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Recipe: Chicha Sour

Peruvian dishes and drinks are mostly result of unlikely fusions that turned out to be delicious. Chicha Sour is an uncanny drink that combines two of the most iconic products in Peru: purple corn and pisco. This is the sweet sister of the widely known "Pisco Sour" and a must in fancy bars of every city in the peruvian coast. The unique taste of this Pisco Sour Chicha and it's cold preparation - which includes ice and lemon - makes it the perfect cocktail for the summer. Ingredients for an amazing Chicha Sour: 6 ounces Pisco 2 ounces chicha syrup 1 ounce lemon juice 7 ice cubes 4 drops Angostura bitters 3 spoons egg white Chicha Sour Preparation: To prepare chicha syrup, boil chicha morada and add sugar until it gets syrup texture. When its ready and cold, put the syrup in a cocktail shaker, alongside the ice, pisco, lemon and egg white. Shake it for 30 seconds and serve. Add two drops of Angostura bitters on each cup. And enjoy!

Recipe: Anticuchos (Peruvian Grilled Beef Heart)

Some traditional dishes in Peru have a strong influence from African immigrants that arrived in the XVIII century. One of those are the anticuchos, which are small pieces of grilled skewered meat, usually beef heart. The meat acquires a strong taste when marinated in vinegar and spices (such as cumin, aji pepper and garlic) and often come with a boiled potato, salad and corn. Ingredients: • 1 Beef heart or 500 grams / 2 lb of beef rump steak • Salt • 3 to 4 cloves of smashed garlic • ½ cup of red wine vinegar • 2 tablespoons of olive oil • 1 tablespoon of ground cumin • 1 large chili peppers, finely chopped without seeds Preparation: Work on the beef heart in order to get rid of veins and fat. Cut the heart or rump steak in small 3 to 4cm (1 to 1½ in) cubes. In a large bowl mix the vinegar, oil, salt, pepper, crushed garlic, chili pepper and ground cumin. Add the heart cubes and let the heart marinate for several hours or overnight. If you are using rump steak you do no

Recipe: Rocoto Relleno (Stuffed Hot Peppers)

Hot, delicious and unique. One of the most well known rocoto dishes in Peru is the rocoto relleno . This is a traditional entree from the Andean city of Arequipa , made with rocoto (chili pepper). Besides the meat, it can be stuffed with many another ingredients. As for the ideal stuffing, this beef mix contains beef, pork, onion, garlics, margarine (or butter), cream, peacans and it will be a heaven meal. Ingredients: • 7 rocotos with a wide base • 3/4 cup of red vinegar • 200 g (1/2 lb) of ground beef • 100 g (1/4 lb) of ground pork • 3 tablespoons of olive oil • 3 tablespoons of tomato sauce • 1/2 glass of dry white wine • 2 tablespoons of cream • 1/4 cup of ground peacans • 1/2 cup of beef stock • 1 tablespoon of aji panca paste • 6 small potatoes, cooked and peeled • 1 red onion, chopped • 2 cloves of garlic, ground • 1/4 cup or margarine or butter • 1/2 tablespoon of flour • 3/4 cup of mozzarella cheese • 1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese • 2 tablespoo

Recipe: Pisco Sour

The famous Pisco sour, invented in Peru around 1900, is made with Pisco (a very classy grape brandy from the Andean country) and has a bit of bite of secret ingredients to create the balance in this creamy, frothy, limey drink. Ingredients: 3 cups of pisco 1 ½ cup of sugar 2 cups of lemon juice 1 egg's white Ice flakes Add drops of Amargo Angostura Preparation: First, prepare the PISCO SOUR only in a blender. Place the egg white and blend for a few seconds. Add the ice only until it reaches the middle of glass (this is the secret to get that the drink has a very heavy texture) move it and add all the ingredients but the Angostura. Mix it all. It might be necessary to add some ice water and rectify the quality of a great PISCO SOUR. Enjoy.

Recipe: Tiradito

The tiradito is the brother of ceviche. However, we could say that this dish has a japanese greatgrandfather. Indeed, the influence of the many Japanese immigrants who came to South America in the nineteenth century is apparent in the way the fish is sliced rather than chopped, and ginger, soy, and other Japanese ingredients often find their way into the delicious Tiradito. Ingredients 1 1/4 lb flounder fillet (almost any fresh fish or shellfish will do) 4 tbsp of aji amarillo paste 2 aji limo, seeded, deveined cut into brunoise 2 tbsp cilantro in chiffonade 1 tsp minced garlic 2 tbsp of vegetable oil 4 tbsp key lime juice salt and white pepper Garnish: Cooked kernels from one fresh ear of peruvian choclo (corn) Fresh parsley chiffonade Preparation Use a clean big bowl to whisk together the key lime juice, salt, pepper, crushed garlic, aji limo, chopped culantro, aji amarillo paste, and vegetable oil. Keep chilled. Now cut the fish meat fillet into thin slices on the diagonal

Inca Kola: "the drink of Peru"

One of the most emblematic brands in Peru, Inca Kola is a comercial drink that stands as a pride symbol for the peruvians. It is also known as Inca Cola or "the Golden Kola", and it's a soft drink with a sweet soft flavor from a herb called "Hierba Luisa". It was made by the Lindley family in Rimac, Lima in 1910, and today the brand is 60% owned by The Coca-Cola Company. It's important to say that Inca Kola is common in parts of South America, and while it has not enjoyed major success elsewhere, it can be found in Latin American specialty shops worldwide. This delicious soda is yellowish-gold in color, and sold in glass and plastic bottles of various sizes and a can of the same color with an Inca theme. Inca Kola Ingredients The company has released public information about the ingredients: Carbonated water high fructose corn syrup and/or sucrose citric acid sodium benzoate (to protect taste) caffeine artificial and natural flavors

Recipe: Bistec a lo Pobre

There is a very particular and delicious way to prepare steaks in Peru. Try the "Bistec a lo Pobre" and you will understand what we are talking about. Ingredients: 4 sirloin steaks cut to 1/2 inch thickness 4 cloves garlic, mashed salt, pepper, cumin and smoked paprika to taste 2 large onions, sliced thinly 4 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and sliced thinly 1 packet Sazon seasoning (optional) 4 tbsp olive oil 4 extra large eggs Preparation The first step is to rub the steaks with the garlic. Season with the salt, pepper, cumin and smoked paprika. Set aside. Heat the oil in a large skillet or frying pan. Add the onions and potatoes and sprinkle with salt, pepper and the Sazon, if using. What's more, saute the onions and potatoes over medium to medium-high heat, until very tender, about 10 minutes. I find it helpful to cover the pan for the first several minutes and finish it uncovered. Remember to remove to a serving platter and keep warm. And in the same pan, sea

Recipe: Suspiro a la Limeña (Lima style Sigh)

The Suspiro is a traditional Peruvian dessert from the coastal cities. The preparation is easy and very simple, yet the flavour is outstanding. Ingredients 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 2 beaten egg yolks 2 beaten egg white 1 cup confectioners' sugar 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional) Preparation 1. In the first place, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, vanilla, and egg yolks in a saucepan. Then place over medium-low heat and gently cook until the mixture thickens, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, about 30 minutes. Pour into a heatproof serving dish and set aside. 2. Remember to whip the egg whites with confectioners' sugar to stiff peaks. Spread meringue on top of milk mixture. Refrigerate until cold, for 3 hours. Finally. sprinkle with cinnamon before serving.