Peru is a place known for fun and flavor. With Fiestas Patrias, Peru’s National Day, taking place on July 28-29, now is the perfect time to embrace some of Peru’s most popular delicacies. From savory delights designed to accompany your weekly meals to special treats and drinks made for celebrating, these traditional foods are ideal for anyone to enjoy. Internation Fresh Market, your Latin market in Naperville, has everything you need to know about top Peruvian recipes and treats that are bursting with flavor.
Essential Peruvian Ingredients
One of five domesticated pepper species, aji amarillo is grown all over Peru. Along with garlic and red onion, aji amarillo is incorporated into many traditional dishes, including aji de gallina and papa a la huancaina. Although it is classified as a hot pepper, aji amarillo actually has a fruity taste and can be enjoyed by almost everyone, even those with a low tolerance for spicy foods.
Quinoa is another essential ingredient in Peruvian cooking. With nutritional benefits including high protein and fiber content, quinoa can be cooked and eaten like a grain. It’s perfect for inclusion in soup or salad and also makes a great base for meat such as grilled or roasted chicken. Quinoa is also gluten-free, perfect for members of your family who are sensitive to gluten.
Classic Peruvian Recipes
Ceviche is a fresh, no-cook appetizer that’s bursting with tropical flavors. To make ceviche, combine diced fresh fish of your choice with lime juice, aji limo, and chopped cilantro. Allow the ceviche to sit in the refrigerator for at least four hours. The lime juice serves to “cook” the fish until it’s safe for consumption. The ceviche is done when one of the fish pieces no longer looks raw when cut open. Serve the ceviche with tortilla chips and jalapenos for those who like their ceviche spicy!
Lomo saltado is a Peruvian beef stir fry made with sliced beef, soy sauce, vinegar, onions, and tomatoes. Cooking temperature is key when preparing lomo saltado. You’ll want the cooking pan to be very hot so the meat sears quickly, allowing it to remain juicy while developing a nice crisp on the exterior. Remove the beef after it has seared, then cook the remaining ingredients until tender before adding the beef back in. If you want to serve lomo saltado the traditional way, dish it out with fries on the side!
Traditional Peruvian Drinks
One of Peru’s traditional drinks, pisco is an unaged brandy made with fermented grape juice. It was originally developed in the 16th century and has remained popular as a way to honor Peru’s history and culture. A pisco sour is a delicious option that’s made simply with pisco, lime juice, egg white, and simple syrup. Serve a pisco sour with appetizers or as part of any traditional Peruvian feast!
Chicha morada is a traditional beverage made with purple corn. Nonalcoholic and totally refreshing, chicha morada also includes pineapple, cinnamon, and cloves. The warm spices in chicha morada make it an excellent addition to your holiday meal.
Sweet Peruvian Treats
A top South American delicacy, alfajores has decadent dulce de leche and butter for a melt-in-your-mouth taste. Sold anywhere from fine bakeries to vendor street carts, alfajores are easy to make at home with the inclusion of ingredients like cornstarch, vanilla, confectioner’s sugar, butter, and dulce de leche.
Picarones are a type of Peruvian donut. Made with sweet potato, squash, and anise, picarones are traditionally prepared in a round shape, exactly like a donut, and served with chancaca syrup.
Pick up Peruvian Staples at International Fresh Market
Any of these treats and meal options allow you to capture the flavor of Peru from the comfort of your home. To pick up all of these ingredients and more, visit us at International Fresh Market. We have everything you need to celebrate Peru’s National Day!
