The primary ingredient found in nearly every Peruvian dish is rice, potatoes, chicken, pork, lamb and fish. For lunch and dinner, condiments on the table almost always include a small dish of “aji,” Peruvian hot pepper. Ají can vary in color, being yellow, red or green. Color is not always indicative of how spicy an individual pepper is!
Today more than 2,000 varieties of potato can be found in the Cusco region. They range in color from purple to blue, and yellow to pink. Sizes and textures vary as well. Some are as small as nuts, others can be as large as oranges and in the highland region they process the potatoes by dehydrating them.
Below is an example of a menu that is often used on the Inca Trail.
1st Breakfast: is at 5:30am: Oatmeal, toast, butter, jam, pancakes, fruit salad and yogurt. Hot chocolate, coffee and a large selection of tea is available; English breakfast tea, herbal teas such as chamomile, lemongrass or simply our traditional coca tea.
2nd Breakfast: is at 6:00am: Omelettes, toast. Hot chocolate, coffee, English breakfast tea, herbal
teas such as chamomile, lemongrass and coca tea.
3rd Breakfast: is at 4:00am: You will get a cake on this day!
1st Lunch: The appetizer is a stuffed avocado, with a main course of fresh steamed trout, with a beautiful red dressing served with garlic bread and a bowl of soup! Drinks available; berry juice, herbal teas such as chamomile, lemongrass and coca tea.
2nd Lunch: Maiz (fresh corn) soup with garlic bread, an asparagus appetizer and our main course is lomo saltado, rice, soy meat and vegetables. Drinks: Herbal teas such as chamomile, lemongrass and coca tea.
3rd Lunch: The appetizer is a delicious Causa Rellena (local mashed potatoes with tuna
sauce filling) the main course will be quinoa soup, steak, beans, salad, sweet potatoes and garlic bread. Drinks: passion fruit juice, herbal teas chamomile, lemongrass and coca tea.
1st Dinner: Vegetable soup, spaghetti with 2 delicious sauces. Dessert is chocolate pudding.
Drinks: Chamomile helping you to relax and sleep, black tea, lemongrass and coca tea .
2nd Dinner: Chicken drumsticks, rice, mashed potatoes and salad. A yummy hot dessert made from maizena. Drinks: A hot cup of tea, chamomile or any other kind of tea as above. Good night!
3rd Dinner: Another amazing supper! Stuffed rolled chicken with a mouth watering dressing and pasta, served with a russian salad. Dessert – slices of peach, jelly and wine!!!
High tea: Every afternoon at around 5pm you will enjoy snacks of popcorn, biscuits, wantan, jam and butter. Chocolate, tea, etc. And of course……… it´s time to play cards!!
Hot toddy: A special drink made with alcohol, sugar, hot water, lemon, cinnamon tea and a slice of apple – nothing like warming up!!
Bed Time: 20:00pm – Time to ask for your hot water bottle, especially on the 1st and 2nd nights!!!
Snacks: Every morning before leaving camp you will be given a bag containing your snacks for the walk until lunch. This usually contains a power bar, biscuits, fruit and more.
YET THERE’S MORE: “CHOCOLATE CAKE ON TREK FOR ALL OF THE SURVIVORS!!
*Vegetarian and special diet requirements are available on request.
Pachamanca: This is a typical dish from the desert. It consists of lamb, pork, meat, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and a tamale. First, one has to heat rocks on the ground using firewood. When they are hot enough, the food is placed inside a sack and buried underground with the hot rocks. The food has to be repeatedly checked to see when it is ready because the temperature fluctuates so much.
Papa la Huancaina: Potatoes served with a special spicy yellow sauce, olives, lettuce and egg.
Papa Rellena: Meat stuffed into potato patties.
Rocoto Relleno: Traditional dish with meat, onions, peanuts, milk and eggs. Everything is baked inside of the delicious rocoto (pepper), with potatoes and cheese.
Seco de Frejoles: Boiled beans with a lamb stew in green sauce, always served with white rice and raw onions, seasoned with lemon and ají.
Roast Cuy or Guinea pig: Is considered a delicacy and is traditionally served on very special occasions.
Lomo Saltado: This is a traditional Peruvian dish made with sliced beef, hot chillies, and french fries. It is a very easy dish to make and very popular with the more finicky.
Arroz con Pollo: A Peruvian version of Arroz con Pollo; this chicken and rice dish is made in two skillets and is flavored with cilantro, chilli pepper and orange juice.
Veggie pasta: This recipe uses spaghetti squash in place of pasta to make a plate full of vegetables.
Red Salad: If you love beetroot you will love this!!
Traditional Peruvian Chicken Soup: Aguadito de Pollo is a light version of the Peruvian Chicken Chowder (Chupe de Pollo).”
Cream of Asparagus Soup: A yummy creamy asparagus soup is very popular in Peru.
