Peruvian Recipes

These are some of the traditional Peruvian dishes that I learned to cook from my mom—drinks, soups, appetizers, main courses and desserts. After transitioning to a plant-based diet, I started a collection of vegan Peruvian recipes.

Drinks

Chicha Morada (Peruvian Purle Corn Drink) Chicha Morada
Peruvian purple corn drink spiced with cinnamon, cloves, fruits, and lime juice

Appetizers

Tiradito Nikkei (Peruvian Sashimi) Tiradito Nikkei
Peruvian style sashimi, thin slices of fish swimming in a spicy sea of citrus
Ceviche Clasico (Classic Ceviche) Ceviche Clasico
The godfather of the Ceviche Family, the Classic Ceviche
Leche de Tigre Sea Foam Leche de Tigre Sea Foam
A molecular version of tiger’s milk from ceviche
Papa a la Huancaina (Peruvian Potato Salad) Papa a la Huancaina
Peruvian potato salad with a spicy aji amarillo and queso freso dressing
Shrimp Anticuchos with Chimichurri Shrimp Anticuchos with Chimichurri
Peruvian shrimp kebabs marinated with aji panca, vinegar, and lime juice
Causa Limeña (Peruvian Potato Salad) Causa Limeña
Peruvian spicy mashed potatoes with aji amarillo and topped with a tuna salad
Salsa Criolla (Peruvian Pickled Onion) Salsa Criolla
Red onions pickled with vinegar, spices, and lime juice
Quinoa Tabbouleh Tabbouleh de Quinua
Tabbouleh with quinoa, onions, parsley, mint, and lime juice
Empanadas de Carne Empanadas de Carne
Baked pastries with savory beef filling
Spinach Empanadas Empanadas de Espinaca
Baked pastries with savory spinach filling
Peruvian Pot Pie Peruvian Pot Pie
Small pot pie, baked in a ramekin, with a spicy lamb filling and empanda crust
Pan con Chicharron (Braised Pork Sandwich) Pan con Chicharron
Braised pork sandwich with pickled onions, sweet potatoes, and cilantro

Soups

Sopa Wantan Sopa Wantan
A Chinese-Peruvian soup with chicken stock, ginger, and pork dumplings
Caldo de Choros (Peruvian Steamed Mussels Soup) Caldo de Choros
Peruvian steamed mussels soup
Parihuela (Peruvian Seafood Soup) Parihuela
Peruvian seafood soup with cod, seabass, aji panca, and ginger
Gazpacho Gazpacho
Chilled tomato purée soup
Chupe de Camarones Chupe de Camarones
Shrimp chowder with aji amarillo sofrito

Main Courses

Aji de Gallina (Peruvian Chicken Stew) Aji de Gallina
Peruvian pulled chicken stew with creamy aji amarillo sauce
Peruvian Arroz con Pollo Peruvian Arroz con Pollo
Peruvian rice and chicken cooked in spicy aji amarillo and cilantro sauce
Arroz con Mariscos Arroz con Mariscos
Peruvian paella with shrimp, mussels, squid and a spicy aji amarillo sofrito
Juane de Arroz con Pollo Juane de Arroz con Pollo
A version of Arroz con Pollo that is served in the Amazon of Peru
Sudado Criollo Sudado de Pescado Criollo
Peruvian steamed fish cooked in fish stock base with onions and aji amarillo
Sudado de Pescado Chifa Sudado de Pescado Chifa
Chinese-Peruvian steamed fish drizzled with a soy and ginger sauce
Tallarin Saltado Chifa Tallarin Saltado Chifa
Chinese-Peruvian shrimp and vegetables stir fry with noodles, ginger, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sesame oil
Lomo Saltado (Chinese-Peruvian Beef Stir-Fry) Lomo Saltado
Chinese-Peruvian beef stir-fry with onions, tomatoes, and french fries
Seco de Cordero (Peruvian Lamb Stew) Seco de Cordero
Peruvian lamb stew slow cooked in a spicy aji amarillo and cilantro sauce
Pachmanca a la Olla Pachamanca a la Olla
Stove top version of a dish from the Andes where meat and potatoes are cooked in an earthen oven with hot rocks and herbs
Cau Cau (Tripe Stew) Cau Cau
A traditional tripe stew with aji amarillo sofrito, potatoes, and mint
Escabeche de Pescado (Peruvian Pickled Fish) Escabeche de Pescado
Peruvian pickled fish, pan fried, served cold in a sweet and sour pickling sauce with onions and sweet potatoes
Escabeche de Pollo (Peruvian Pickled Chicken) Escabeche de Pollo
Peruvian pickled chicken with onions, carrots, and celery in a sweet and sour stock with aji panca
Arroz Chaufa (Chinese-Peruvian Fried Rice) Arroz Chaufa
Chinese-Peruvian fried rice with chicken, ginger, soy sauce, and cilantro
Carapulcra (Papa Seca & Pork Stew) Carapulcra
Peruvian papa seca & pork stew, peanuts, hot peppers, cinnamon, cloves, and anise
Purple Corn Peruvian Paella Purple Corn Peruvian Paella
Shrimps, mussles, and rice cooked with purple corn elixir and an aji amarillo sofrito
Tallarin con Pollo Tallarin con Pollo
A classic Italian-Peruvian dish, seared and poached chicken thighs served over pasta with a red sauce purée of tomatoes, onions, carrots, red peppers, and celery, topped with parmesan cheese

Desserts

Purple Corn Mousse Purple Corn Mousse
A molecular version of chicha morada, a purple corn drink
Arroz con Leche (Peruvian Rice Pudding) Arroz con Leche
Peruvian milk and rice pudding spiced with cinnamon and orange zest
Pisco Sour Marshmallows Pisco Sour Marshmallows
A bite-size molecular mixology version of the National Drink of Peru
Suspiro Limeño Suspiro Limeño
A creamy custard topped with a meringue cloud
Pisco Balls Pisco Balls
A Peruvian take on the traditional Bourbon Balls, with Pisco and Peruvian raw sugar syrup
Manjar Blanco Bonbons (Peruvian Custard Bonbons) Manjar Blanco Bonbons
Peruvian custard bonbons dusted with cinnamon
Panettone Bread Pudding Panettone Bread Pudding
Bread pudding made with the born-in-Italy Christmas bread, Panettone
Quinua con Leche (Quinoa Milk Pudding) Quinua con Leche
Quinoa milk pudding spiced with star anise
Frejol Colado (Peruvian Black Bean Pudding) Frejol Colado
Sweet black bean and milk pudding
Mazamorra Morada (Peruvian Purple Corn Pudding) Mazamorra Morada
Peruvian purple corn pudding thickened with sweet potato flour
Peruvian Alfajores Peruvian Alfajores
Caramel cookie sandwich dusted with powedered sugar
Pionono (Peruvian Manjar Blanco Roll) Pionono
Sponge cake rolled and filled with manjar blanco caramel
Apple Empanadas Empanadas de Manzana
Baked pastries filled with baked apple slices spiced with sugar, cinnamon, and cloves
Chicha Morada Sorbet (Purple Corn Sorbet) Chicha Morada Sorbet
Peruvian purple corn sorbet garnished with fruit, orange zest, and mint
Chicha Morada en Gelatina (Peruvian Purple Corn Jello Shots) Chicha Morada en Gelatina
Peruvian purple corn jello shots with suspended apples and cinnamon dust