pollo: Kobako, CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Peru PapasRellenas2: Håkan Svensson (Xauxa)., CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Rocoto relleno: Idan Robbins, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Tacu Tacu: Suedehead from Buenos Aires, Argentina, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Un cuarto de Pollo a la Brasa: Dtarazona, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Arroz Chaufa (2663617900): Arnold Gatilao from Oakland, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- PachaComer: Håkan Svensson. Uploaded by Xauxa, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Chupe de Camarones: Greg Ma, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Tamal oaxaqueño: Georgina Meneses, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Anticuchos - Grilled Beef Heart skewers: Carly & Art, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Lima salchipapas: Jorge G. Mori, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
- Picarones recién hechos: Ricardo Diaz, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Tapa de empanadillitas: Tamorlan, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Aguadito: MiguelAlanCS, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- AlfajoresP1115215 02: Alex Lozupone, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Chicha morada y pisco sour 20100704: Dtarazona, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- IncaKolaBottleGlass: Markus Leupold-Löwenthal, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Emol: MiguelAlanCS, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Mate de coca Peru: Anikó, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Pouterialucuma1: Hipólito Ruiz & José Pavón, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
- Cherimoya tree hg: Hannes Grobe 21:31, 5 November 2006 (UTC), CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Physalis fruchthuelle (fcm): Photograph: Frank C. Müller, Baden-Baden, CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Passiflora edulis forma flavicarpa: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
- Camu-camu: LeRoc, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- കൈതച്ചക്ക: Suniltg at Malayalam Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Maizmorado: Malosh, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
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