Is Peruvian food vegetarian friendly?
Yes, if you order on purpose. The Andes are easier than a grill house. Cheese, corn, potato and quinoa do a lot of the work. Assume a mixed plate has meat until you ask.
Meatless, checked
Vegetarian Food in Peru
Written by the Peruvify team in Lima, from the catalog of 205 dishes, drinks, desserts and fruits. Last updated .
Vegetarian food in Peru is a real menu, not a side salad. Potatoes with chili and cheese, corn with cheese, quinoa soup, squash stew and a long list of desserts have no meat in the catalog. You still have to ask. Causa, papa rellena and a lot of fried rice are meat dishes that look harmless on a photo.
What this list counts
A dish is listed here when its catalog ingredients include no meat, no fish and no insect. Eggs and dairy stay, so this is vegetarian, not vegan. Palm heart stays, because it is a vegetable. Palm grub does not, even though the name sounds like a plant. The check is the ingredient line, not the dish name.
Restaurants rewrite recipes. A sauce that is cheese in the catalog can arrive with shrimp in Arequipa. A fried rice that is egg in the catalog can arrive with chicken in a chifa. Ask every time the plate is mixed in the back.
Ask before you order these
The first three look vegetarian and usually are not. The last three are vegetarian in the catalog, and kitchens still drift.
- Causa. The Lima causa in the catalog includes chicken. Some kitchens use tuna instead. Neither one is vegetarian.
- Papa rellena. Mashed potato, fried, stuffed with seasoned beef. The potato is the costume.
- Tamal and empanada. The criollo tamal and the meat empanada are filled. Ask for a cheese humita if you want the corn cake.
- Ocopa. Potatoes with huacatay and peanuts. Some Arequipa kitchens add shrimp. Say sin mariscos.
- Aeropuerto. The catalog version is rice, noodles and egg. Many chifas stir chicken through it. Ask for it sin pollo.
- Tamalitos verdes. Listed as corn and cilantro. Fillings change by stall. Ask what is in the center.
A day without meat
Breakfast can be choclo with cheese, a cheese humita, or a sándwich triple of avocado, egg and tomato. In the Andes, habas tostadas and cancha are the crunchy snacks that do not need a conversation.
Lunch is where you use the list. Papa a la huancaína, solterito, sopa de quinua, locro de zapallo and kapchi de habas are plates, not garnishes. In Arequipa, escribano and ocopa (after you ask about shrimp) belong on the same table. In the Amazon, the palm heart salad is the easy order. Juane and tacacho are not.
Dinner can be tequeños, chifles, or picarones if you still have room. Drink chicha morada. It is purple corn, fruit and spice, and it is not beer. The alcoholic corn beer is chicha de jora, which is also meatless, and a different drink. Both are on the drinks list.
Every meatless item in the catalog
Grouped the way the app groups them. Drinks and fruit are here because the ingredients qualify, not because a pisco sour is a light choice. Pisco sours contain egg white and alcohol.
100 items in this list.
Plates
Papa a la Huancaína #40
CommonAndes (Sierra)
Potatoes in creamy cheese and yellow chili sauce.
Ingredients: Potato, Ají amarillo, Fresh cheese, Milk, Egg.
Ocopa #41
RareAndes (Sierra)
Potatoes with huacatay and peanut sauce.
Ingredients: Potato, Huacatay, Peanuts, Fresh cheese.
Solterito #45
RareAndes (Sierra)
Fresh bean, cheese and corn salad.
Ingredients: Fava beans, Fresh cheese, Corn, Rocoto.
Pastel de Papa #46
RareAndes (Sierra)
Arequipa potato and cheese bake.
Ingredients: Potato, Fresh cheese, Milk, Egg.
Sopa de Quinua #58
CommonAndes (Sierra)
Warm quinoa and vegetable soup.
Ingredients: Quinoa, Potato, Carrot, Cheese.
Huatia #61
EpicAndes (Sierra)
Potatoes baked in an earth oven after harvest.
Ingredients: Potato, Fava beans, Oca, Cheese.
Pesque de Quinua #63
RareAndes (Sierra)
Creamy quinoa with milk and cheese.
Ingredients: Quinoa, Milk, Cheese.
Locro de Zapallo #64
CommonAndes (Sierra)
Squash stew with corn and cheese.
Ingredients: Squash, Corn, Fresh cheese, Potato.
Kapchi de Habas #65
EpicAndes (Sierra)
Cusco fava bean and cheese stew.
Ingredients: Fava beans, Fresh cheese, Milk, Huacatay.
Ensalada de Chonta #74
RareAmazon (Selva)
Fresh palm heart salad.
Ingredients: Palm heart, Tomato, Avocado, Lime.
Arroz con Choclo #180
CommonCoast (Costa)
Rice cooked with sweet corn kernels.
Ingredients: Rice, Corn, Butter.
Aeropuerto #189
RareCoast (Costa)
Chaufa and tallarín saltado stir-fried together, topped with an omelet.
Ingredients: Rice, Pasta, Egg, Bean sprouts, Soy sauce.
Tamalitos Verdes #190
RareCoast (Costa)
Green corn and cilantro tamales from the north coast.
Ingredients: Corn, Cilantro, Corn husk.
Escribano #196
RareAndes (Sierra)
Arequipa salad of potato, tomato, rocoto and vinegar.
Ingredients: Potato, Tomato, Rocoto, Vinegar.
Street food
Choclo con Queso #84
CommonAndes (Sierra)
Giant Andean corn with fresh cheese.
Ingredients: Corn, Fresh cheese.
Humita #90
RareAndes (Sierra)
Sweet or savory fresh corn cake.
Ingredients: Corn, Cheese, Corn husk.
Tequeños #96
CommonCoast (Costa)
Fried wonton sticks with cheese and guacamole.
Ingredients: Wonton, Cheese, Avocado.
Habas Tostadas #97
CommonAndes (Sierra)
Crunchy toasted fava beans.
Ingredients: Fava beans, Salt.
Cancha Serrana #98
CommonAndes (Sierra)
Toasted Andean corn kernels.
Ingredients: Corn, Salt.
Plátano Frito #99
CommonAmazon (Selva)
Fried sweet plantain slices.
Ingredients: Plantain.
Yuca Frita #100
CommonAmazon (Selva)
Fried cassava sticks with huancaína.
Ingredients: Yuca, Ají amarillo.
Chifles #101
CommonCoast (Costa)
Piura plantain chips.
Ingredients: Plantain, Salt.
Sanguche Triple #102
CommonCoast (Costa)
Triple-layer avocado, egg and tomato sandwich.
Ingredients: Bread, Avocado, Egg, Tomato.
Mote con Queso #103
CommonAndes (Sierra)
Hominy with fresh cheese.
Ingredients: Hominy, Fresh cheese.
Cachangas #198
CommonAndes (Sierra)
Fried dough flatbread dusted with sugar.
Ingredients: Flour, Sugar.
Bombas #199
CommonCoast (Costa)
Fried buns filled with manjar blanco.
Ingredients: Flour, Manjar blanco, Sugar.
Desserts
Suspiro a la Limeña #104
CommonCoast (Costa)
Dulce de leche topped with port meringue.
Ingredients: Milk, Egg, Sugar, Port wine.
Picarones #105
CommonCoast (Costa)
Squash and sweet potato doughnuts with syrup.
Ingredients: Squash, Sweet potato, Flour, Chancaca.
Mazamorra Morada #106
CommonCoast (Costa)
Purple corn pudding with fruit.
Ingredients: Purple corn, Pineapple, Cinnamon, Clove.
Arroz con Leche #107
CommonCoast (Costa)
Cinnamon rice pudding.
Ingredients: Rice, Milk, Cinnamon, Sugar.
Turrón de Doña Pepa #108
RareCoast (Costa)
Anise shortbread with fruit syrup, October classic.
Ingredients: Flour, Anise, Chancaca, Sprinkles.
Alfajores #109
CommonCoast (Costa)
Shortbread sandwich cookies with manjar.
Ingredients: Flour, Butter, Manjar blanco.
King Kong #110
RareCoast (Costa)
Giant layered cookie from Lambayeque.
Ingredients: Flour, Manjar blanco, Pineapple, Peanuts.
Queso Helado #111
RareAndes (Sierra)
Arequipa coconut and cinnamon ice cream.
Ingredients: Milk, Coconut, Cinnamon.
Champús #112
RareCoast (Costa)
Warm corn and fruit drink-dessert.
Ingredients: Corn, Quince, Pineapple, Chancaca.
Ranfañote #113
EpicCoast (Costa)
Old Lima bread pudding with chancaca syrup.
Ingredients: Bread, Chancaca, Coconut, Cheese.
Frejol Colado #114
EpicCoast (Costa)
Sweet black bean paste from Cañete.
Ingredients: Black beans, Sugar, Sesame.
Leche Asada #115
CommonCoast (Costa)
Baked caramel custard.
Ingredients: Milk, Egg, Sugar.
Crema Volteada #116
CommonCoast (Costa)
Peruvian flan.
Ingredients: Milk, Egg, Sugar.
Revolución Caliente #117
EpicCoast (Costa)
Crunchy anise and chancaca rolls sold at night.
Ingredients: Flour, Anise, Chancaca.
Guargüeros #118
RareCoast (Costa)
Fried pastry tubes filled with manjar.
Ingredients: Flour, Manjar blanco.
Cocadas #119
CommonCoast (Costa)
Chewy coconut cookies.
Ingredients: Coconut, Sugar, Egg.
Tejas #120
RareCoast (Costa)
Ica fruit candies filled with manjar.
Ingredients: Manjar blanco, Pecans, Sugar.
Chocotejas #121
CommonCoast (Costa)
Chocolate-covered tejas.
Ingredients: Chocolate, Manjar blanco, Pecans.
Helado de Lúcuma #122
CommonCoast (Costa)
Peru's favorite ice cream flavor.
Ingredients: Lúcuma, Milk, Sugar.
Mazamorra de Plátano #123
RareAmazon (Selva)
Warm plantain pudding.
Ingredients: Plantain, Milk, Cinnamon.
Tanta Wawa #124
EpicAndes (Sierra)
Bread dolls baked for All Saints' Day.
Ingredients: Flour, Anise, Sugar.
Pan Chuta #125
RareAndes (Sierra)
Giant round bread from Oropesa.
Ingredients: Flour, Anise, Butter.
Machacado de Membrillo #126
EpicAndes (Sierra)
Quince paste from the Andes.
Ingredients: Quince, Sugar.
Arroz Zambito #201
RareCoast (Costa)
Rice pudding with chancaca and coconut.
Ingredients: Rice, Chancaca, Coconut, Cinnamon.
Melcochas #202
RareCoast (Costa)
Chewy chancaca taffy.
Ingredients: Chancaca.
Dulce de Camote #203
CommonCoast (Costa)
Sweet potato jam with cinnamon and clove.
Ingredients: Sweet potato, Sugar, Cinnamon, Clove.
Drinks
Pisco Sour #127
CommonCoast (Costa)
Pisco, lime, egg white and bitters.
Ingredients: Pisco, Lime, Egg, Sugar.
Chicha Morada #128
CommonAndes (Sierra)
Purple corn drink with pineapple and spices.
Ingredients: Purple corn, Pineapple, Cinnamon, Lime.
Inca Kola #129
CommonCoast (Costa)
Peru's golden soda.
Ingredients: Soda.
Chilcano de Pisco #130
CommonCoast (Costa)
Pisco with ginger ale and lime.
Ingredients: Pisco, Ginger ale, Lime.
Emoliente #131
CommonAndes (Sierra)
Hot herbal street drink.
Ingredients: Barley, Flaxseed, Herbs, Lime.
Chicha de Jora #132
RareAndes (Sierra)
Fermented corn beer of the Incas.
Ingredients: Corn, Chancaca.
Mate de Coca #133
CommonAndes (Sierra)
Coca leaf tea for the altitude.
Ingredients: Coca leaf.
Frutillada #134
RareAndes (Sierra)
Strawberry chicha from Cusco.
Ingredients: Strawberry, Chicha de jora.
Masato #135
EpicAmazon (Selva)
Fermented yuca drink of the Amazon.
Ingredients: Yuca.
Aguajina #136
RareAmazon (Selva)
Aguaje fruit refresher.
Ingredients: Aguaje, Sugar.
Chapo #137
RareAmazon (Selva)
Sweet plantain drink.
Ingredients: Plantain, Milk.
Cóctel de Algarrobina #138
RareCoast (Costa)
Pisco with carob syrup and milk.
Ingredients: Pisco, Algarrobina, Milk, Egg.
Siete Raíces #140
EpicAmazon (Selva)
Amazon root liqueur.
Ingredients: Roots, Cane liquor, Honey.
Clarito #141
EpicCoast (Costa)
Clear northern chicha.
Ingredients: Corn.
Pisco #142
CommonCoast (Costa)
Peru's grape brandy, served neat.
Ingredients: Pisco.
Machu Picchu #143
RareAndes (Sierra)
Layered pisco cocktail with mint and grenadine.
Ingredients: Pisco, Grenadine, Mint liqueur, Orange.
Jugo de Camu Camu #144
RareAmazon (Selva)
Vitamin C bomb from the Amazon.
Ingredients: Camu camu, Sugar.
Maracuyá Sour #145
CommonCoast (Costa)
Pisco sour with passion fruit.
Ingredients: Pisco, Passion fruit, Egg.
Chicha de Quinua #146
RareAndes (Sierra)
Sweet quinoa and apple drink.
Ingredients: Quinoa, Apple, Cinnamon.
Té Piteado #147
RareAndes (Sierra)
Hot tea spiked with pisco.
Ingredients: Tea, Pisco, Lime.
Jugo Surtido #148
CommonCoast (Costa)
Market mixed fruit juice.
Ingredients: Papaya, Banana, Pineapple.
Café de Chanchamayo #149
CommonAmazon (Selva)
High jungle coffee.
Ingredients: Coffee.
Chocolate Caliente Cusqueño #150
RareAndes (Sierra)
Thick hot chocolate with cinnamon.
Ingredients: Cacao, Milk, Cinnamon.
Chicha de Maní #204
RareAmazon (Selva)
Creamy peanut drink.
Ingredients: Peanut, Sugar, Cinnamon.
Cerveza de Quinua #205
EpicAndes (Sierra)
Andean craft beer brewed with quinoa.
Ingredients: Quinoa, Barley.
Fruit
Lúcuma #151
CommonAndes (Sierra)
Maple-like Andean fruit.
Ingredients: Lúcuma.
Chirimoya #152
CommonAndes (Sierra)
Creamy custard apple.
Ingredients: Chirimoya.
Aguaymanto #153
RareAndes (Sierra)
Tart golden berry.
Ingredients: Aguaymanto.
Granadilla #154
CommonAndes (Sierra)
Sweet passion fruit cousin.
Ingredients: Granadilla.
Maracuyá #155
CommonCoast (Costa)
Tangy passion fruit.
Ingredients: Passion fruit.
Camu Camu #157
EpicAmazon (Selva)
Amazon berry loaded with vitamin C.
Ingredients: Camu camu.
Cocona #158
RareAmazon (Selva)
Citrusy Amazon tomato-fruit.
Ingredients: Cocona.
Aguaje #159
RareAmazon (Selva)
Scaly palm fruit of the Amazon.
Ingredients: Aguaje.
Tuna #160
CommonAndes (Sierra)
Prickly pear cactus fruit.
Ingredients: Prickly pear.
Pitahaya #161
RareAmazon (Selva)
Yellow dragon fruit.
Ingredients: Dragon fruit.
Tumbo #162
RareAndes (Sierra)
Banana passion fruit.
Ingredients: Tumbo.
Guanábana #163
CommonAmazon (Selva)
Soursop with tangy white flesh.
Ingredients: Soursop.
Mango Piurano #164
CommonCoast (Costa)
Sweet mango from Piura.
Ingredients: Mango.
Palta Fuerte #165
CommonCoast (Costa)
Creamy Peruvian avocado.
Ingredients: Avocado.
Sauco #166
RareAndes (Sierra)
Andean elderberry.
Ingredients: Elderberry.
Pepino Dulce #167
RareCoast (Costa)
Melon pear with striped skin.
Ingredients: Pepino dulce.
Ungurahui #168
EpicAmazon (Selva)
Dark Amazon palm fruit.
Ingredients: Ungurahui.
Arazá #169
EpicAmazon (Selva)
Sour Amazon guava.
Ingredients: Arazá.
Caimito #170
RareAmazon (Selva)
Star apple with sticky sweet pulp.
Ingredients: Caimito.
Plátano de Isla #171
CommonAmazon (Selva)
Jungle banana.
Ingredients: Banana.
Mamey #172
RareAmazon (Selva)
Orange-fleshed tropical fruit.
Ingredients: Mamey.
Níspero #173
CommonAndes (Sierra)
Andean loquat.
Ingredients: Loquat.
Taperibá #174
EpicAmazon (Selva)
Hog plum from the Amazon.
Ingredients: Taperibá.
Questions
Does papa a la huancaína have meat?
Not in the catalog. The sauce is ají amarillo, fresh cheese, milk and egg, on potato. Confirm the kitchen is not using a meat stock, which is uncommon for this dish and still a fair question.
What do vegetarians eat in Cusco?
Choclo with cheese, quinoa soup, locro de zapallo, kapchi de habas and a lot of bread. Skip cuy, chicharrón and the Corpus Christi platter. The Cusco guide marks the heavy dishes.
Is Inca Kola vegetarian?
Yes. It is a soda. It is also very sweet, and it has nothing to do with whether the chifa meal next to it is vegetarian. Ask about the chicken in the rice separately.
Keep reading
- Fish, no land meatPescatarian Food in PeruCeviche, trout, paiche and the other catalog dishes that are seafood without beef, pork or chicken.
- AndesWhat to Eat in CuscoA light first day, giant corn, quinoa, and cuy only if you want it. Cusco is also spelled Cuzco.
- PicanteríasWhat to Eat in ArequipaRocoto, shrimp chowder, Sunday adobo, and a cold cheese ice cream that is not a savory course.
- CapitalWhat to Eat in LimaCeviche at lunch, chifa after dark, rotisserie chicken, and the criollo plates the city eats all week.