Peruvian Cuisine:
10 Must-Try Dishes to Discover

Introduction to Peruvian Dishes

Welcome to the culinary universe of Peru, a land rich in flavors and traditions. Discover the 10 typical dishes that make Peruvian cuisine famous. Each of these dishes is an invitation to travel, a fusion of cultures and tastes that will delight your taste buds.

Peruvian cuisine is renowned for its diversity and originality. It reflects a millenary history, influenced by pre-Columbian, Spanish, African, and Asian civilizations. Peruvian dishes are the result of this cultural mosaic, where local ingredients harmoniously blend with ancestral cooking techniques.

🌶️ Originality

A unique blend of local ingredients (quinoa, aji peppers, Pacific fish) and multicultural culinary influences.

⚠️ Note

Pollo a la brasa, although popular, is not a traditional dish but a staple of everyday Peruvian life.

1. Peruvian Ceviche

⭐ Iconic

Ceviche is Peru's national pride. Prepared with fresh fish marinated in "tiger's milk" (lime juice, chili pepper and salt), served with red onions, cilantro and sweet potato.

🗺️
Region: Pacific coast (Lima, Trujillo)
Enjoyed throughout the country
💰
Price: 15-40 soles
(4-10€) depending on restaurant
📅
When to eat: Daily
Lunch specialty
🌡️
Tip: Best enjoyed fresh
Avoid evenings (tradition)

2. Cuy (Guinea Pig)

🎉 Festive

An ancestral Andean dish, cuy is enjoyed whole-roasted, with crispy skin and flavorful meat similar to rabbit.

🗺️
Region: Andes (Cusco, Arequipa)
Highlands specialty
💰
Price: 40-80 soles
(10-20€) full portion
📅
Occasion: Festivals and celebrations
Rarely eaten daily

3. Lomo Saltado

🍽️ Everyday

This stir-fried marinated beef, mixed with onions, tomatoes and fries, perfectly illustrates the Chinese-Peruvian fusion.

🗺️
Region: Countrywide
Popular family dish
💰
Price: 20-35 soles
(5-9€) very affordable
⏱️
Service: Fast
Typical of daily "menús"

4. Ají de Gallina

🥄 Comfort Food

This creamy chicken stew, prepared with yellow chili pepper and nut sauce, is a family meal classic. Served with rice, potatoes and black olives.

🗺️
Region: Countrywide
Lima specialty
💰
Price: 18-35 soles
(5-9€) full meal
📅
When to eat: Lunch
Comfort food
🌶️
Spice level: Moderate
Ají amarillo (yellow chili)

5. Anticuchos

🌙 Nighttime

Beef heart skewers marinated in vinegar and spices, charcoal-grilled. A Peruvian street food staple at sunset.

🗺️
Region: Countrywide
Especially Lima at night
💰
Price: 8-15 soles
(2-4€) per skewer
Time: From 6pm
Typical street snack
🍢
Variant: Chicken heart version
For less adventurous eaters

6. Papa a la Huancaína

🥗 Starter

Iconic Andean dish featuring potatoes covered in a creamy fresh cheese and huancaína chili sauce, garnished with eggs and olives.

🗺️
Origin: Huancayo
Popularized nationwide
💰
Price: 10-20 soles
(3-5€) generous portion
🍽️
Served as: Cold starter
Perfect for summer
🧀
Specialty: Fresh cheese
Characteristic creamy texture

7. Causa

🥧 Versatile

Refined starter made from seasoned yellow potato puree with lemon and chili, layered with various fillings (tuna, chicken, avocado or seafood), served cold.

🗺️
Origin: Peruvian coast
Popularized in Lima
💰
Price: 12-25 soles
(3-6€) depending on filling
🌡️
Temperature: Served cold
Ideal in summer
🍽️
Format: Starter or light dish
Presented as terrine or cylinder

8. Rocoto Relleno

🔥 Spicy

Fiery specialty from Arequipa: hollowed and softened rocoto peppers, stuffed with minced meat, onions, olives and cheese, oven-baked with milk and eggs.

🗺️
Region: Arequipa
Very popular in the South
💰
Price: 25-40 soles
(6-10€) full meal
🌶️
Spice level: Hot (softened)
Rocoto among the hottest
🥵
Tip: Milk mandatory
To calm the fire!
Article written by Perou Decouverte
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9. Tacu Tacu

♻️ Recycling

This iconic dish transforms leftover rice and beans into a delicious crispy mixture, typically served with a fried egg, plantain and meat (often lomo saltado).

🗺️
Popularity: All over Peru
From poor man's dish to star
💰
Price: 15-30 soles
(4-8€) full meal
⏱️
When: Lunch
Ideal for hearty meals
🍳
Signature: Perfect egg
Runny yolk and crispy edges

10. Pachamanca

🌋 Tradition

Ancient culinary ceremony: meats (pork, lamb, chicken), tubers and vegetables cooked in an underground oven with aromatic herbs (huacatay) and heated volcanic stones.

🗺️
Origin: Central Andes
Quechua community ritual
💰
Budget: 50-100 soles
(12-25€) complete experience
📅
Occasion: Village festivals
Collective preparation
Cooking: 2-4 hours
Including preparation time
💡 Did you know?

Pachamanca is much more than a dish - it's an offering to Mother Earth (Pacha Mama), prepared during Inti Raymi (sun festivals) and agricultural celebrations.

Other Typical Dishes

🥔Causa Rellena

Sophisticated version of traditional causa, with layers of yellow potato puree flavored with lemon, alternating with creamy fillings of tuna, chicken or seafood, often presented in cake form.

🍖Seco de Cordero

Slow-cooked lamb stew in a fresh cilantro green sauce, served with white beans and rice. Specialty from northern Peru where the meat is particularly tender.

🥜Carapulcra

One of Peru's oldest dishes, made with rehydrated dried potatoes (chuño), cooked with pork, panca chili and roasted peanuts, creating a unique texture between stew and puree.

🍗Huancaina de Pollo

Variation of papa a la huancaína where the creamy cheese and yellow chili sauce covers tender chicken fillets, served with potatoes and black olives.

🍚Chaufa

Icon of chifa cuisine (Chinese-Peruvian fusion), this fragrant fried rice with ginger and soy sauce comes with crunchy vegetables, shredded omelette and choice of meat.

🌿Juane

Amazonian specialty wrapped in bijao leaves: fragrant mixture of rice, chicken, olives and hard-boiled egg steamed, traditionally prepared for the Fiesta de San Juan (June 24).

🧄Adobo

Marinade inherited from colonial times where pork is slowly braised in a thick sauce made with chicha de jora (corn beer), aji panca and spices, served with country bread.

🍲Estofado de Pollo

Ultimate comfort food: chicken stewed with carrots, peas and potatoes in a spicy broth, thickened with bread for a velvety sauce.

🐟Tiradito

Cousin of ceviche but with Japanese influence: fish cut into thin slices (like sashimi) with a creamy chili sauce, lime and cilantro, without onions.

🍅Sudado de Pescado

Fish steamed in a spicy tomato, onion and cilantro broth, served with yuca and white rice. Perfect for cool coastal days.

Conclusion

By exploring these typical Peruvian dishes, you have discovered the incredible richness of Peruvian gastronomy, a true fusion of ancient traditions and multicultural influences. From the Andean highlands to the vibrant Pacific coast, through the lush Amazon, each region offers its unique flavors.

To complete this culinary experience, don't forget to discover the typical drinks of Peru that perfectly accompany these delicious dishes: from the famous Pisco Sour to traditional coca infusions and exotic Amazonian fruit juices.

May this guide inspire you to taste, travel, and share these gastronomic treasures. ¡Buen provecho y hasta pronto en el Perú! (Bon appétit and see you soon in Peru!)

Peru Travel Guide 2025 - Tips by Peru Discovery