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| Cuy Frito |
Here are some of my favorites:
1. Ají. I could eat this condiment with a spoon. (Okay, so there is a slight possibility that I have done that... on multiple occasions...) This spicy sauce is made from different varieties of peppers, mixed with salt, pepper, and olive oil. Every meal is accompanied by a small dish of this heavenly goodness and I generally end up asking for seconds. This request is usually followed by a laugh from the waiter because they are not used to Gringos asking for more! I do not know what I am going to do without it when I go back to the US. American hot sauce is like water compared to Ají.
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| Ají de Tres Colores |
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| Choclo |
3. Arroz Con Leche. A silky, creamy sweet rice with a hint of cinnamon. Plump, juicy raisins are like delicous little pieces of treasure every time you find one in the bowl. I have this at least 2x/week. Okay, maybe closer to 4x/week...
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| Creamy Deliciousness |
4. Humitas and Tamales. Humitas are made of delicously sweet Choclo, corn meal, and queso fresco. They are wrapped in corn husks and are generally cooked in boiling water. Tamales are a savory variation, and are usually spicy, large and wrapped in banana leaves. They are generally filled with chicken or pork, boiled eggs, olives, and chili peppers. As most dishes are in Peru, it is accompanied by mass amounts of mayonaisse.
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| Tamales |
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| Ají de Gallina |
6. Lomo Saltado. Although I do not eat red meat, I did try this (eating off Amber and my Dad's plates!). For a girl who hates red meat, it is absolutely amazing. It is a dish that has Asian influences, consisting of thin strips of tender steak, marinated in vinegar, soy sauce and spices, then stir fried with red onions, parsley and tomatoes. Served traditionally over white rice and homemade french fries. Yum!
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| Lomo Saltado |
7. Cebiche. Okay, I feel bad even talking about this because I did not have a good experience with Cebiche. I tried it in Lima, which was the wrong place to try it. The fish was not fresh and definitely made me quesy. However, Trujillo and Northern Peru are known for their delicious Cebiche. Every Peruvian I have spoken with said, "You haven't seen Peru until you try Cebiche!" Cebiche is fresh, raw fish (or octopus, shrimp, crab, anything that swims, etc) marinated in lime juice and spicy red peppers. It is served with Camote (sweet potato), red onions, and Choclo.
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| Cebiche |
8. Anticuchos. I am only writing about these unsightly things because Amber loves them. I could not bring myself to try them. Anticuchos are brochettes made from beef heart marinated in a various Peruvian spices. They are grilled, often sided with boiled potatoes and corn. They are usually sold by street vendors and served shish kabob-style.
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| Peruvian Street Vendor selling Anticuchos (Beef Heart) |
9. Pollo a la Brasa. This grilled chicken is one of the most consumed foods in this country. It's basically a gutted chicken marinated in a marinade that includes various peruvian ingredients and baked in hot ashes. The dish comes with French fries, salad and various sauces (peruvian mayonnaise, ketchup and ají). You can either order a 1/4, 1/2, or whole chicken and it is served on a plate with bones and all.
| Pollo a la Brasa |
10. Mazamorra Morada. I did not think I would like this, as it looks like purple goo with fruit chunks floating about. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious it is! It is a jelly-like dessert, made from the juice of purple maize (corn), sugar, cinnamon, cloves. When that mixture is cooled, chopped fruit is added. Absolutely delicious!
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| Mazamorra Morada |
If you are not drooling by now, you should be!! The food is so amazing, and I could literally go on forever describing the delicous food. MOST IMPORTANTLY, I am so happy to say that in 6 weeks, I did not get Montezuma's revenge. Well, not anything too vicious anyways :) I consider that, in itself, to make my entire trip a success!
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