World Flavors Cookbook

Bolivia Recipes

Bolivian cuisine is a reflection of its diverse geography, from the high Andes to the tropical lowlands. It is characterized by hearty, spiced dishes, ancient grains like quinoa, and a unique variety of tubers. Known for its soul-warming stews, vibrant street food like salteñas, and the essential spicy condiment, llajua.

Recipes from Bolivia

• Salteñas de Carne

  Bolivia's iconic street pastry; juicy baked empanada-like pockets with a sweet and spicy beef-potato filling and a delicious broth inside.

• Anticucho

  Grilled beef heart skewers, a legendary Bolivian street food traditionally served at night with a spicy peanut sauce.

• Silpancho

  A hearty plate from Cochabamba consisting of a giant, thin breaded beef cutlet served over rice and potatoes, topped with a fried egg and fresh salsa.

• Api con Pastel

  The ultimate Bolivian street breakfast: a thick, hot purple corn drink paired with a massive, airy fried cheese pastry.

• Pique Macho

  A massive, spicy sharing platter of bite-sized beef, sausages, French fries, and plenty of hot peppers.

• Sajta de Pollo

  A traditional spicy chicken stew from La Paz, flavored with yellow aji pepper and served with dehydrated potatoes (chuño).

• Majadito

  A traditional rice dish from the tropical lowlands, made with jerky (charque), colored with urucú, and topped with fried eggs and plantains.

• Cuñapé

  Deliciously chewy cheese breads made with cassava starch, a staple snack in the eastern lowlands.

• Api Blanco

  A creamy, white corn drink flavored with cinnamon and cloves, the smooth counterpart to purple api.

• Sopa de Maní

  Bolivia's most famous soup; a rich, creamy peanut-based broth with meat, vegetables, and topped with crispy potato straws.

• Picante de Pollo

  A vibrant red chicken stew flavored with spicy red aji pepper, a staple of highland celebrations.

• Fricasé Paceño

  A spicy pork stew from La Paz, flavored with yellow aji and served with giant white corn (mote) and chuño.

• Chairo Paceño

  A complex and filling soup from the high Andes, made with pounded chuño, wheat, and multiple types of meat.

• Mondongo Chuquisaqueño

  A festive pork dish from Sucre, flavored with red aji and served with yellow-colored corn.

• Charquekán Orureño

  A traditional dish from Oruro consisting of crispy shredded llama or beef jerky served with corn, potatoes, and local cheese.

• Pampaku

  An ancient method of cooking various meats and vegetables in an underground earth oven.

• Kalapurka

  A unique volcanic rock soup from Potosí that is kept boiling by dropping a red-hot stone into the bowl.

• Saice Tarijeño

  A spicy and juicy beef and pea stew from the southern wine region of Tarija.

• Keperí

  Slow-roasted beef flank seasoned with local spices, a specialty of the eastern lowlands.

• Sonso de Yuca

  A delicious mixture of mashed cassava and local cheese, grilled on skewers or baked.

• Masaco de Plátano

  A traditional lowland snack made by pounding fried plantains with crispy jerky or cracklings.

• Mocochinchi

  A refreshing and sweet dried peach drink, heavily spiced with cinnamon.

• Humintas

  Sweet and savory fresh corn cakes wrapped in husks and either boiled or baked with cheese.

• Tucumanas

  A deep-fried version of the salteña, served with a variety of colorful vegetable sauces.

• Ranga Ranga

  A spicy and traditional tripe stew from Tarija, flavored with yellow aji pepper.

• Ají de Fideo

  A spicy pasta dish made with toasted noodles and meat, a classic of Bolivian home cooking.

• Sopa de Pan

  A traditional sweet and savory bread-based dish from the Potosí region, often served during Holy Week.

• Plato Paceño

  A classic meatless plate from La Paz that highlights the region's traditional agricultural products.

• Thimpu de Cordero

  A refined lamb stew served with a spicy yellow sauce, a classic of La Paz cuisine.

• Sandwich de Chola

  The most famous sandwich in La Paz: slow-roasted pork leg served in a round roll with crispy skin and pickled vegetables.

• Trancapecho

  A sandwich version of the Silpancho, a massive meal inside a bread roll.

• Pasankalla

  Giant puffed corn kernels coated in sugar, a unique Bolivian snack.

• Salteñas de Pollo

  The chicken version of the national pastry, just as juicy and popular.

• Empanada de Queso

  Large, fried cheese-filled empanadas, often sprinkled with sugar.

• Llajua

  The essential Bolivian spicy sauce, made with locoto and tomatoes.