country Essentials · 12 foods
Peru Essentials
A considered first route through Peru: the foods that carry its everyday habits, celebrations, ingredients, and memory.
Explore all Peru foods →THE
ESSENTIALS
The complete shortlist
12 foods to know.
Each selection includes the reason it belongs here—so this is a guide, not just a pile of names.
Lima, Peru
Ceviche
Fresh fish cured in lime and ají, the coastal dish visitors can compare across Peru.
Peru
Lomo Saltado
Wok-seared beef, tomato, onion, and fries show Peru's Chinese-Andean fusion at one plate.
Peru
Pollo a la Brasa
Charcoal-tinged rotisserie chicken with spice rub and green sauce anchors casual Peruvian dining.
Lima, Peru
Causa Limeña
Layered yellow potato, lime, and filling make this chilled Lima classic easy to recognize.
Peru
Ají de Gallina
Shredded chicken in a creamy ají amarillo and walnut sauce is a distinctive home-style staple.
Peru
Papa a la Huancaina
Papa a la huancaína
Yellow-pepper cheese sauce over potatoes makes this Andean appetizer immediately identifiable.
Peru
Pisco Sour
Pisco, lime, egg white, and bitters form Peru's signature shaken cocktail.
Bolivia
Quinoa
Quinua
Nutty Andean quinoa connects a modern grain bowl with Peru's high-altitude agriculture.
Peru
Inca Kola
Bright yellow Inca Kola is the unmistakable soft-drink symbol of Peruvian tables.
Peru
Chicha Morada
Purple-corn drink scented with fruit and spices is served cold throughout Peru.
Lima, Bolivia
Anticuchos
Marinated beef-heart skewers grilled over coals are a defining evening street-food encounter.
Peru
Mazamorra Morada
Purple-corn pudding thickened with fruit and spices is a classic Peruvian dessert.