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Pachamanca
AndesMain Courses

Pachamanca

An ancient Andean feast where meats, potatoes, corn, and fava beans are slow-cooked underground on hot stones. The name means 'earth pot' in Quechua.

Prep Time60 min
Cook Time180 min
Servings10
DifficultyHard

Ingredients

10 servings

Instructions

  1. 1

    Prepare the marinade by mixing huacatay paste, aji panca paste, garlic, cumin, salt, and oil. Rub generously into the pork and chicken. Marinate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

  2. 2

    Dig a pit about 60cm deep. Build a fire in the pit and heat large river stones until they are extremely hot, about 2 hours.

  3. 3

    Layer the ingredients on the hot stones: first the meats, then potatoes, corn, and fava beans. Place chincho herbs between layers.

  4. 4

    Cover everything with banana leaves, wet burlap sacks, and then a thick layer of earth. Cook for approximately 2-3 hours.

  5. 5

    Carefully uncover the pit. Remove the earth, sacks, and leaves. Serve the meats and vegetables together on large platters with salsa criolla.