The Big Peruvian Cookbook

A welcoming journey through Peru’s diverse gastronomy, written by a mother-daughter team who run a culinary school in Lima and the popular food blog Peru Delights. Morena Cuadra and Morena Escardó present 100 traditional recipes that span the country’s coastal, highland, and jungle regions, covering everything from ceviches and piqueos to hearty soups and beloved sweets.

Why Start Here

The Big Peruvian Cookbook works as a first Peruvian cookbook because it balances authenticity with accessibility. Cuadra trained as a professional chef and runs a culinary school, so her recipes are tested and precise. But the instructions are written for home cooks, not restaurant kitchens. You get the real deal, presented in a way that does not assume you already know how to handle aji amarillo paste or cook with huacatay.

The book covers the full breadth of Peruvian cooking without overwhelming you. At 100 recipes across 272 pages, every dish earns its place. You will find the classics that define the cuisine: ceviche, lomo saltado, aji de gallina, papa a la huancaina, and causa. But you will also discover lesser-known regional dishes that reveal how much variety exists within Peru’s borders. The recipes are organized logically, making it easy to start with simpler preparations and work your way toward more involved ones.

Cuadra and Escardó also provide context for each dish, explaining where it comes from and why it matters. This transforms a recipe collection into something closer to a culinary education. You learn not just how to cook Peruvian food, but why Peruvian food tastes the way it does.

What to Expect

A colorful 272-page cookbook with vibrant photography that captures both the food and the culture behind it. The recipes are organized by course, from appetizers and soups through main dishes and desserts. Most recipes call for ingredients that are available at well-stocked grocery stores or Latin American markets, though a few specialty items like aji panca paste or lucuma may require a trip to a specialty shop or an online order. Difficulty is genuinely accessible. A confident beginner can handle the majority of recipes, with a handful of more traditional preparations that reward patience and practice. The writing is warm and personal, reflecting the authors’ deep love for their adopted country’s food.