Lima Market Tour & Ceviche Cooking Class With Pisco Sour

Set out on a culinary journey through Lima’s vibrant Surquillo Market. Discover the fresh produce, meats, and traditional Peruvian delicacies that make the country’s cuisine so renowned. Under the guidance of a skilled chef, you’ll learn to prepare iconic dishes like ceviche and causa rellena, capping off the experience with a refreshing pisco sour. This hands-on cooking class offers a unique glimpse into Peru’s rich gastronomic heritage and a chance to savor its flavors.

Key Points

• Immersive exploration of Surquillo Market, a local institution offering fresh produce, meats, seafood, and traditional Peruvian delicacies.
• Guided ceviche cooking class led by a skilled local chef, focusing on marinating fresh fish and customizing flavors.
• Preparation of the iconic Peruvian cocktail, the pisco sour, with instruction on measuring ingredients and achieving the desired frothy texture.
• Emphasis on using high-quality, fresh ingredients and techniques for cutting fish and balancing acidity in the preparation of ceviche.
• Logistics information, including meeting point, transportation, dietary restrictions, and accessibility considerations for the culinary experience.

Exploring the Lima Market

What better way to learn about the vibrant culture of Lima than by exploring its bustling market?

This tour takes you through the heart of Surquillo Market, where vendors offer an array of fresh produce, meats, seafood, and traditional Peruvian delicacies.

Wander through the stalls, taking in the sights, sounds, and aromas that make this market a local institution.

Your guide will introduce you to the market’s offerings and share insights into Peruvian cuisine and culinary traditions.

This hands-on experience sets the stage for the upcoming ceviche cooking class, where you’ll learn to prepare this iconic Peruvian dish.

Discovering Peruvian Cuisine

After exploring the vibrant Surquillo Market, you will enjoy the art of preparing one of Peru’s most iconic dishes: ceviche.

Under the guidance of a skilled local chef, they’ll learn the intricate steps of marinating fresh fish in a citrus-based marinade and customizing the flavors with aromatic ingredients.

Beyond ceviche, the class will also cover the preparation of causa rellena, a traditional Peruvian appetizer made with mashed yellow potatoes and a savory filling.

The meal concludes with a pisco sour, Peru’s signature cocktail, offering a lively and flavorful introduction to the country’s culinary treasures.

Preparing the Pisco Sour

The pisco sour, Peru’s iconic cocktail, marks a captivating finale to the culinary experience.

Under the chef’s expert guidance, participants learn the art of crafting this beloved libation.

The key steps include:

1. Measure the pisco, lime juice, and simple syrup with precision.
2. Vigorously shake the ingredients with ice to achieve the perfect frothy texture.
3. Garnish the cocktail with a lime wedge and a dash of Angostura bitters for a striking visual presentation.

With each sip, the harmonious blend of flavors transports travelers deeper into the vibrant Peruvian culture.

Mastering the Art of Ceviche

Ceviche, Peru’s celebrated seafood dish, takes center stage as participants dive into the culinary experience.

The chef guides them through the delicate preparation of this raw fish delicacy, emphasizing the importance of fresh, high-quality ingredients. Participants learn to expertly cut the fish, balance the acidity with lime juice, and add vibrant flavors like onion, chili, and cilantro.

As the ceviche marinates, the group gains an appreciation for the precision and technique required to create this iconic Peruvian staple. Eager taste buds are rewarded as they savor the final result – a bright, zesty, and perfectly balanced ceviche.

Tasting Exotic Fruits

As participants arrive at the market, the guide ushers them to an array of vibrant, unfamiliar fruits.

The guide introduces them to the exotic offerings, encouraging exploration and tasting.

Three standout fruits include:

1. Granadilla: A passion fruit-like treat with a soft, jelly-like interior and crunchy black seeds.
2. Lucuma: A tropical fruit with a sweet, creamy flesh that resembles custard, often used in Peruvian desserts.
3. Cherimoya: Also known as the "custard apple," this heart-shaped fruit has a soft, custardy texture and a sweet, tropical flavor.

The guide explains the unique flavors and characteristics of these exotic fruits, whetting the participants’ appetite for the ceviche cooking class to come.

Learning From the Local Chef

After tasting the exotic fruits, participants are ushered into the nearby market kitchen where they’ll learn from a local chef.

The chef demonstrates how to prepare the signature Peruvian dish, ceviche. Participants follow along, chopping and marinating the fresh fish. The chef shares insider tips, like the importance of using the right citrus and letting the ceviche "cook" in the acidic marinade.

Participants also learn to make the quintessential pisco sour cocktail, mastering the balance of sweet, sour, and frothy.

With the chef’s guidance, participants savor the fruits of their labor, enjoying the ceviche and pisco sour.

Navigating the Logistics

Participants gather at the designated meeting point in Miraflores, prepared to embark on their culinary adventure. The tour guides ensure a prompt and organized start, adhering to the itinerary’s timeline.

Key logistical details to note:

1. Transportation to and from the meeting point isn’t included, but the location is conveniently near public transit.

2. Dietary restrictions must be communicated in advance, as the menu can’t accommodate vegetarian, vegan, or seafood allergy needs.

3. Pregnant travelers aren’t recommended to participate, and the experience isn’t wheelchair accessible, though strollers and service animals are allowed.

Savoring the Experience

Once participants arrive at the designated meeting point, the vibrant energy of the local market envelops them.

They’ll wander through stalls brimming with an array of fresh produce, spices, and artisanal goods as the knowledgeable guide provides insights into Peruvian cuisine and culture.

Next, they’ll don aprons and learn to craft the iconic ceviche dish, expertly preparing the fresh seafood with citrus, onions, and chili peppers.

As they sip on a refreshing pisco sour, the class culminates in a delightful meal featuring the ceviche they’ve prepared, along with other Peruvian specialties.

It’s a tantalizing taste of Lima.

Sum Up

This culinary adventure in Lima’s Surquillo Market offers a unique opportunity to take in Peruvian culture. Under the guidance of a skilled chef, you’ll learn to prepare iconic dishes like ceviche and causa rellena, while indulging in the refreshing pisco sour. Explore the vibrant market, discover local delicacies, and gain insights into the rich flavors and traditions that make Peruvian cuisine so captivating.