The arroz chaufa peruano is the dish par excellence of Chifa gastronomy, which blends the best of the culinary treasures of Peru and China. A dish full of color, with an explosion of flavors that is hard to refuse. If you don’t know it yet, in this post we will reveal why it is the best kept secret of Peruvian cuisine.
Spoiler alert: this article will whet your appetite!
Arroz chaufa peruano: Where does Peruvian chaufa rice come from?
The arroz chaufa peruano has its roots in the cuisine of the Chinese migrant population that arrived in South America in the 19th century. Most of them joined the work in the plantations, where they were provided with a rice dish combined with some spices as food.
In the search for the taste of Asian cuisine, the migrants incorporated other ingredients to the dish they received that allowed them to get closer to the oriental flavor they had left behind, but which they refused to abandon, such as soy sauce.
As time went by, they went further and decided to share with all Peruvians part of that gastronomic culture that had been born on the fly. Thus, small restaurants selling “arroz chaufa peruano” began to appear.
Thus, little by little, chaufa rice began to make its way into Peru. Chaufa comes from the Cantonese “Chaofan”, which means “fried rice”. The cereal is cooked in a wok using a stir-fry technique that became increasingly popular among the locals.
Other ingredients such as meats, vegetables, sauces and egg omelets are added to the base of the dish (fried rice). But that’s not all, each region has been creating new versions of the dish, adding that typical flavor of the area to give it more roots, and thus be able to discover and enjoy that combination and explosion of authentic flavors of Peruvian cuisine that today allow us to taste, for example, a Peruvian chaufa rice with quinoa or sea species. A real delight for the palate!
Peruvian Arroz Chaufa has its secrets
One of the best secrets of Peruvian arroz chaufa is in its preparation. This dish must have an exact consistency, which is achieved by sautéing the ingredients in a wok.
The texture of each ingredient is different, some need more cooking time than others, so first add the harder vegetables and finish with the softer ones, such as scallions.
Once you have all the ingredients you want for your recipe, you add each one to the wok until you get a dish with an ideal balance of portions.
Another secret of chaufa rice is that you can’t miss the soy sauce to give it that light brown color that we like. In addition, to get an intense flavor in the meat, first sauté the ginger in the same olive oil in which we will later sauté it.
Chaufa rice is a noble dish that is prepared at home, served in small family restaurants and also in luxurious places. Sometimes it stars as a main dish and sometimes as a garnish, along with other chifa recipes such as lomo saltado or tipakay chicken. In short… it is versatile and above all loved by all tastes!
With these secrets that we have revealed to you, do you dare to prepare a Peruvian chaufa rice at home?
Arroz Chaufa Peruano: Recipe
With this simple recipe you will be able to prepare your chaufa rice for approximately 4 people and surprise everyone at home with a delicious dish. Let’s get to wok!
Ingredients:
- 250 grs. (4 cups) of white rice previously cooked.
- 1 chicken breast.
- 4 eggs.
- ½ red, green or yellow bell pepper.
- 2 stalks of chives (Chinese onion).
- 1 hot Peruvian yellow chili bell pepper.
- 1 piece of ginger of 2 cm. approximately.
- Ajinomoto (a pinch).
- Soy sauce.
- Vegetable or olive oil.
- Salt to taste.
Preparation:
1.- Clean the breast and cut into squares or strips. Do the same with the vegetables and set aside.
2.- Beat the eggs and cook the omelet. Remove from the pan and cut into strips or pieces.
3.- Heat the wok and add the oil (preferably olive oil). Cook the chicken using the wrapping technique.
4.- Then add the vegetables and stir-fry for a few seconds before adding the previously cooked rice. Stir constantly for a few more minutes and add the salt and the ajinomoto.
5.- Finally, add the egg omelette and two tablespoons of soy sauce. Stir for a few seconds and ready to eat.
You can see how easy this recipe is!
Some extra considerations for your chaufa rice
Remember that arroz chaufa peruano is a dish to which you can incorporate certain variations and it will not affect its exquisite flavor at all. So, to the recipe we have shared with you, instead of chicken you can substitute it with beef, fish or seafood.
And if you want something more exotic, you can combine flavors and you will get a mixed chaufa rice with beef and chicken or fish and seafood, or even better, can you imagine a dish that combines beef and shrimp? Let your imagination flow and delight your palate.
You can also add other vegetables such as broccoli, mushrooms or bean sprouts.
As you can see, there are many variations of arroz chaufa that you can make and you will obtain a very complete dish in flavors and textures that will allow you to satiate your desire to eat something delicious and different to replenish your energy and continue with your daily tasks.
With all these tips, you are probably already thinking about the next Peruvian chaufa rice recipe you are going to prepare or order at the next chifa restaurant you visit.
Are you craving to try Peruvian chaufa rice in Miami?
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If you still haven’t tried Peruvian arroz chaufa or you are far away from your homeland and want to feel at home, we are waiting for you at Chifa Du Kang to enjoy the best fusion of flavors of Miami’s chifa cuisine.
Dare to discover the best kept gastronomic secret of Peru in each of the special dishes we have for you. We are located in Kendall and Bird Road.
