Peru Food – Andes | Discover Peru

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The Inca civilization was the largest Pre-Columbian civilization in the Americas and Cusco was its capital. The best kept example of its architecture is Machu Picchu.

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Fascinating culture and Inca heritage of this beautiful country

Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world. It occupies an important place in Inca mythology.

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Animals in Peru have specialized and adapted to the conditions of its geography. At higher altitude levels, few animals and plants can survive because of the lack of oxygen.

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Peru Food – Andes

Submitted by Staff writer |

Since the Inca Civilization people living in the Andes have based their diet on potatoes, maize and meat. Soups and stews are among the most popular dishes. Everything goes into it including meat, many kinds of potatoes, maize, carrots, local spices and hot peppers. They are cooked for hours because of the lower oxygen at high altitude.

Quechua Indian farmers prepare pachamanca.

Pachamanca is a cooking method which has been used in the Andes for centuries and it is still very popular all over the Andean region. Placed underground on a bed of hot stones seasoned meat, herbs and vegetables are slowly cooked for many hours. Because it takes a long time to cook it is usually a special treat and it is done during celebrations.

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A woman preparing cuy chactado or guinea pig

Cuy chactado is grilled or fried guinea pig which can also be cooked as part of a pachamanca. Guinea pigs have been part of the Andean diet for centuries, even before the Incas ruled Peru. It is the most popular dish in the highlands.

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Olluquito con charqui.

Olluquito con charqui is another traditional dish of the Andean cuisine. Olluco is a yellow tuber similar to a small potato but crunchy when cooked. Charqui is similar to jerky meat, traditionally made from alpaca or llama, but today is commonly made from sheep.

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Rocoto relleno

Rocoto Relleno is a traditional dish from Arequipa. Rocotos are large oval shaped very hot chilis that are stuffed with ground beef or pork, diced onions, eggs, olives and local spices. They are covered with cheese and placed in the oven.

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Papa a la huancaina

Papa a la Huancaina is a traditional dish from Huancayo. It contains boiled potatoes in a creamy yellow sauce called Huancaina. This sauce is made from sweet red and orange hot peppers, cheese, milk and Peruvian yellow hot chili. It is garnished with lettuce, olives, corn and hard boiled egg.

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