Introduction: Anticuchos — skewers of marinated beef heart, grilled over charcoal — trace back to colonial-era Andean cooking and are found in variations across the region. Cultural Background: Anticuchos — skewers of marinated beef heart, grilled over charcoal — trace back to colonial-era Andean cooking and are found in variations across the region. In Bolivia, […]
Introduction: Salteñas are Bolivia's most famous savoury pastry, said to have been popularised by refugees from Salta, Argentina, in the 19th century. Cultural Background: Salteñas are Bolivia's most famous savoury pastry, said to have been popularised by refugees from Salta, Argentina, in the 19th century. Filled with a juicy, slightly sweet-spicy stew of meat, potato, […]
Introduction: Chairo is a thick Andean soup from the La Paz highlands, built around chuño (freeze-dried potato), a preservation technique dating back to the Tiwanaku and Inca eras. Cultural Background: Chairo is a thick Andean soup from the La Paz highlands, built around chuño (freeze-dried potato), a preservation technique dating back to the Tiwanaku and […]
Introduction: Fricasé is a weekend and early-morning dish from La Paz, traditionally eaten after Saturday nights out or at Sunday family lunches, believed to help settle the stomach. Cultural Background: Fricasé is a weekend and early-morning dish from La Paz, traditionally eaten after Saturday nights out or at Sunday family lunches, believed to help settle […]
Introduction: Sopa de maní reflects Bolivia's lowland agricultural bounty, where peanuts have been cultivated for centuries. Cultural Background: Sopa de maní reflects Bolivia's lowland agricultural bounty, where peanuts have been cultivated for centuries. Creamy and mildly spiced, it's a comfort dish served across social classes, from home kitchens to formal restaurant menus in Cochabamba and […]
Introduction: Silpancho originated in Cochabamba in the mid-20th century and has since become a national favourite, typically eaten at lunchtime. Cultural Background: Silpancho originated in Cochabamba in the mid-20th century and has since become a national favourite, typically eaten at lunchtime. It layers rice, potatoes, a thin breaded and fried steak, and a fried egg […]
Introduction: Tucumanas are fried cousins of the baked salteña, sold hot from street carts, particularly popular as a mid-morning snack in La Paz and El Alto. Cultural Background: Tucumanas are fried cousins of the baked salteña, sold hot from street carts, particularly popular as a mid-morning snack in La Paz and El Alto. Their crisp, […]
Introduction: Picante de pollo is a festive, spicy chicken stew served at family celebrations, town fiestas and Sunday gatherings across highland Bolivia. Cultural Background: Picante de pollo is a festive, spicy chicken stew served at family celebrations, town fiestas and Sunday gatherings across highland Bolivia. Its name simply means 'spicy chicken', and it is typically […]
Introduction: Pique macho was created in Cochabamba in the 1970s and quickly became a symbol of hearty, shareable Bolivian food. Cultural Background: Pique macho was created in Cochabamba in the 1970s and quickly became a symbol of hearty, shareable Bolivian food. Piled onto a single large platter for the table to share, it combines fried […]
Introduction: Chuño, freeze-dried potato produced by exposing Andean potatoes to repeated night frosts and daytime sun at high altitude, is one of humanity's oldest food preservation techniques, dating back over a thousand years. Cultural Background: Chuño, freeze-dried potato produced by exposing Andean potatoes to repeated night frosts and daytime sun at high altitude, is one […]