Top 21 Peruvian Meat Dishes

Seco de cabrito is a traditional dish that was originally prepared in the north of the country, but nowadays it's also popular in coastal areas. It consists of goat meat that's cooked with hot peppers, peas, carrots, and cilantro sauce. The list of ingredients also includes onions, cumin, garlic, oregano, oil, and seasonings. The meat is fried, then cooked with the other ingredients until the sauce becomes thick. Once done, seco de cabrito is traditionally served with rice, beans, and boiled cassava as a one-dish meal. This dish is often prepared for festive events such as family celebrations, and it can also be reheated and served the next day.Expand

Lomo a la pobre or bistec a lo pobre is a large meal similar to Chorrillana that is popular in Chile and Peru. In its basic form, the meal consists of steak, fried onions, fried potatoes, fried eggs, and rice. A large beef steak (usually rubbed with garlic) is fried, then topped with fried eggs with runny yolks, while onions and potatoes are served on the side. The name of this meal translates to poor man's steak, despite the fact that this dish is hearty and very nutritious. In Chile and Peru, it is almost always served for lunch.Expand

Lomo saltado is a traditional dish consisting of stir-fried marinated slices of sirloin or beef tenderloin, onions, yellow Peruvian chilis, and tomatoes. The dish is typically served with French fries and rice on the side, and can be found on the menus of almost all Peruvian restaurants, whether simple or upscale. The dish has had a big Asian influence due to the influx of Chinese immigrants during the 19th century. Over the years, some Chinese cooking techniques were combined with the Peruvian, and new dishes were invented, such as lomo saltado. Today, there are many variations on the dish, so beef can be replaced by chicken, when it is called pollo saltado. If the potatoes are replaced with noodles and vegetables, it is then called tallarin saltado. With its fusion of old and new worlds, lomo saltado still holds its status as one of Peru's most loved dishes.Expand

Anticucho is a meat dish consisting of small pieces of skewered and grilled meat, the most popular of them made with beef heart, called anticuchos de corazón. Incan in origin, the dish quickly gained popularity throughout South and Central America. The first written recipe dates back to the 16th century, referring to a meal of marinated llama meat cooked directly over a fire. When the conquistadors encountered the dish, they modified it to make it their own, replacing the llama meat with beef, which was skewered on sugar cane stalks. Today, the meat is typically marinated in red wine vinegar and spices such as garlic, cumin, and aji pepper - developing a fruity flavor when roasted. Anticucho can be found throughout Peru and has spread to other South American countris (especially popular in Bolivia) on numerous street carts and street food stalls, called anticucheras. Typical accompaniments to the dish include corn or boiled potatoes.Expand

Cabrito a la norteña is a traditional dish of northern Peru, consisting of tender, young goat meat that is marinated in a blend of flavorful ingredients such as garlic, Peruvian chili peppers, and chicha de jora—a traditional fermented corn beverage. After marinating, the goat meat is slowly cooked in a sauce made with chicha de jora, cilantro, cumin, pumpkin, and other spices until it becomes tender and infused with the rich flavors of the marinade, resulting in a deep and aromatic profile. Cabrito a la norteña is commonly accompanied by sides such as yucca (cassava), rice, or beans. The dish is a cherished staple during festivities and family gatherings in northern Peru, capturing the essence of the region's culinary heritage and traditions.Expand

Pachamanca is an ancient Peruvian dish made by cooking marinated pieces of meat (usually lamb), herbs, chilis, beans, and a variety of Peruvian potatoes in a hole in the ground (huatia). The ingredients are placed on hot stones and covered with leaves in order to create a natural pot in the ground. The name of the dish means earth pot, referring to the preparation process. The dish is traditionally cooked for about three hours, and nowadays it can be found in numerous rustic restaurants throughout Peru.Expand

Carapulcra or carapulca is a Peruvian stew made with dried potatoes (papa seca), pork, peanut sauce, pimento chilis, and lots of fresh herbs such as rocket and mint. The stew is often seasoned with onions, garlic, black pepper, and ground cumin. It is recommended to serve it with rice and duck on the side, but don't serve carapulcra with avocados, green salads, or bread as they will change the flavors completely.Expand

Apanado de alpaca is a traditional meat dish originating from Peru. The dish is made with a combination of alpaca meat, flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs. Once seasoned and breaded, the alpaca meat is fried in oil until golden brown and fully cooked, and the dish is then ready to be enjoyed. Apanado de alpaca is traditionally accompanied by rice, potatoes, and often a tomato-cucumber-lettuce salad on the side.Expand

Chancho al palo is a traditional dish from Huaral that translates to "pork on the pole." The main characteristic of chancho al palo is the cooking method. A whole pig or large cuts of pork are marinated with spices and then skewered on large vertical or diagonal stakes. The stakes with the pork are then set around a wood fire, allowing the meat to roast slowly and evenly. The pork is typically marinated with a mix of Peruvian spices and ingredients, including garlic, cumin, aji panca, and other seasonings meant to infuse flavor into the meat. Once the pork is roasted to a crispy exterior and tender interior, it's sliced off and typically served with traditional Peruvian sides like boiled yucca (cassava), potatoes, salads, and various sauces. This method of preparation is often reserved for special occasions, festivities, or large gatherings due to the size of the meat and the communal nature of the cooking process.Expand

Picante de carne is a traditional stew originating from Peru. Although there are many variations, it's usually made with a combination of beef (flank steak, beef shank, skirt steak, brisket, or neck), onions, garlic, cumin, hot peppers, oil, vegetable stock, fava beans, potatoes, parsley, salt, and pepper. The meat is seasoned with salt and pepper and browned in oil. The onions and garlic are sautéed until soft and mixed with cumin, hot peppers, stock, and browned beef. The mixture is simmered until the meat is tender, and the fava beans and potatoes are then added to the pot and cooked until tender. Chopped parsley is stirred into the stew and it's served white rice on the side.Expand