THE 10 MOST POPULAR TYPICAL DISHES OF AYACUCHO - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The typical dishes of Ayacucho are characterized by the mixture of ingredients, the variety of flavors and spices.

Pork, beef and lamb meat, cheese (especially cottage cheese), corn, sweet potato (sweet potato), rocoto (a large pepper) and hot chili pepper (a large pepper) abound in the cuisine of Ayacucho. chilies). The main dishes are stews, meat and vegetable broths.

The most common soups in this area are the spicy puca and the ayacuchano tripe. The first is prepared with pork, potatoes and hot red pepper. The second is prepared with beef belly, beef and pork, potato and yucca.

In Ayacucho there is also a great variety of desserts, among which stand out the suspiros (made with eggs and spices), the mazamorra (made from corn and pumpkin), the humitas (boiled buns made with fresh corn) and the wawas (breads).

List of the most outstanding typical dishes of Ayacucho

Among the typical dishes of Ayacucho, the tripe, the spicy puca and the uman (which are soups), the adobo and the pachamanca (which are roasted meats) and the mazamorra and the humitas (which are desserts) stand out.

1- Ayacuchano tripe

Ayacucho tripe is one of the best known soups in Ayacucho. The main ingredient is the cow belly (tripe) that can be of four different styles, since this animal has four stomachs. Additionally, pork, lamb and cow meat is added.

As for vegetables, corn is added to the tripe (that is, corn), yellow potatoes and yucca. When serving the soup, it is accompanied with a dressing of hot chili powder and mint leaves.

2- Spicy puca

The ingredients of the spicy puca are the following: pork, white potatoes, dehydrated chili powder, roasted peanuts, garlic, onion and oil.

To prepare this broth, the pork is first cut into strips and cooked in a pan without oil (the natural fat from the pork will cause the meat to fry).

When the pork is ready it is removed from the pan. With the fat of the meat, a dressing of chili, garlic, onion, salt and pepper is prepared.

Once these ingredients have browned, the pork is added again and water is added. The potatoes are cut into cubes and incorporated into the mixture to give the broth a thicker consistency.

This soup is served with rice and boiled potatoes.

3- Pachamanca

Pachamanca is a dish that is prepared with beef, pork and lamb. The pieces of meat are baked on hot stones, as the aborigines did before the arrival of the Spanish.

Other ingredients present in this dish are yellow and white potatoes, fresh corn, and beans.

4- Uman

The caldo uman or caldo de cabeza is a soup made with the head of the ram. In addition, vegetables such as potatoes (white, yellow and sweet), cassava and celery are added. To season the soup, onions, garlic and hot peppers are fried.

It is one of the most nutritious broths and is consumed mainly during winter. This dish is also prepared during the patron saint festivities.

5- Teqtes

Teqtes is a vegetarian stew, because it does not include meat of any kind.

The ingredients in this stew are grains (mainly peas and beans), pumpkin, cheese, eggs, and milk. It is seasoned with chili, onions, garlic, and certain fresh herbs (such as parsley).

6- Hapchi

Hapchi, also known as qapchi, is a typical salad from Ayacucho. It is very simple to prepare and does not have many ingredients.

The base of this salad are potatoes (whether yellow or white), fresh cheese (cottage cheese or cheese type), onion and yellow pepper.

Hapchi is consumed as a snack. It can also be served as a companion to other main dishes, such as stuffed hot pepper.

7- Pushla

Pushla is a soup whose main ingredient is roasted barley grains. These grains are ground to form a flour that gives consistency to the mixture.

Other ingredients in pushla are grains (beans, lima beans, and peas), potatoes, eggs, and milk.

To season this broth, fresh herbs (parsley, coriander, among others), chili, garlic, onions and pepper are added.

8- Ayacucho Adobo

The adobo is a typical dish of the mountains of Peru. It is usually made with raw meat marinated in vinegar.

The base of this dish is pork, which is cut into small pieces. Yellow and red chili pepper, oregano, garlic, pepper and onion are added.

When the meat is softened by the action of the vinegar, it is served with boiled sweet potato (sweet potatoes) and with rice.

In some areas of Ayacucho, the marinade is not prepared with vinegar but is cooked, as if it were a stew.

9- Mazamorra

Mazamorra is a typical dessert from Ayacucho, which resembles a pudding because of its appearance. It can be prepared with corn or pumpkin.

To make this dessert, you start by cooking the vegetables, either corn or squash. Subsequently, a puree is made to which brown sugar, cinnamon and cloves are added to taste.

10- Humitas

Humitas are typical snacks and sweets from all over Peru. In Ayacucho a version of this dish is also prepared. They are buns made with corn, boiled in corn husks.

The dough is prepared with fresh corn kernels. The ears are shelled and then blended to produce a more or less homogeneous paste. If you want to improve the consistency of the preparation, you can add an egg.

The dough is rolled out on dried corn husks and then filled with cheese, raisins, and brown sugar. The leaves are closed and tied well so that the content does not come out. These buns are boiled and served cold.

References

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