South America • Featured Cuisine
Explore Peruvian Cuisine
Peru’s cuisine brings together Pacific seafood, Andean potatoes, corn, chilies, herbs, slow stews and lively street food with sharp, fresh flavor.
Welcome to Peru
Peru Cuisine and Recipes: Ceviche, Lomo Saltado and More
Peruvian cooking has a remarkable range. The coast has seafood, limes and chilies; the Andes bring potatoes, corn, grains and hearty stews; and the Amazon adds tropical fruit, river fish and ingredients that feel vivid and distinct. Few cuisines shift so dramatically from region to region, or use altitude and coastline so well.
That mix gives Peru one of the world’s most exciting food cultures. Ceviche delivers sharp freshness, ají de gallina brings creamy comfort, and anticuchos show the power of street grilling. Peruvian food feels colorful, layered and deeply tied to the landscape.
Cooking Style
Marinating, stir-frying, braising, grilling, steaming and potato-based layering
Signature Flavors
Lime, ají amarillo, cilantro, red onion, corn, potatoes and seafood
Food Culture
Peruvian food culture values regional pride, fresh seafood, markets, family meals and the lively mix of Indigenous, European, African and Asian influences.
Featured Dish
Start With Ceviche
Ceviche (Peruvian Seafood)
Ceviche is Peru’s best-recognized national dish, made with fresh fish cured in lime juice and mixed with onion, chili and salt. It is usually served cool and bright, often with sweet potato, corn or cancha for contrast.
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Explore Peruvian recipes
Explore Peruvian cuisine and recipes, from ceviche and lomo saltado to causa, anticuchos, ají de gallina and regional dishes rich with lime and chilies.
Ceviche (Peruvian Seafood)
Bright, citrusy, and refreshing, ceviche peruano is Peru’s signature fish dish, served cold with sweet potato, corn, and a little heat.
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Lomo Saltado (Peruvian Beef Stirfry)
Lomo saltado is Peru’s famous beef stir-fry, combining seared beef with onions, tomatoes, fries, and rice into one gloriously smart plate.
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Aji de Gallina (Peruvian Chicken Stew)
Ají de Gallina is Peru’s creamy shredded chicken stew, rich with Ají Amarillo, bread, milk, nuts, and just enough heat to stay interesting.
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Causa Limeña de Pollo (Peruvian Potato Chicken Appetizer)
Causa Limeña de Pollo layers seasoned yellow potato with creamy chicken, avocado, egg, and olives into one of Peru’s smartest cold appetizers.
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Anticuchos de Carne (Peruvian Grilled Beef Kabobs)
Anticuchos de carne are smoky, savory Peruvian beef skewers, marinated with ají panca, garlic, and vinegar, then grilled and served hot.
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Arroz con Pollo (Peruvian Chicken & Rice)
Arroz con pollo is Peru's vibrant green chicken-and-rice classic, packed with cilantro, ají amarillo, vegetables, and deep savory flavor.
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Keep going with sweet street snacks, purple corn drinks, pork sandwiches, creamy desserts and sharp salsa criolla that show how much range Peruvian cooking brings to the table.
Picarones (Peruvian Pumpkin Donuts)
Picarones are Peru's golden pumpkin and sweet potato rings, fried until crisp and finished with warm spiced syrup.
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Papa a la Huancaína (Potatoes in Spicy Cheese Sauce)
Papa a la huancaína pairs boiled potatoes with a creamy ají amarillo cheese sauce, then finishes the plate with egg, olives, and lettuce.
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Chicha Morada (Purple Corn Drink)
Chicha Morada is Peru's famous purple corn drink, sweetened lightly and perfumed with fruit, cinnamon, cloves, and lime.
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Pan con Chicharrón (Peruvian Pork Sandwich)
Pan con chicharrón stacks crisp pork, sweet potato, and sharp salsa criolla into one of Peru's most beloved sandwiches.
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Suspiro a la Limeña (Peruvian Caramel Meringue Dessert)
Suspiro a la Limeña layers silky milk caramel with port-scented meringue into one of Peru's most famous and unapologetically rich desserts.
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Peruvian Salsa Criolla
Salsa criolla is Peru's bright onion-and-lime relish, sharp, fresh, and essential alongside many of the country's best dishes.
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Mazamorra Morada (Peruvian Purple Corn Pudding)
Mazamorra morada is Peru's classic purple corn pudding, thickened with starch and scented with fruit, cinnamon, cloves, and lime.
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Regional Flavors
From coastal ceviche to Andean potatoes
Peru’s regions cook with striking variety, from coastal seafood and Lima’s chifa dishes to Andean potato traditions, highland stews and Amazon river fish.
Best Known Dishes
- Ceviche
- Lomo Saltado
- Ají de Gallina
- Causa
- Anticuchos
- Papa a la Huancaína
- Pollo a la Brasa
- Arroz con Pollo
Food Traditions
Markets, family meals and street grills
Markets, family meals, cevicherías and street grills shape everyday eating. Potatoes, corn, rice, chilies and seafood appear often, each with a distinct personality.
Travel & Dining
Where to taste Peru
Peru’s dining scene moves through cevicherías, market counters, anticucho grills, chifa restaurants, home kitchens, coastal seafood spots and casual lunch menus.