Bringing the Wonders of Lima Cooking to Your American Home
Welcome to MyPeruvianKitchen.com. We are a team of Peruvian-born chefs, home cooks, and food writers living across the United States.
Why We Started My Peruvian Kitchen
Peruvian gastronomy has been voted the World's Leading Culinary Destination year after year. From the smoking woks of Lima's Chifa Chinatown to the coastal cevicherías of Chorrillos, Peru's food is a vibrant celebration of Inca agricultural genius, Spanish colonial heritage, and African, Chinese, Japanese, and Italian immigrant influences.
However, for millions of food lovers living in North America, cooking authentic Peruvian dishes felt intimidating: recipes called for obscure native chili peppers, exotic tubers, and unfamiliar techniques.
That is why MyPeruvianKitchen.com exists. Every recipe on this website is rigorously tested in standard American residential kitchens. We provide exact dual measurements in US Customary (cups, ounces, tablespoons) alongside metric weights, and provide failproof substitutions for every hard-to-find ingredient.
Our Triple-Test Quality Guarantee
- US Supermarket Availability: Tested with ingredients found in everyday US grocery stores (Walmart, Kroger, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Latin grocers, or Amazon).
- Foolproof Flavor Fidelity: If a substitution is made, the final dish must retain 95%+ flavor authenticity compared to dining in Lima.
- Clear Nutritional Guidance: Complete FDA-compliant nutritional profiles on all recipes so you know exactly what goes into your meal.
The US Home Cook's Grocery Master Guide
Here are the essential Peruvian pantry items and where to find them in the United States:
1. Ají Amarillo (Yellow Chili Paste)
Where to buy: Available on Amazon Prime (brands: Inca's Food, Doña Isabel, Goya) or in the Hispanic/international aisle of major supermarkets.
Substitute: Sautéed yellow bell pepper blended with a pinch of habanero or serrano pepper and a splash of lime juice.
2. Peruvian Pisco (Grape Brandy)
Where to buy: Available at Total Wine & More, BevMo, ABC Fine Wine, and local liquor stores. Look for Barsol Quebranta, Caravedo, or Macchu Pisco.
Substitute: Fine Italian Grappa or unaged French brandy.
3. Papa Amarilla (Yellow Potatoes)
Where to buy: Frozen whole in Latin markets, or fresh Yukon Gold potatoes which offer an identical creamy, buttery texture for Causa and purée.
4. Botija Black Olives
Where to buy: Latin specialty stores or Mediterranean olive bars.
Substitute: Greek Kalamata olives in brine or dry-cured black olives.