What are the best Peruvian foods?

The southern hemisphere of the American continent is quite an interesting region. If you have ever visited it or researched about it, you will know that it has many countries, with diverse cultures, customs and traditions.

It also has many tourist attractions, such as the Andean region. One of the most representative and popular countries in this area is Peru. Peru is a country that has a lot to offer to the world: its ancient Inca culture, many great places (like Machu Picchu, Caral or the Nazca Lines), its popular music and its food.

The latter is what we will talk about this time: Do you want to know what are the best Peruvian foods? Find out here with this interesting list brought to you by Restaurant Sol y Mar, no one knows more about Peruvian gastronomy in Quebec!

Peruvian gastronomy, what is it based on?

The current gastronomy of Peru, as in most countries in the region, is the result of syncretism between the local and the foreign (influenced since colonial times). This mixture has given way to the creation of interesting recipes that have gradually evolved over time.

Peru is a country with a lot of diversity and it is no exception when it comes to food. Depending on the region you are in, the food will tend to vary a bit, but you will notice that it is almost always based on something with meat (chicken, beef, pork, lamb or fish) and vegetables (mostly potatoes and rice).

Another quite characteristic element of Peruvian food is aji. And what is aji? The same thing that in other places is known as chili. It comes in many varieties and Peruvians add it to almost all their food, either in sauces or in its natural state.

Dishes you must try

Now that we know a little of what Peruvian food is made up of, let’s take a look at what are the most popular, and for a great majority, the best dishes in Peru.

If you have the opportunity to visit this great South American country (or a restaurant specializing in Peruvian food), we highly recommend you try these foods. Discover them below!

Ceviche

It is probably the best known dish of all Peruvian gastronomy. It is an icon in Peru. Ceviche is composed of a mixture of marinated raw fish meat (or other seafood), accompanied by some spices, plus salt, lemon (or other citrus fruits such as lime or sour orange) and aji.

There are different types of ceviche: fish, shrimp, shells, octopus, mixed, and so on. The variety is great. Try it, its flavor is incomparable and we assure you that you will love it.

Lomo saltado

Another popular Peruvian dish is lomo saltado. What is it? This recipe consists of beef tenderloin meat cut into small elongated pieces and cooked in a pan along with vegetables (tomato, onion, peppers and spices).

The meat is usually accompanied by french fries and rice. That’s right, two sides! It may seem strange, but the culinary tradition of this dish is like this.

Causa

Remember something we’ve said before about the food of Peru? It’s a hybrid between the local and the foreign and the causa is a vivid example of this.

Causa is an entrée that, historians believe, has pre-Columbian origins. This is because it was originally prepared with potatoes and aji, both native to the Andean region.

However, with the arrival of the conquistadors, lemon and other ingredients such as olives were added. Over time, eggs, avocado, mayonnaise or lettuce were added. In some variants even white meats are added.

There are many varieties of causa, but, in principle, it is a simple preparation based on a kind of small pie made with two lids of mashed potatoes and yellow aji. In the center it could have some filling and on top it is decorated with boiled egg, a slice of tomato or olives. It has a unique flavor that you can’t miss.

Papa a la huancaína

As you can see, potatoes are an elemental part of Peruvian food, and why not, if they are native to the region. On this occasion, we will talk about the huancaína potato, a recipe so called because it originates from a place called Huancayo.

It is a very simple recipe, consisting of boiled potatoes covered with a rich chili sauce with spices, goat cheese and evaporated milk. It usually has pieces of boiled egg on top.

Aji de gallina

The name may sound a little strange, but it is a delicious recipe. The aji de gallina, as you can see, with its name, involves these two ingredients. This preparation consists of chicken breast cooked and seasoned with a yellow aji sauce with milk, spices and chicken broth.

Its texture is incomparable and it is usually accompanied by boiled egg. Don’t miss this Peruvian dish, you will love it!

Get to know Peruvian food up close

If you have come this far, you have been able to know five of the best dishes of Peruvian cuisine. Have you been attracted by any of them and would like to try them? Preparing them is a good option, many of these recipes are not too complicated.

However, if you are in Quebec, you are lucky enough to be able to visit Restaurant Sol y Mar and try these and many more recipes, we are the experts in Peruvian food in the Quebec area! Contact us for more information.

We are located at 7610 Rue Saint-Hubert, Montréal, Quebec. You can make reservations by clicking here, we also have delivery service.

If you want to know more about our menu, click here! You can also visit our facilities by visiting the gallery section or Solymar 360º. On the other hand, if you want to know more about us visit the press section.