Peru is the food capital of South America and their staple food dishes are something everyone needs to experience once in their lifetime. If you’re wondering what Peruvian cuisine consists of, think flavours of sautéed and pickled onions, grilled and roasted meats and delicious sauces. Peruvian’s love their carbs and whatever the dish, you’ll always find yourself a side of potatoes, rice, or both.
PROMPERU Canada has teamed up with Peruvian and Latin restaurants across Canada to bring us Peruvian Cuisine Week that’s running from July 24th-31st, 2021. So if you’re feeling for some Peruvian cuisine, here’s all the dishes you have to try!
See Also: The Official #WEGuide on Things to do in Lima>>>
Lomo Saltado
Lomo Saltado is a mouth-watering, juicy, steak-like stir fry. It’s made with steak seasoned with salt, pepper and soy sauce. Served with pickled red onions, tomatoes, peppers (optional) on a bed of crispy french fries and rice. The trick to making the best Lomo Saltado, is frying the steak on high heat in a pan with oil as you’re cooking the onions and tomatoes separately. Once the meat is cooked, you can bring it all together to form a delicious steak sauce.
Peruvian Ceviche
Ceviche is a popular dish in many of the South American cuisines. While all of them have similarities, Peru is putting its own flare to the classic dish. Peruvian ceviche consists of fresh fish marinated in fresh lime juice, served with thinly sliced red onions and a side of rice or sweet potato. The acidity of the lemons and limes cooks the fish, and the citrus juice acid essentially denatures the raw fish or any raw seafood. If you find yourself in Peru, make sure to visit Lima, because they’re known for having the best ceviche in the world.
Anticuchos
Anticuchos are a common street food in Peru and they’re made from beef hearts. These anticuchos de corazon are packed with flavours you’ve never experienced before! They’re usually eaten as an appetizer. Anticuchos are guaranteed to blow you taste buds away!
Papas a la Huancaína
Peruvian papas a la hunancaína is a popular appetizer or side dish that consists of boiled yellow potatoes with a creamy, spicy sauce on top. It can be garnished with boiled eggs and its truly a staple in every Peruvian kitchen!
Jalea de Mariscos
Peruvian Jalea – pronounced ha.le.a – is a fried seafood dish featuring different seafoods. The best part of Jalea is the refreshing, slightly spicy salad of lime-marinated red onion, tomato, and cilantro salad that pairs perfectly with the crispy fried fish. If you’re a lover of traditional calamari, this will take that experience to a whole other level!
Causa
Causa is another popular Peruvian dish that consists of fluffy mashed potatoes layered with tuna, red onion, salt, pepper, mayonnaise and avocado. It’s typically topped with egg, and garnished with herbs and peppers. This is the perfect dish if you’re not feeling too hungry, but want to get in a delicious meal!
Pollo a la Brasa
This Peruvian chicken is marinated with flavours and spices like lime juice, soy sauce, honey, cumin and paprika. It’s roasted slowly, to get that perfect crunch on the outside and juiciness on the inside. It can be served with a bed of rice, potatoes and even fried plantain. Best to serve your Pollo a la Brasa with a spicy sauce, like traditional green sauce made with cilantro, chilli’s, lime juice and more.
Popular Peruvian Soda – Inca Kola
Peru’s most popular soft drink is Inca Kola. It’s served at almost every Peruvian restaurant and is definitely a must-try if you’ve never had it before. The soda has a sweet, fruity flavour that resembles the main ingredient, lemon verbena. You can find this drink at most Peruvian restaurants and grocery stores.
Feature Image: Serious Eats
