Are you looking for the best flavors that Peru has to offer? Look no further! This article will explore five of the most popular and typical Peruvian dishes that you simply must try. Discover the wonderful flavors of Peru and find out why Peruvian food is so loved all around the world.
From the classic ceviche to the delicious causa rellena, learn about the five dishes that are typical of Peru and why they are so popular.
1. Ceviche
Ceviche is a traditional dish from Peru, and it’s one of the most popular dishes around the world. It’s made with fresh fish, lime juice, and a mix of other ingredients. It’s a great way to enjoy seafood and a favorite of many!
Ingredients:
- 1 pound of fresh fish.
- 1 cup of lime juice.
- ½ cup of onion.
- ½ cup of cilantro.
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
- 1 teaspoon of garlic.
- 1 teaspoon of paprika.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
Preparation:
- To prepare the ceviche, start by slicing the fish into small cubes.
- Place the fish cubes in a bowl with the lime juice and let them marinate for 2-3 hours in the refrigerator.
- When the fish is ready, add the onion, cilantro, olive oil, garlic, paprika, salt, and pepper to the bowl and mix everything together.
- Let the ceviche marinate for another 2-3 hours in the refrigerator.
2. Lomo saltado
Lomo saltado is a delicious and traditional Peruvian dish. It is made with marinated strips of beef, potatoes, red and green peppers, onions, tomatoes and garlic, all cooked together in a tasty soy sauce-based sauce.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. of beef (sirloin or flank steak)
- 2 potatoes
- 1 red and 1 green pepper
- 1 onion
- 4 tomatoes
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
- ¼ cup of vegetable oil
- ¼ cup of white wine
- 1 teaspoon of ground ají amarillo
- Salt and pepper to taste.
Preparation:
- To prepare the lomo saltado, marinate the beef strips in the soy sauce, white wine, garlic and ají amarillo. Let it sit for about 30 minutes.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan over medium heat and add the beef strips. Fry for about 10 minutes, until the beef is cooked through.
- Add the potatoes, peppers, onions and tomatoes, and cook until all the vegetables are tender, about 8-10 minutes
- Once the vegetables are cooked, season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve the lomo saltado with white rice and a side of French fries or boiled egg.
3. Aji de Gallina
Ingredients:
- 1 pound of chicken.
- 1 onion.
- 3 cloves of garlic.
- 1 aji pepper.
- 1 red pepper.
- 1 cup of evaporated milk.
- 1 cup of fresh cheese.
- 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil.
- Salt, pepper, and cumin to taste.
Preparation:
- To begin, heat the vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, then add the onion and garlic. Fry for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the chicken, aji pepper, and red pepper and cook for about 10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
- Add the evaporated milk and the cheese and reduce the heat to low. Simmer the stew until it thickens, about 15 minutes.
- Add salt, pepper, and cumin to taste. Serve the stew with boiled potatoes and white rice.
4. Causa rellena
Causa rellena is a traditional Peruvian dish, made with mashed potatoes, layered with tuna, olives, and hard boiled eggs.
Ingredients:
- 4 large potatoes, peeled and diced.
- 1 can of tuna, drained and flaked.
- 12 black olives, pitted and chopped.
- 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped.
- 1/4 cup of freshly squeezed lime juice.
- 2-4 hot chili peppers, finely chopped.
- Salt to taste.
Preparation:
- To make the causa rellena, first boil the potatoes in a pot of salted water until fork-tender. Drain and mash the potatoes with a potato masher.
- Add the lime juice and chili peppers and mix until evenly blended.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the tuna, olives, and eggs.
- To assemble the causa rellena, spread a layer of mashed potatoes onto a large plate. Top with the tuna mixture.
- Spread another layer of mashed potatoes over the tuna. Top with the remaining tuna mixture.
- Finally, spread the remaining mashed potatoes over the top. Garnish with olives, eggs, and chili peppers
- To serve, cut the causa rellena into slices and serve. Enjoy!
For an extra Peruvian cuisine recipe, check this link https://carolinarice.com/recipes/arroz-chaufa/ and learn how to make an appetizing arroz chaufa.