Peruvian Cuisine: 7 Dishes You Should Definitely Try

When planning a trip to Peru, many travelers dream of walking near the ruins of ancient civilizations in Machu Picchu, but this is not all that this amazing country has to offer - the main surprise still awaits you.

Peru is a true gastronomic paradise for those who love delicious food! The country has a rich culinary heritage, and world critics have also recognized this - Peru had been declared the best culinary destination in the world according to the World Travel Awards for 8 years in a row (from 2012 to 2019). Thanks to the climate and favorable environment, many products are grown domestically, so Peruvian cuisine is very diverse and different any other.

For example, you will find the best Peruvian ceviche in Lima, while in Cusco, you will be offered to try local alpaca dishes. In a new article, Travellizy Team has prepared for you a list of 7 national dishes that you should definitely try in Peru.

Peruvian ceviche

Peruvian ceviche is a national dish that will be a crime not to taste! Its main ingredient is fresh fish, and one of the secrets of this dish is local lemons. Due to the special level of acidity, juice from Peruvian lemons actually cooks the fish, killing all harmful parasites and bacteria. Then fresh red onions and cilantro are added to ceviche as well as chili peppers for piquancy. This combination of local ingredients make Peruvian ceviche different from any other ceviche around the world.

Causa rellena

Causa rellena is a dish with a history and a huge number of variations in cooking in different parts of Peru, but the main ingredient is always the same - it is the yellow Peruvian potato. Mashed potatoes are made of it in combination with butter and lime, and the dish itself is laid out in layers and served cold as a side dish or salad. Tuna, salmon or chicken are most often used for the filling, and the next layer consists of eggs, avocado and olives. 

Lomo saltado

Lomo saltado is one of the most popular dishes among Peruvians, which is eaten almost every day. The main ingredients are marinated beef strips, onions, peppers, cilantro, tomatoes, spices, and the dish is served with rice and fries. Sometimes, alpaca meat is used instead of beef.

Ají de gallina

Ají de gallina is chicken stewed in a creamy sauce with yellow chili peppers, walnuts, garlic, turmeric and other spices. The dish is traditionally prepared with half a hard-boiled egg.

Anticuchos

Anticuchos is a popular street food in Peru that resembles a kebab. The peculiarity of this dish is in its filling: it is prepared from the heart or liver of a cow, alternating between pieces of meat with slices of potatoes and onions. All ingredients are strung on a skewer, fried over an open fire and sprinkled with lime or lemon juice at the end.

Arroz con pato

Arroz con pato (Spanish for "rice with duck") is a traditional dish from Chiclayo in the north of the country that has many unusual serving options. For example, rice is mixed with a paste of cilantro, herbs and beer to give it a richer flavor.

Cuy

A true Peruvian delicacy is the baked guinea pig ("cuy" in Spanish), which has been an important food source for indigenous communities in the Andes for many years. The meat is stuffed with local herbs and slowly fried over an open fire, then served with potatoes, vegetables and a sauce, also made from mountain herbs. This dish is not for everybody, but if you want to learn more about Peruvian culture and are ready for such culinary experiments, then make sure you try cuy.

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