
A special version of Peru's most popular stir-fry — beef tenderloin, tomatoes, and yellow peppers tossed in a wok with soy sauce and served over fries and rice.
Lomo saltado is the quintessential dish of Peruvian Chifa cuisine — the remarkable fusion of Peruvian and Chinese cooking that emerged in Lima in the late 19th century as Chinese migrant workers brought their wok techniques and soy sauce to Peru's coastal capital. The result is a high-heat stir-fry that is unmistakably Peruvian in its heart yet global in its technique.
Serves 4
Marinate beef strips in 2 tbsp soy sauce and pepper for 10 min.
Sear beef in very hot oil in a wok, in batches, 1–2 min. Remove and set aside.
In the same wok, sauté garlic and onion 1 min. Add tomatoes and ají amarillo. Toss 1 min over very high heat.
Return beef to wok. Add remaining soy sauce, oyster sauce, and vinegar. Toss together vigorously 1 min.
Add coriander. Serve over fresh french fries alongside steamed rice.
High heat is non-negotiable — the wok must be smoking hot for the characteristic char and smoky flavour.
Taste and adjust salt at the very end — flavors concentrate as liquids reduce, and a final pinch of flaky salt sharpens the whole dish.
Mise en place pays for itself: chop, measure and pre-mix everything before the heat goes on, especially for any step that moves fast.
Read the recipe through once before starting — knowing what's coming prevents the small timing mistakes that compound into bigger ones.
Use chicken instead of beef
Add mushrooms for extra umami
Serve with just rice if fries aren't available
Vegetarian: swap the protein for roasted king oyster mushrooms, smoked tofu or cooked chickpeas — adjust seasoning slightly upward to compensate.
Best eaten immediately — the fries lose their crunch quickly. Leftover beef reheats well, but add fresh fries.
Lomo saltado was born in the early 20th century in Lima's Chifa restaurants — Peruvian-Chinese establishments that served the large Chinese immigrant community. The dish became so popular that it crossed into mainstream Peruvian cooking and is now considered one of Peru's national dishes.
Lomo saltado reflects Peru's Chifa (Chinese-Peruvian) fusion — stir-fried wok technique meets Peruvian carb traditions.
Yes — most of the components can be prepared up to a day in advance and refrigerated separately. Reheat gently and assemble just before serving so textures stay distinct.
Stay close to the role each ingredient plays: swap aromatics for similar ones (shallot for onion, lime for lemon), and keep the fat-acid-salt balance intact. Spice blends can usually be approximated with what's in the cupboard.
Authenticity sits on a spectrum — what matters more is honoring the technique and balance of flavors. If the dish tastes harmonious and respects how cooks in its home region would build it, you're on solid ground.
Per serving · 4 servings total
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