Solterito Arequipeño (Peruvian Salad)

Peruvian foods are a dish that is a mix of Hot and cold served on the same platter. The acidic flavors mingled with the starchy. It is both delicate and robust yet incredibly delicate.

It is because traditional Peruvian food is based on spice and pungent tastes, ranging from fresh and clean to wealthy and prosperous. Each flavor counters or subdues the other.

While many view Peru as a place with cloud-covered mountains and ruined sites of ancient civilizations, the real value of Peru lies in its delicious culinary tradition.

The ingredients and cooking methods of Africa, Europe, and East Asia come together in the form of a delightful mix that is entirely distinctive across the globe. So what kind of foods are Peruvians consuming?

Read More: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HUACATAY: A STRONG, AROMATIC HERB

WHAT IS SOLTERITO AREQUIPEÑO?

Solterito arepequino "little bachelor," is a Peruvian salad recipe from Peru's second-largest city, Arequipa. It is situated south of Lima and takes approximately 1 1/2 hours on the plane to get there.

Many tourists pass through Arequipa before hiking or visiting Colca Canyon. Arequipa has surrounded by three volcanoes, which makes the skyline picturesque.

The city and the surrounding area are well-known for their picanterias, which began as family-run eateries in the countryside, serving meals cooked at home.

Picanterias in the present is becoming less frequent. Instead, many cities are contemporary restaurants serving traditional cuisines and tastes that tend to be spicy, like many Peruvian cuisines. Peru.

Solterito arequipeno is made using whatever vegetables are available in the fridge, which is why there are so many ways to prepare it. However, the most popular version is a Peruvian salad recipe made with the choclo (Peruvian corn), Fava beans, choclo (Peruvian corn), and queso fresco.

Check out: MAGGI POLLADA X 45 GR.

The city and its surrounding region are well-known for their Picanterias. They began as family-run establishments in the countryside, serving traditional dishes.

Nowadays, picanterias are not as popular, and many of them in cities are modern eateries that offer traditional dishes and flavors which are often spicy, like a lot of Peruvian food. Peru.

Solterito arequipeno is made using whatever vegetables are available in the fridge, which is why there are so many ways to prepare it. However, the most popular version is a Peruvian salad recipe containing Choclo (Peruvian corn), fava beans, and queso fresco.

Furthermore, solterito arequipeno typically contains the rocoto pepper, the extremely scorching Peruvian aji.

With very few time of preparation and easy to get ingredients, these make the perfect appetizers for hot days when you just want a cold and tasty meal.

Solterito Arequipeño is the answer to your prayers! This dish is originally from Arequipa, a city in the southern Peruvian mountains (that’s where it gets its name). 

Check out:  Sauces And Seasonings

Although it can have as many or as little ingredients as you like (like any other salad), there are some key ingredients that makeSolterito Arequipeño a very special dish.

First there’s the rocoto, the most typical chili pepper found in Peru; which might look innocent but actually has a very strong spice that can bring to life any recipe.

Another essential ingredient is the cheese, the freshest type of cheese that instantly shreds in between your fingers when you touch it, keep reading and find out why it’s a protagonist in theSolterito Arequipeño. 

The story of Solterito Arequipeño

We must say this recipe has a very unusual name and a funny (although we’re not sure true) story about how the name came up.

In Spanish, ‘soltero’ means single. Since this dish serves as an appetizer, people say guests who went single to dinner parties ate only this meal to prevent gaining weight and appearing unattractive; which would result in them staying single.

One of the main ingredients forSolterito Arequipeño is the fresh cheese, which is also commonly known as ‘solterito de queso’.

That’s probably the true origin of the recipe’s name, but it’s not as funny as the first one. 

This recipe forSolterito Arequipeño has a preparation time of 15 to 20 minutes, it has approximately 12 ingredients (depending on how many you’d like to add or remove) and it serves 4 to 6 portions. 

Read More: THE INFLUENCE OF JAPAN ON PERUVIAN FOOD

Ingredients for Solterito Arequipeño

• 18 oz (1 ½ cup) of fava beans or green beans, strained and peeled
• 9 oz (½ cup) of red onion, finely diced
• 9 oz (1 cup) of tomato, seedless and diced 
• 1 ½ cup of giant kernel corn, white corn or choclo, cooked 
• 9 oz (1 cup) of fresh cheese (‘queso fresco’), diced in ½ inch cubes
• 9 oz (1 cup) of black olives, sliced finely 
• 2 tablespoons of parsley, chopped finely 
• 3 tablespoons of olive oil
• 3 tablespoons of red or white wine vinegar
• ¼ of a whole rocoto (Peruvian red chili). You can also use Rocoto paste likethis one and mix it with the salad. 
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste

Preparation 

• Take a pot and fill it with salted water, put in on high fire.
• Once the water is boiling place the fava beans or green beans. Let them cool for about 5 minutes and once they’re done strain them and peel them. 
• Again, put some salter water to boil. Once the water is boiling, put the corn inside and let it cook for about 10 minutes. Once the choclo is cooked grain it to remove as many kernels as you can. Remember that if you don’t find choclo you can use regular or white corn. 
• Chop the onion, tomato, the fresh cheese and olives. 
• Take a bowl and toss the fava beans or green beans, red onion, tomato, the grained corn, the white fresh and mix well. 
• Add the rocoto sauce, olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Keep mixing until the ingredients are fully integrated and bathed in the seasonings. 
• Lastly, add the chopped parsley and sliced black olives.
• Your Solterito Arequipeño is ready! You can serve it on a bowl or over a bed of lettuce. 

HOW TO MAKE SOLTERITO SALAD

As you can see, this is a super easy recipe. Like most salads or cold- served appetizers,Solterito Arequipeño can be prepared with basically any ingredients you have at hand.

It is a cheap meal that of course has many versions, some people like to add diced potatoes, hot peppers, sweet potatoes, you can even find this dish with shrimp if you’re craving a more filling meal.

The recipe for Peruvian chopped salad is made quickly. Here's an overview. The full directions are included on the recipe card.

1. Prepare the salted water in a pot to a simmer. Add the fava beans that have been shelled in hot water. Let them simmer for about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove hot water, and then immerse them in cold water.
2. Take off the outer peel of the fava beans, and throw away the peel.
3. When the boiling water has reached a temperature, cut the cheese into small cubes and put them aside. Prepare the vegetables following the ingredients list. Combine all the veggies and cheese in an enormous mixing bowl, and mix to combine. Incorporate the vinegar and olive oil into the vegetables.
4. Add the rocoto mixture along with salt and pepper, according to your preference.
5. Serve it immediately and decorate it with leaves of parsley and chilies! 

FAQS

How can I make solterito arequipeño vegan?

You can replace the tofu with queso fresco! It's a breeze and requires only a few minutes of soaking in salted water along with some lime juice. Allow it to sit for a while and take in the liquid. Make sure to drain well before adding the salad.

Is solerito salad spicy?

It is a Peruvian salad recipe can be a little spicy due to the rocoto chili paste. To reduce the amount of spice it is possible to reduce or completely eliminate the rocoto paste and enjoying the tasty Peruvian recipe.

Read More: THE MOST POPULAR PERUVIAN FRUITS

This colorful salad has so many variants that you can let your imagination fly and add or take any ingredient you like, we assure you its fresh taste will still captivate you.

Let your next family barbecue be a hit thanks to the amazing taste ofSolterito Arequipeño. Make sure all your single friends eat it and know the story!