“Lomo Saltado” one of my favorite dishes, this is a stir fry dish, has few ingredients but its a dish full of flavor, a great example of the multicultural gastronomy Peru has. crafted by Peruvians a long time ago and refined by Chinese techniques, this dish is Fusion between Peruvian & Chinese cuisines. this could be one of those dishes that no matter where you go in Peru you could find it, it is because it is so delicious and easy to prepare. It is actually my brother’s favorite dish I can not blame him, I remember he used to ask my mom why we couldn’t eat “Lomo Saltado” every day, well that is something I still wonder (laughs)

I mentioned this is one of my favorites, ate it and prepare it so many times and I am not tired of it.

When I arrived in the USA, many people (from other countries) ask me about this dish, most of them loved it, others just new the dish. It’s common in some restaurants that Chefs ask you to prepare some meals for them especially if they get along with you, in one of the restaurants I worked, one of the Chefs asked me from time to time to prepare Lomo Saltado for him, I always did my best to prepare it with the ingredients I had on hand, he always was happy with the results, and he told me that his favorite Peruvian dish was Lomo Saltado and that he used to go to a “Chifa” on Queens (New York) and he always ordered Lomo Saltado. cooking for him made me really happy since it feels great to see foreigners enjoy Peruvian food.

What makes this dish special?

I believe that simplicity is what makes this dish special, it has few ingredients, the cooking method (its a stir fry) is the key for making this dish. It gives flavor and a “smoky flavor”, it also keeps the ingredients really juicy.

Can it be made without meat?

there are so many variations of this dish, it can be made with chicken, fish, seafood, pork all of them really good. There are also meatless versions of this dish, made with Tofu, mushrooms, seitan, cauliflower and many more. (click here for our vegetarian version)

Can you make it in a non-gas kitchen?

The short answer is yes, the flavor won’t be the same, however, it will still be really good, you could use something like smoked oil, smoked paprika and even flambe this dish just to enhance the flavor.

This dish is about cooking the ingredients properly, you do not need a fancy wok to prepare it, but it makes it easier. The best way to make this dish at home is by doing it one “batch” at a time, otherwise, results will not be the same, you could probably end with a stew rather than a Lomo Saltado. 

If the flavor of red onions is too “strong” for your taste, let it “marinate” in some vinegar, water, salt, and sugar, in that way they will be more tender, sweet and less bitter.

Have your mise en place ready, and I assure you that this dish will be done in a flash

here are some tips,  choose a good quality (not so lean) cut of meat, don’t add a lot of meat at the time otherwise, you will end with a stew. Most important do not overcook your ingredients especially the onions and tomatoes, you want them crispy not soggy. You have to saute your meat, most of the flavor comes from the saute, it helps to get that smoky flavor. if you are not using a gas stove you can use smoked oil and/or flambe with your favorite alcohol. That is it guys super simple dish can be done in minutes and the best of all is that only has few ingredients, try it, I know you will love it!.

Have you ever ate Lomo Saltado? comment below