Virtual Trip to Machu Picchu + Peruvian Eats

A portrait from Machu Picchu

Homemade Aji de Gallina + Online tour of Machu Picchu is just what the doctor ordered 6 weeks into pandemic lockdown in April 2020.

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Cabin Fever

As the early weeks of pandemic started to stretch before our eyes, with no end in sight, the walls of our small new york city apartment began caving in on us. We had already outgrown it but our new home was not yet ready, so with the four of us on top of each other, working and schooling from home, we dreamt of wide open, expansive spaces…. like Machu Picchu.

green grass field near mountain under white clouds during daytime

But what’s virtual travel without also tasting the foods of that place, and hearing the sounds of their local musicians? So we enlisted the help of neighborhood friend, Mayas, who grew up in Peru, and I knew she cooked Peruvian dishes with her daughters (among other cuisines).

Aji de gallina is one of our favorites. It’s a creamy chicken dish with our hot pepper paste.

Mayas, on peruvian food

I asked her if she had any favorite dishes, and she responded saying “Aji de gallina is one of our favorites. It’s a creamy chicken dish with our hot pepper paste.” In the interest of time, she sent me a link in English which approximated it with yellow peppers, but then also told us where to get the the hot pepper sauce we should use. On this page, we have adapted the recipe to use the correct hot pepper paste, and it’s awesome.

aji de mollina homemade for virtual trip to machu picchu
ají de gallina

music

The playlist featured here is a mix of old favorites and Mayas suggestions. She recommended Eva Ayllón, and and Chicha Libre and Susana Baca had both been favs after having seen each live in Brooklyn, many years ago (Chicha Libre at Barbès many times and Susan Baca at Pioneer works one lucky evening).

recipe

Ají de Gallina

more aji de gallina spicy creamy chicken of peru homemade

Bonus

Machu Picchu from Home

woman facing Machu Picchu
imagine yourself there…

Don your google cardboard or VR goggles and escape the confines of your living room, and visit Machu Picchu virtually, thanks to YouVisit!

And Google Arts and Culture has a ton of great stuff, too!

PS – No, that is not me in the photo! Click for more info about the photographer 🙂