{"id":2574,"date":"2019-12-12T09:58:20","date_gmt":"2019-12-12T14:58:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/?p=2574"},"modified":"2026-05-11T16:18:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T21:18:10","slug":"what-do-peruvians-eat-for-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/what-do-peruvians-eat-for-christmas","title":{"rendered":"What do Peruvians eat for Christmas?"},"content":{"rendered":"

December is high season in several cities across the country, restaurants fill up, some menus change just for Christmas, and many neighborhoods organize their own activities. If you’re planning Christmas trips to Machu Picchu<\/a> during those dates, it also helps to understand what else to do in Cusco<\/a>, how dinner is organized, what’s typically served, and what options you have if you’re looking for something more local than an international buffet.<\/p>\n\n

The Peruvian Christmas Menu at a Glance<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When it comes to Christmas food in Peru<\/strong>, Nochebuena revolves around an abundant table where Andean, European, and Creole influences blend together. Here are some of the dishes and preparations that most commonly appear at a typical Peruvian Christmas dinner:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Dish<\/strong><\/td>\nWhat it is<\/strong><\/td>\nWhy it matters<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Roasted turkey or lech\u00f3n<\/strong><\/td>\nTurkey marinated with aj\u00ed panca, garlic, cumin, beer, orange juice and spices, or lech\u00f3n marinated with vinegar, garlic, herbs and sometimes chicha de jora. Usually stuffed with ground meat, dried fruits and soaked bread.<\/td>\nIt’s the centerpiece of the table and Peru’s equivalent to Thanksgiving turkey, served in generous portions symbolizing abundance and celebration on Christmas Eve.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Christmas Arabic rice<\/strong><\/td>\nRice saut\u00e9ed with butter or oil, golden angel hair pasta, dark raisins, pecans or walnuts, onion and sometimes a touch of soy sauce or broth, with a slightly sweet and aromatic flavor.<\/td>\nIt’s the most typical side dish for Christmas in Peru, blending Arab and Creole influences and almost always served alongside turkey or lech\u00f3n.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sweet apple and sweet potato pur\u00e9es<\/strong><\/td>\nApple pur\u00e9e with sugar, cinnamon and sometimes white wine, and sweet potato pur\u00e9e with butter, sugar, cinnamon and cloves. Served warm or hot in separate dishes.<\/td>\nTheir sweetness balances the salt and fat from the roasted meats and is a flavor strongly associated with Christmas for kids, adults and seniors alike.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Apple salad and Russian salad<\/strong><\/td>\nApple salad with carrot, celery, raisins, walnuts and mayo or yogurt. Russian salad with potato, carrot, peas, beets and mayo, sometimes with ham, apple or hard-boiled egg.<\/td>\nThey provide freshness, crunchy texture and color, and are prepared in large platters to serve many guests without complications.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Christmas tamales or humitas<\/strong><\/td>\nCorn dough wrapped in plantain or corn husks. Tamales usually have pork or chicken, olives, hard-boiled egg and pepper; sweet humitas have fresh cheese and anise.<\/td>\nThey connect the Christmas table with traditional Andean and coastal recipes and are eaten as appetizers, pre-midnight snacks or part of the leftovers on the 25th.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Panet\u00f3n with hot chocolate<\/strong><\/td>\nFluffy sweet bread with candied fruits or chocolate chips, paired with thick hot chocolate made with cocoa, milk, cinnamon, cloves and sometimes vanilla.<\/td>\nIt’s the most iconic Christmas combination in the country, present weeks before Christmas Eve at gatherings and breakfasts. For many, there’s no Peruvian Christmas without panet\u00f3n and chocolate, even in the middle of summer.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Toast drinks<\/strong><\/td>\nSparkling cider, red or white wine, local or imported sparkling wines and, in some cases, pisco sour or other light cocktails served near midnight.<\/td>\nThey signal the formal start of the celebration, the moment for hugs, good wishes and photos next to the tree and nativity scene.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

For many travelers, Christmas in Cusco is not just about dinner. It also becomes part of a bigger Andes itinerary that may continue through the Sacred Valley<\/a>, a visit to Machu Picchu<\/a>, or even a trek such as the Inca Trail<\/a>, the Salkantay Trek<\/a>, the Lares Trek<\/a>, or the shorter Huchuy Qosqo route<\/a>. If that is your case, it helps to read Christmas dinner not as an isolated meal, but as part of how you organize your days in Cusco during one of the busiest moments of the year.<\/p>\n

The Main Dishes: What Do Peruvians Eat at Christmas Dinner?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Main Dishes<\/h2>\n

Roasted Turkey<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Roasted turkey has become the centerpiece of Christmas food in Peru<\/strong>, though the tradition gained popularity with the growth of Peru’s modern poultry industry throughout the 20th century. What makes turkey in Peru<\/a> unique is the seasoning: aj\u00ed amarillo (a bright yellow pepper with moderate heat) and aj\u00ed panca (a smoky, mild Peruvian pepper paste) give it a distinctively Peruvian twist. Some cooks even inject their turkeys with wine or beer to keep the meat extra juicy, a technique that elevates this holiday favorite.<\/p>\n

Main ingredients for Peruvian turkey marinade:<\/h4>\n