Bolivian cuisine is an important and unique part of their culture.
Their dishes stem mainly from a mixture of Spanish cuisine with ancient Andean traditions.
Because Bolivia has many geographical zones, local favourites often vary from region to region.
Here are a few dishes you should never miss out on when you visit the country.
PLATO PACEÑO
One of the most popular lunchtime dishes in Bolivia, Plato paceño is a unique combination of corn, large lima beans, potato, and fried cheese.
SILPANCHO
Originating in Cochobamba, this Bolivian dish is carbs, carbs, and more carbs (and a bit of protein)! Silpancho is a hefty platter layered with white rice, boiled potatoes, meat, egg and topped with salsa.
SOPA DE MANI
This hearty and flavoursome yet economical soup is traditionally from Cochabamba, Bolivia. It is typically made with beef ribs or chicken, but it works well as a vegetarian soup too. You will find sopa de mani on most almuerzos (lunch menus) and in the homes of Bolivians celebrating a loved ones birthday or a special holiday.
SALCHIPAPA
A popular fast-food made of french fries and served with tasty, pan-fried pieces of sausage. Sold by many a street-food vendors, this comfort food is usually accompanied by different sauces and occasionally served with a fried egg or cheese.
MASACO DE PLATANO
Traditionally eaten for afternoon tea (or coffee as most Bolivian’s seem to prefer), masaco is made from either mashed yucca or mashed plantains.
PAPAS RELLENAS
Papas Rellenas is a dish of Peruvian origin, but it has been adopted and adapted throughout the Bolivian Andes. Literally meaning “stuffed potatoes”, papas rellenas are balls of mashed potato which are stuffed with a boiled egg or cheese, coated with a (sometimes spicy) flour batter, and deep-fried.
SALTEÑAS
A popular snack found all over the Andean half of Bolivia, salteñas are baked and usually filled with meat, vegetables, egg, olives, and a slightly spicy sauce.
PIQUE A LO MACHO
A beast of a meal, pique a lo macho consists of bite-sized pieces of beef, sausage, onions, locotos (spicy peppers), boiled egg, and thickly cut fries.
This mountain of food is traditionally made spicy and topped with mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup. If you can finish a plate of pique on your own, you are truly ‘macho’!
