Why Travellers to Lima Drrroool Over Peruvian Cuisine?

by Daniel C. Travel consultant

Lima might not be anywhere on a travellers itinerary. A food tour? No way! Well, that's what we might think about this Peruvian city. Things certainly have changed. Get ready for a jaw-dropping experience with the food world of Lima, Peru.

Situated on a hilltop by the Pacific Ocean, Lima is one huge ball of entertainment, culture and history that invites several flights to Lima from all over the globe. Surprises lurk at every turn. It's much more than Machu Picchu and the ancient attractions. With a stimulating nightlife, a stream of cocktails and an array of gastronomic delights, Peruvian cuisine ranks at the top. Unbelievable? Let's check out.

The present Peruvian cultural and epicurean scene is governed by Spanish, French, Asian, Italian, African and British cuisine that creates a wonderful fusion of tradition and flavours.

Care for some Peruvian Starters?

What else could melt your taste buds than Peruvian starters? It's the best way to be introduced to a unique meal. Nowadays, Peruvian starters either replace a full meal or eaten as smaller snacks.

Top Peruvian Starters

Ceviche (Cebiche)
Tiradito
Anticuchos
Causa Limeña
Papas a la Huancaina
Tequenos
Empanadas
Tamales

Grab a Sandwich

The amalgam of a juicy, crispy and soft Peruvian flavoured sandwich is a taste of heaven. Can you imagine one on your plate right now? A variety of sandwiches can be found all over the globe. But the typical Peruvian sandwich is an essential part of everyday life.

Be it breakfast, lunch or dinner; a sandwich is preferred anytime. A Peruvian sandwich comes in several shapes, sizes and flavours. No wonder, it depicts the best of Peru which you should not miss.

Must-Try Sandwiches:

Sanguche de Chicharron
Butifarra
Triple Sandwich

Singing for My Soup

There is an endless variety of soups in Peru. Such a variety of soups showcase an affluent diversity in Peru. The ones that you should try are:

Aguadito de Pollo - Peruvian Chicken Cilantro Soup
Sopa Criolla - Sopa a la Minuta (Peruvian Beef and Noodle Soup)
Chupe de Camarones - Thick Peruvian Shrimp Soup from Arequipa
Sancochado - Timpu - Puchero (Peruvian Meat and Vegetable Soup)
Menestron - Peruvian Minestrone
Shambar - Peruvian Wheat Soup from the Trujillo Region
Sopa de Quinua - Peruvian Quinoa Soup
Inchicapi - Peruvian Chicken Soup from the Amazon Region

Where’s My Main Course?

Peruvian main course is a world in itself; it's large and varied, displaying various colours and taste. It's a combination of traditional and modern cooking. Being rich in flora and fauna, Peruvian cuisine purely adapts to its natural resources and other influences.

What you should try:

Lomo Saltado - Sauteed Beef Tenderloin
Ají de Gallina - Spicy Chicken Stew
Pachamanca - Earth Oven
Papa Rellena - Filled Potatoes
Pollo a la Brasa - Peruvian Chicken
Salchipapas - Sausages and Fries
Tacu Tacu - Pan-fried Rice and Beans flat cake
Cau Cau - Triple Stew
Arroz con Pollo / Arroz con Camarones - Rice with Chicken / Rice with Shrimps
Arroz Tapado - Covered Rice

The 'Spoilt for Choices' Desserts

Peruvians have a craving for sweets. Yes, they have a sweet-tooth and they drool on their dulces. Peruvian desserts have heavily emerged from French and Spanish influences. Previously, it was difficult to make any dessert due to unavailable ingredients.

Later, French and Spanish settlers brought their cooking styles and ingredients into the country that developed a vast variety of desserts. You'll be tempted to end your meal with more than one dessert. Hope you order a dessert on flights to Peru before touching down at the Jorge Chavez International Airport, 7 miles from Lima. Some popular desserts are:

Tres Leches - Peruvian Three Milks
Picarones - Peruvian Sweet Potato - Squash Fritters
Pie de Limon - Lime Pie
Crema Volteada - Peruvian Creme Caramel
Torta de Chocolate - Chocolate Cake
Leche Asada - Peruvian Roasted Milk Custard
Pionono - Manjarblanco Roll
Arroz con Leche - Peruvian Rice Pudding
Suspiro a la Limeña - Classic Limeñan Dessert
Manjar Blanco - Dulce de Leche (Peruvian Caramel Milk Creme)

It's Snack Time

Munch, crunch and munch. That's what you can hear most of the time. Peruvians love to take time out to snack. Even if you buy a small packet of goodies from a street vendor, you can enjoy the best snack ever.

Street vendors and snack sellers are in plenty. With a variety to choose from, it's difficult to make a choice. You might be pampered with a crunchy bread roll or tortilla chips and sauce at most restaurants.

Some irresistible snacks:

Cancha Salada - roasted Salted Corn
Canchita (Palomitas) - Popcorn
Churros - Pastry
Chifle - Banana Chips
Chips Andinas (Chips Nativas) - Andean potatoes chips
Habas Saladas - Salted Broad Beans
Maiz Cusco - Salted White Corn Variety
Maná Confitado - Popped Corn Variety
Mixtura Snack - Snack Mixture

That's not all; Peruvian drinks such as Pisco is the national drink. It is generally served as a starter to welcome people and also with cocktails, giving a taste to remember. Non-alcoholic drinks such as Limonada and Chicha Morada are served with several snacks.

Emoliente, Cremolada, Inca Kola, Chicha de Jora and Vortex Coca Energy Drink are some of the local drinks that one should try on Lima flights to get an authentic taste of the Peruvian drinks.

Did you know?

There are more than 3500 varieties of potatoes in Peru, and they all play an amazing role in the Peruvian culinary world. The Spanish word for potato is 'papa'.