Picarones Recipe - Delicious Peruvian Dessert Food | Eat Peru (2024)

FAQs

What is the most famous Peruvian dessert? ›

1. Mazamorra Morada (Purple corn Pudding) Mazamorra Morada is perhaps the most consumed Peruvian dessert in the Andean country. This well-known pudding is made with purple corn as the main ingredient and it gives its iconic color and distinctive flavor.

Its principal ingredients are squash and sweet potato. It is served in a doughnut form and covered with syrup, made from chancaca (solidified molasses). It is traditional to serve picarones when people prepare anticuchos, another traditional Peruvian dish.

Peru regained independence from Spain in the 19th century, but the modified buñuelos, now known as picarones, had become an integral part of Afro-Peruvian culture. Families passed down recipes through generations, and the comforting sweet made its way into harvest festivals, religious processions, and onto the streets.

Truly the snack of the Peruvian people, picarones continue to thrive in the streets of Peru, costing only about 2 to 4 soles (60¢ to US$1.20).

The main staple of a Perúvian breakfast is café con leche, coffee with milk. Bread, cheese and marmalade also are served at breakfast. In Perú, the verb that goes with breakfast is tomar, which means “to take” or “to drink.” You don't “eat” breakfast in Perúvian Spanish. Supper usually consists of tea and bread.

Picarones have a spiced flavor that Americans would most likely describe as "fall flavor" or "pumpkin spice flavor." The batter is mostly made up of tubers, usually, a mixture of sweet potato and a local squash found in Peru called macre, per Peru Delights.

In fact, Picarones, made primarily from squash and sweet potatoes, do offer some health benefits. Squash and sweet potatoes are rich in dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium. They also provide antioxidants, which can help protect your body against cellular damage.

From the iconic Chocolate Dona Pepa to the delightful Chocolate Cuacua and Chicha Morada, each treat in this box offers a unique taste experience that transports you straight to the heart of Peru.

What is Peru known for fruit? ›

Lúcuma. One of the most popular fruits in Peru, the lúcuma is a common flavor in ice cream and many other sweets. The eggfruit, as it is known in English, is a subtropical fruit of the Andes valleys with bright yellow flesh whose flavor is slightly reminiscent of the sweet potato.

Because it has so many different ecosystems, Peru is home to a wider variety of plants and animals than most other countries on Earth. For many reasons, Peruvians have not had as much of an impact on their natural world as many other countries, and much of these ecosystems have been undisturbed.

Peru has long been a top destination for international backpackers on a budget, as the cost of living is comparatively low for travelers from the US or Europe. Within the past two decades, the nation's induction into gastronomic fame has sparked a fervor in travelers, nearly equal to that for Machu Picchu.

The neighborhood of Barranco achieved the highest average apartment price in Peru, Lima. A square meter cost 2,325 U.S. dollars per square meter in the second quarter of 2022.

Lima is celebrated as the culinary capital of South America, and is defined by its sublime cooking.

Ceviche. Top of any list of must-try foods in Peru is Ceviche, which originated here in Peru and is the national dish of the country. It's a cold-cooked fish dish that is marinated in lime juice and usually served alongside red onions, boiled corn and sweet potato.

Tres leche – which literally translates to 'three milks' – is more than a dessert in Costa Rica, it's a bona fide culinary institution. National Geographic even went as far as to name this the country's 'national dessert' due to it being ubiquitous and insanely delicious.

Cancha Salada

This popular snack has been around for centuries in South America. Made from the roasted Peruvian corn kernels of a variety known as maiz cancha. The kernels are roasted in oil and salted, and served in bags to go. The simplest of simple and one of the tastiest too.