Welcome to The Storied Recipe Podcast, a podcast about food, culture, and love.
Looking to make a complete traditional Christmas dinner, Peruvian style? Or perhaps just a recipe or two to add a little pizazz and umph to your own Christmas menu?
Here, I've gathered together 25 of the best Christmas Peruvian recipes for you to try out!
Looking for more Christmas inspiration? Check out another Christmas round-up, 55 Traditional Christmas Desserts Around the World, and make sure to listen to my podcast series Christmas Traditions Around the World where my podcast guests share their warmest Christmas memories.
How to Use This List
- Before the recipes, there is a little background on Peruvian Christmas traditions.
- Then, the Peruvian recipes below are organized by course: Appetizers, Main Courses, Potato Dishes, Rice Dishes, Salads, Peruvian Tamales, Fruit Dishes, Desserts, and Drinks.
Christmas Traditions in Peru
Gifts and Christmas Markets
While the Christmas season in the United States typically begins after Thanksgiving, things are a little different in Peru, where Christmas is a much less materialistic holiday. In fact, it's common for only children to receive gifts. There are no Black Friday sales or the same rush to buy gifts for everyone you know. In fact, even the most famous Christmas market, Santurantikuy ("Sale of the Saints), in Peru opens first on December 24th.
Santurantikuyis in the main square, Plaza de Armas, of the bustling city of Cusco. There, the great nativity scenes are displayed, with the Baby Jesus at the very center. Around that are stalls where artisans and street vendors sell all types of clothing and goods. As visitors wander through the stalls, they may drink rum or the famous Peruvian Christmas Hot Chocolate (recipe below).
Christmas in The Summer
Keep in mind that the Christmas season in Peru is during summertime, so you can wander leisurely late into the December evenings without getting cold.
Decorations
As far as decorations in Peruvian homes, the Christmas tree is less common. Instead, just like at the Christmas Markets, the focal point of Christmas decorations is a Pesebre - or a manger. When families arrange gifts to exchange, it is around this manger rather than under a tree. Someone - often the youngest child - will place a figurine of baby Jesus into the manger.
Christmas Eve (December 24th)
La Noche Buena - the Good Night - or Christmas Eve is the high point of the festive season.
Many Peruvians will attend Misa de Gallo (the Rooster Mass) at 10pm, where members of the Catholic Church celebrate the birth of Christ.
Afterwards, families gather together to eat a huge Christmas dinner (recipes below!). Gifts may be often exchanged that evening, although some Peruvians embrace the North American/European tradition of receiving gifts from Santa Claus the next day. (Interesting fact from Cultural Awareness: In 1972, the Peruvian government banned Santa Claus from the country’s radio and TV programs, alleging that he was a depiction of Western capitalism, greed, and an anti-Christian myth.)
In some towns, fireworks are lit at midnight.
Christmas Day (December 24)
In some households, Papá Noel (Peruvian Santa) visits while the children sleep. Peruvians may see another side of the family on Christmas Day, December 25th, always greeting whomever they do see with "Feliz Navidad"!
Epiphany or Three Kings Day (January 6th)
The holiday season lasts through the Roman Catholic celebration of Epiphany or Three Kings Day, which celebrates the Magi arriving and presenting gifts to the newborn King, Jesus. It's fitting therefore to exchange family gifts that day, instead of on Christmas Day and many Peruvian households observe this tradition, particularly in the Andean regions of Peru.
With all of these celebrations, you may be creating multiple Christmas meals this year! Here are enough recipes to serve authentic Peruvian food to each and everyone!
Appetizers
During special occasions such as Christmas, your appetizers are just as important to start your meal as your entrees and these delicious dishes will start your feast the right way. In addition to the recipe shown below, another great appetizer idea is this Japanese-Peruvian fusion dish and recipe, Causa Sushi Rolls from Peru Delights. The Causa (Peruvian potato) is mashed and filled with crab meat and seasoning. (Peruvian food is heavily influenced by Asian cuisine, as Peru is home to a large Asian population.) If you don't have access to Causa, use waxy, yellow potatoes.
Papa a la Huancaina Recipe
Cooks in 35 minutesPapa a la Huancaina is a Peruvian appetizer from the region of Huancayo. The creamy spicy sauce is poured over cold slices of potato, a bed of lettuce and garnished with black Peruvian olives and boiled egg.
Main Course
If you look up Christmas Peruvian cuisine you will surely find at least one meat recipe. In addition to the turkey and chicken recipes, another traditional meat entrée is Christmas Milk Pig from Mi Comida Peruana which is pork marinated in yellow chili peppers, orange juice, and rosemary.
Peruvian-Style Whole Turkey Recipe
Cooks in 1,005 minutesThis Peruvian-style whole turkey recipe is perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas. The marinade and stuffing are a true flavor explosion and the turkey ends up nice and juicy.
Peruvian Grilled Chicken
Cooks in 1,545 minutes
Potato Dishes
Below are a variety of dishes that will make you and your guests have a new appreciation for potatoes that deviate from the typical holiday mashed potatoes that we all know (and love).
Pur de Papa Cremoso y Suave: Receta Casera Fcil y Deliciosa
Cooks in 30 minutesAprende a preparar un pur de papa cremoso y suave, perfecto como guarnicin para cualquier plato principal. Sencillo y rpido!
Peruvian Potato Croquettes (Papas Rellenas Peruanas)
Cooks in 2 hoursPeruvian Potato Croquettes (Papas Rellenas Peruanas)
How to Cook Yacon Sauce
Cooks in 65 minutesWondering how to cook yacon? Or better yet, what the heck yacon is?? I suggest you try this applesauce knockoff.
Spicy Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes
These spicy, savory mashed sweet potatoes, with aj amarillo paste and ground cumin, have a subtle hint of Peruvian flavor. Roasting the sweet potatoes adds a layer of flavor that makes them muy delicioso!
Rice Dishes
Instead of having plain white rice with your feast, the recipes below is a great way to elevate you meal with aromatic and rich flavors.
Peruvian Christmas Rice (Arroz Arab)
Cooks in 34 minutesA Peruvian-Arabic fusion holiday side dish with rice, vermicelli, dried fruit, aj amarillo paste, ground cumin, fresh herbs, and pomegranate arils...
Arroz Moro with Quinoa and Cranberries
Cooks in 50 minutesMorena Escardo
Arroz moro is perhaps one of the most traditional holiday dishes in Peru. This rice is usually served with turkey on Christmas, or with salads, and apple and sweet potato sauce. Heres my version!Arroz rabe with Raisins
Cooks in 30 minutesArroz rabe, as it's known in Chile, exists in many different versions throughout the Americas and it doesn't surprise me at all! It's so delicious and can be served as a side to fish, pork, or beef it goes well with everything!
Salads
Peruvian Christmas celebrations often feature typical dishes like festive salads made with bean, beets, and even boiled eggs!
Peruvian Cabbage Arrimado
Cooks in 45 minutesThe Peruvian cabbage arrimado is a classic Peruvian dish. It's like a Peruvian-style "stir-fry" made with cabbage, yellow peppers, onions, tomatoes and black olives and it can be prepared with pork or beef. This dish was used by my grandparents neighbors who were originally from Peru. You can serve it with white rice, but my grandfather loved to eat it in tacos with flour tortillas. Either way, it's super yummy and the whole family will love it.
Beet and Potato Salad
Indulge in the delightful Beet and Potato Salad, a harmonious blend of vibrant vegetables and hard-boiled eggs. Drizzled with a luscious mix of mayonnaise, white vinegar, olive oil, salt, and white pepper, this salad combines the earthy goodness of peas, green beans, carrots, beets, and Yukon Gold potatoes. A symphony of flavors, perfectly seasoned for a taste that transcends borders. A true culinary masterpiece in every bite.
Lima Bean Salad
Cooks in 10 minutesPeruvian Chopped Salad Recipe
Cooks in 20 minutesThis delicious Peruvian recipe is a twist on your classic chopped salad recipe. Made with lima beans, corn and a host of other fresh veggies and herbs, this is a perfect summer salad recipe. Dressed in a simple vinaigrette this simple salad is a great way to brighten up any summer party!
Peruvian Tamales
The Tamales Verdes is the perfect dish for your Christmas table because they are a beautiful Christmas green color plus they are a great option for an any vegetarians at your holiday dinner.
Tamales Verdes
Coriander and culantro add a delicious but delicate flavor to this traditional dish made from cornhusks and corn, served with a delicious creole sauce of the quintessentially Peruvian lime juice and peppers.
Salted fresh corn tamales with salsa criolla (Humitas con salsa criolla)
Cooks in 70 minutesAustralian Gourmet Traveller recipe for salted fresh corn tamales with salsa criolla (Humitas con salsa criolla).
Fruit Dishes
In addition to apple puree, one of the most traditional dishes during a traditional Peruvian Christmas dinner, this festive Peruvian Baked Apples with Mashed Sweet Potatoes from Peru Delights is a gorgeous dish that is sweet and bursting with flavors. It is a whole baked apple with a core filled with sweet potato puree; the green apples offset the sweetness from the sweet potato and create a perfect harmony between sweet, savory, and sour.
Apple Sauce
Elevate your taste buds with this easy homemade applesauce. Peel, core, and chop 4 pounds of cooking apples (like Granny Smith or McIntosh), adding zest and 1-3 tablespoons of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar for the perfect tartness. Infuse with a cinnamon stick, 1/2 cup of brown sugar, and a touch of salt. Simmer in a saucepan with 1 cup of water and 1/4 cup of unsalted butter until tender. This delightful applesauce, with its harmonious blend of sweet and tart flavors, is a versatile and comforting addition to any meal.
Desserts
Peruvian panettone or Paneton is a sweet bread and is by far the most well-known of all Peruvian Christmas food. Originally an Italian sweet bread, it came to Peru via the large population of Italian immigrants who arrived in Peru between 1840 and 1866. (Although there were Italians in Peru as early as the 16th century.) Now, the most well-known of all the holiday traditions in Peru is to end your Peruvian traditional Christmas dinner with a Panettone/Paneton.
Peruvian Panetón - Christmas Fruit Cake Dessert
Panetón is a Peruvian cake-bread dessert traditionally eaten at Christmas time in Peru. It's sweet, packed with candied fruit, and uses easy-to-find ingredients.
Panetn & Hot Chocolate Bread Pudding
Cooks in 1 hour 8 minutesThis is a Panetn & Hot Chocolate Bread Pudding recipe. If you can find it, use a Peruvian Panetn as these are considered the best quality. Enjoy!
Drinks
Peruvian Christmas desserts are perfectly complemented by rich this Peruvian hot chocolate recipe below and are often served with a cinnamon stick to enhance the creamy texture. If you are looking for a more boozy Christmas drink, the Eggnog with Pisco and Peruvian Pisco Sour recipes will definitely make your taste buds sing with holiday spirit (I couldn't resist a pun).
Piscnog - Eggnog with Pisco
Introducing Piscnog, a delightful twist on the classic holiday favorite, Eggnog, with a South American flair. This rich and creamy concoction combines the traditional elements of Eggnog with a splash of Pisco, adding a distinctive and spirited twist to your festive celebrations.
Peruvian Pisco Sour
Cooks in 3 minutesPisco is a clear brandy that is popular in both Peru and Chile. The white muscat grapes, from which pisco is distilled, were first grown in Peru by the Spaniards in the 16th century (at that time Peru & Chile were both part of Spains American empire.) When they became independent countries, both claimed the liquor as their own. Therefore the national drink of both Peru and Chile, is the rich Pisco Sour. However there is a difference in sweetness and the fruit used between the two countries piscos. I have posted both recipes so be sure to try the Chilean Pisco Sour as well.
PERUVIAN HOT CHOCOLATE
Cooks in 10 minutesPeruvian hot chocolate is rich and creamy with hints of cinnamon and cloves. Traditionally served with a slice of Panettone. Enjoy!
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Ingredients
Papa a la Huancaína from A Cozy Kitchen
Causa Sushi Rolls from Peru Delights
Peruvian Style Turkey from Green Healthy Cooking
Peruvian Grilled Chicken from Mi Comida Peruana
Peruvian Milk Pig from Mi Comida Peruana
Puré de Papas (Peruvian Mashed Potatoes) from Jamea Peru
Peruvian Potato Croquettes (Papas Rellenas Peruanas) from Ricardo Cuisine
Yacon "Applesauce" from Attainable Sustainable
Spicy Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes from Beyond Mere Sustenance
Peruvian Christmas Rice from Beyond Mere Sustenance
Arroz Moro with Quinoa and Cranberries from Que Rica Vida
Arroz Arabe With Raisins from Que Rica Vida
Peruvian Cabbage Arrimado from Que Rica Vida
Ensalada Rusa (Peruvian Russian Salad) from Olenka Cooks
Lima Bean Salad from Food Fidelity
Peruvian Chopped Salad from The Cookie Rookie
Tamales Verdes [Peruvian Green Tamalitos from Eat Peru
Salted Fresh Corn Tamales (Humitas con salsa criolla) from Gourmet Traveller
Applesauce from Olenka Cooks
Baked Apples with Mashed Sweet Potato from Peru Delights
Peruvian Panetón from Eat Peru
Panetón Hot Chocolate Bread Pudding from Food52
Peruvian Hot Chocolate from The Genetic Chef
Piscnog – Eggnog With Pisco from Olenka Cooks
Peruvian Pisco Sour from Food
Directions
- Make sure to listen to Christmas Traditions Around the World series, an episode where my global guests have shared about their beloved Christmas cultural and family traditions!
Carlos says
Very inspired by different recipes very interesting
admin says
Thanks Carlos!! I had a lot of fun researching these - learned a lot!