Typical Peruvian Main Courses

Peruvian main courses are enormously varied in flavors and colors reflecting the native heritage, the three main geographical areas, and of course the merging of traditional with foreign cooking styles from immigrants. As each region in Peru is distinct in its flora and fauna, each local cuisine adapts to the natural resources available and present foreign influences. Below find a few main courses that can be found in Lima around every corner. While some are typical for the Peruvian coastal region, others clearly show the influences of other regions.

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Lomo Saltado

Typical Peruvian Main Courses
Lomo Saltado is one of the most popular and iconic Peruvian dishes. It is a comfort food that can be found nearly everywhere in Peru, prepared at home for family and friends, in simple restaurants and up-scale places alike, and of course in Peruvian restaurants abroad.

Ají de Gallina

Typical Peruvian Main Courses
Aji de Gallina, a spicy chicken stew, is a popular Peruvian dish especially on Lima's "cold" winter days. Aji de Gallina consists of thin chicken strips served in a savory creamy yellow sauce made of milk, bread, parmesan cheese, yellow Peruvian chilies (aji amarillo), garlic, pecans or walnuts.

Jalea

Typical Peruvian Main Courses
Jalea surely is the most delicious and most popular deep-fried fish and seafood dish in Peru and one of the signature dishes of Peru’s northern coastal regions such as Lambayeque and Piura. As so many other Peruvian dishes it seems simple, but don’t be deceived. Jalea is absolutely scrumptious, full of Peruvian flavors, and exactly the right lig...

Pollo a la Brasa

Typical Peruvian Main Courses
Pollo a la Brasa, also known as Peruvian charcoal chicken, is a beloved Peruvian dish consisting of crunchy and juicy charcoal-grilled chicken served with French fries and a salad. It's one of the most consumed dishes in the country.

Papa Rellena

Typical Peruvian Main Courses
Papa rellena, meaning stuffed potato, is a traditional and popular dish full of Peruvian flavors which is eaten as starter, for lunch or dinner or in between, hot or cold. It’s one of these typical Peruvian comfort foods everyone loves and makes you feel at home. A must-eat.

Pachamanca

Typical Peruvian Main Courses
This traditional Peruvian dish (actually more a cooking method) dating back to pre-Hispanic times originates in the Andean provinces, but today can be found in many Peruvian cities and here especially in rustic restaurants.

Salchipapas

Typical Peruvian Main Courses
A poor man's dish that became a popular "fast food" in Peru. The word Salchipapas derives from its main ingredients: salchicha – sausage and papa – potato.

Tacu Tacu

Typical Peruvian Main Courses
Tacu Tacu was invented by African slaves that worked on the haciendas during Colonial times using leftovers to make a hearty and substantial meal. A mixture of rice, beans, bacon, onions and spices is formed to a thick pancake and stir-fried.

Cau Cau

Typical Peruvian Main Courses
The traditional Creole Cau Cau is a tripe stew served with rice. Strips of pre-cooked tripe are cooked together with onions, aji amarillo, garlic and chunks of potatoes.

Carapulca / Carapulcra (Kalapurka)

Typical Peruvian Main Courses
Carapulca is one of the oldest Peruvian dishes. This stew is made of pork or chicken meat, dried potatoes, onions, different Peruvian chilies (aji), cumin, cilantro, cloves and peanuts.
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