Traditional Peruvian Breakfast – 30 Best Breakfast In Peru That You Should Try

Last updated on March 19th, 2024 at 11:13 am

Traditional Peruvian Breakfast And 30 Best Breakfast In Peru – When traveling in South America, typical Peruvian breakfast foods and Peruvian main dishes are some of the most popular food to try.

The Peruanos definitely have great attention and detail to their cooking, and have a lot of good influence, not only mixing South American cuisine but also Chinese / Asian influence because they migrated to Peru. This means a lot of soups, and traditional dishes with Peruvian spices, but also rice dishes!

And of course, breakfast is one of the most important dishes to have, so here we are, exploring the top 30 breakfasts to try in Peru! Before heading to the official list, let’s get to know Peru a little bit more. Read here Lima vs Cusco, 8 Days Peru Itinerary and Things to know before going to Peru

Read here for: 47 Best Peruvian Dishes to Try, 36 Best Vegetarian Dishes in Peru and best Peruvian drinks

WHERE TO STAY IN PERU

There are dormitory rooms that you can rent the bed for as low as $10 USD a night if you want the cheapest option. Double-room hostels can cost up to $30-40 USD a night while mid-range hotels cost more or less $80 USD a night.

Click here if you want to find the best deals with Booking in Peru.

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TRADITIONAL PERUVIAN BREAKFAST: BEST 30 BREAKFAST IN PERU

Peru definitely has some of the best dishes and amazing cuisine in South America. Apart from the incredible mountains and landscapes to visit in Peru, the food is definitely an experience you need to have. Here are some of the best breakfasts in Peru you need to try, don’t forget to check Peru group tours to get the best guides.

1. DESAYUNO PERUANO

Weekends are usually done with family and friends, with some kind of rituals. And just like everyone, Peruanos love to meet with family and friends in the weekends to have a big meal.

A mix of various dishes of Peruvian breakfasts is called Desayuno Peruano – perfect when you want to meet up and catch up with local families and friends!

2. SANGRECITA

Ahh, Sangrecita. This morning Peruvian dish is made from spiced chicken blood, and is chilli, just like how Peruvians like their food. It’s mixed with garlic too, for that perfect Peruvian breakfast.

The Peruvian Sangrecita can easily be compared to the English black pudding (an English favorite). It’s packed full of taste, the perfect way to start your Peruvian morning!

3. CHICHARRON

A lot of the countries in South America, and even in a lot of Asian countries, have rice as part of their breakfast! If you grew up in Asian households like Rachel, rice is easily a favorite for every dish! In Peruvian breakfasts, they serve white rice with chicharron or deep-fried pork belly.

They get it from their lechon asado or roasted pig. The meat is roasted in its own fat, until it becomes crispy. This crispy meat is what they call the chicharron.

If you want your chicharron served the Peruvian way, try it with salsa verde, or aji verde – just be careful. Peruvian chili sauces are popular for being incredibly spicy!

4. PORK SANDWICH OR PAN CON CHICHARRON OR PORK RIND SANDWICH

If you are fond of starting your breakfast in Peru with some chicharron, you can also enjoy it in a bun, or with a sandwich bread, preferably hot from the oven! This is the popular pan con chicharron, or Peruvian breakfast pork sandwich.

5. PAN FRANCES

If you like visiting bakeries like us, pan frances is a crowd favorite, whether you’re eating one for your breakfast in Peru, for your lunch, or for afternoon snacks like us!

6. PAN CON QUESO

Queso is of course a very typical ingredient in a lot of South American dishes, and rightfully so, as it just makes everything so freaking delicious. If you want your breakfast in Peru to start a little bit sweeter, pan con queso is a good choice! Get it in your nearest bakery or local store.

7. PAN CON PEJERREY

If you’d rather have fish in your sandwich for your breakfast in Peru, then that would be pan con pejerrey. This is more popular to have in coastal regions of Peru, where they can easily get fish, and cook it with flour and egg batter, deep fried

8. BUTIFARRA

Butifarra is jamon in Peru, and in Peruvian breakfasts, this is eaten as a cold sandwich. You can eat this with salsa criolla. This Peruvian sauce is made with onion relish – red onions, amarillo, aji, vinegar, and other popular Peruvian spices.

9. CEVICHE

Ceviche is Peru’s most popular dish, and yes, it’s that perfect sour taste with the marinated fish mixed with onions and Peruvian spices can be a part of your Peruvian mornings! Peruvian ceviche is served cold, and you can eat your ceviche breakfast with bread and some meat for a big start to your day!

10. HUMITAS

Humitas is a popular Peruvian breakfast that easily resembles a tamal. The main difference is that with humitas, you use fresh ground corn, versus the corn masa that is popular with the tamales. Humitas are usually not filled with meat either. A good vegan Peruvian breakfast choice!

11. PICARONES

If it’s a sweet Peruvian breakfast you’re looking for, get yourself some picarones. This is a very sweet, and fast breakfast, perfect for those quick mornings. It’s like having your doughnuts early in the morning – good from time to time!

These are sweet, deep fried potatoes guaranteed to give you a delicious Peruvian breakfast, and a great way to start your day.

12. TRIPLE

Now this one’s definitely something you’ve seen and done in many places, and could have easily adopted in Peruano breakfasts. This is a mix of bread, ham, cheese with mayonnaise. 3 layers, three meaning triple.

13. JAMON DEL PAIS

Jamon Del Pais in Peru is an artisanal homemade Ham following Spanish traditional style. Jamon Del Pais is usually boiled and you will add species like aji and chile. Jamon Del Pais is served with bread as a sandwich for breakfast in Peru.

14. TAMAL / TAMALES VERDES / TAMALITOS

Corn is something you definitely see in common in South American food, and Peruvian food is not immune to the delicious tamales. For Peruvians, they do tamales verdes or green tamales. They have a very common ingredient in Peru, coriander and culantro (family of cilantro), that gives a subtle yet distinctive tastes to their cuisine.

You can definitely taste it a lot in their food. Tamales verdes can be purchased everywhere, easily in the streets and the markets, so you’ll have easy access to it for your Peruvian breakfast. The husks or the corn and spinach are what make this Peruvian tamal version color green.

Tamales can be served with lime and onion salsa criolla. Yes Peruvian food doesn’t shy away from peppers, and sauces, even from breakfast!

MORE TRADITIONAL PERUVIAN BREAKFAST AND OUR BEST BREAKFAST IN PERU

15. CALDO DE CABEZA

This is a replenished soup, especially after a day of wakefulness. Its elaboration is laborious, but the result is spectacular.  A day before, the mote (some kind of corn) is boiled for about four hours and the broth is left to rest. The next day, a ram’s head is added in pieces and cooked together with celery, oregano and salt. An hour before it is ready, peeled potatoes are added.

A soup dish that is served as a breakfast in Peru, Caldo De Cabeza takes time and dedication to prepare. Definitely delicious and worth it, like most of Peru’s soups! Mote (a kind of corn) is boiled for hours, and a ram’s head will be added to it, cooked with Peruvian spices – celery, oregano, and salt.

Potatoes are also added. In Peru, a lot of dishes include potatoes and you’ll be surprised how many varieties of potatoes they have, and they are all delicious!

16. SALCHICHA HUACANA

Here’s another popular rice dish to have for breakfast in Peru. Salchicha Huacana is ground pork or beef cooked simmered in Peruvian spices and seasonings and tomato sauce. This is served with white rice and huevos (eggs). A good healthy and heavy breakfast to start a full day in Peru!

17. RELLENO

Peruvians love their sausages mixed with their own Peruvian spices, and relleno is the most popular, easily eaten as part of a traditional Peruvian breakfast!

Relleno is from pig intestine, stuffed with pork and more spices like onions, garlic, cilantro, cumin, and more unique Peruvian tastes! It’s a popular meat in Peru, with a lot of their Peruvian unique taste.

18. SALSA CRIOLLA

This Peruvian salsa or sauce is easily part of every breakfast in Peru, and every meal! Peruvians love their sauces and spices. This Peruvian sauce is made with onion relish – red onions, amarillo, aji, vinegar, and other popular Peruvian spices.

19. EMOLIENTE OR PERUVIAN BARLEY TEA

For warm drinks in cold Peruvian mornings, emoliente or herbal tea is common. You can have it as sweet or pure as you want, perfect for those mornings you’re not ready for cofffee yet, or not wanting to start your morning with juo or juices.

20. CAFE CON LECHE

Cafe con Leche in the mornings is always perfect. In Peru, they use evaporated milk to make their coffee creamier and tastier.

21. JUGO DE PAPAYA

Peru is a wonderful country, full of delicious food, and some of the freshest fruits and vegetables we’ve ever tasted. If you want to start your Peruvian mornings colorful and healthy, might we suggest starting your day with some jugo de papaya or papaya juice!

These are served in a lot of the local markets, or just buy some fresh papaya near you, and we guarantee you the deliciousness and sweetness of the Peruvian papaya fruit!

22. JUGO SURTIDO

If you want to start your morning with a fruit mix smoothie, then we can’t disagree! All fruits we’ve tasted in Peru, common or exotic are super delicious. It’s easy to have your jugo surtido or mixed fruit juiced a part of your Peruvian breakfast routine.

23. JUGO ESPECIAL

Jugo Especial is another great Peruano breakfast or Peruvian breakfast that you can have. It’s also a fruit juice, and is a mix of various fruits, algarrobina (a special fruit syrup in Peru), dark beer or malt, with raw egg. It’s basically an upgrade to your regular Peruvian juice!

24. LOMITO AL JUGO

If you’re familiar with one of Peru’s most popular dishes, the Lomo Saltado, Lomito al Jugo, is a breakfast version of this. Meat is cooked in a wok with soy sauce and Peruvian spices, and eaten with bread (versus with white rice in Lomo Saltado).

25. QUINUA OR PERUVIAN QUINUA CARRETILLERA

This is a type of hot beverage served in the streets of Peru. If you’re looking for a hot alternative to your Peruvian breakfast drink, especially in the winters, try this one. You can have it just the quinoa, or with fruits like apples and peaches, especially if you’re making your own.

26. EMPANADAS

Empanadas are very common in South America, and every country has its own take on their own empanadas. We love having them in Peru, and they can easily be eaten fora breakfast in Peru, a snack, or even for meals, if you’re looking for a lighter meal, or if you can a lot of them!

Fillings will vary, and you can have getable empanadas, or meat, which will usuallly be carne (pork) or pollo (chicken).

27. EMPANADAS SALTEÑAS

Saltañas is a special type of Empanada that originated in Bolivia, with versions in Argentina. We loved having our salteñas when we were much closer to the South of Peru, like Cusco, and Puno!

28. HUEVOS AL AJI

Aji peppers is a Peruvian signature in every dish – whether you’re adding it as an ingredient or as a sauce for dipping or mixing. If you’re prepared to have a spicy hot start to your Peruvian breakfast, cook your eggs (huevos) the way you like it, and add some onions, cilantro, and yellow aji peppers.

You can also add some avocadoes, and tomatoes, for that full Peruvian breakfast. Now you’re ready to start your day with some huevos al aji.

29. HABAS CON MENESTRA OR MENESTRA DE HABAS

Habas con Menestra is another vegan breakfast in Peru or a vegetarian breakfast in Peru option you can have, and a popular one at that is the habas con menestra or menestra de habas. Habas is a type of beans in Peru, while menestras is a mix of vegetables and spices the Peruvian way.

Habas con Menestra can have beans, with garlic, red onions, choclo (what Peruvians call their dried corn on the cob), yellow aji peppers, and carrots, celery and peas. Can easily be served as a Peruvian breakfast, or easily any dish in your day!

30. ADOBO AREQUIPEÑO

Peruanos love their soups! We can agree that they have some of the best soups in South America. The adobo arequipeño is a Peruvian breakfast soup, a soup dish with pork chop and aji panca.

You can have it with bread, rice or potatoes, and a very common dish served in markets, and local chops. If you happen to be visiting Peru during their winter, definitely need a taste of this soup to warm you up!

Hope you liked our Peruvian breakfast blog post. Let us know if we missed any breakfast in Peru and which one is your favorite one in the list of traditional Peruvian breakfast.

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