Combining Peruvian and Italian cooking, Tallarines Verdes is a very popular dish consisting of spaghetti in a rich, creamy, and bright green sauce.
Similar to Italian pasta with pesto, this Italian-inspired dish incorporates a few native Andean ingredients and is typically served with breaded chicken, making it a uniquely Peruvian meal.
What is Peruvian Tallarines Verdes?
Translating from Spanish as "Green Noodles," this recipe combines traditional Peruvian ingredients with Italian influences. Modelled after Italian pesto, it adds spinach and queso fresco (fresh cheese) for a unique flavour.
This dish is usually served with grilled or fried chicken, or sometimes beef, making it a simple yet nutritious meal, and a popular choice in Peruvian households.
History of Tallarines Verdes
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Italian immigrants brought their love for pasta and pesto sauce to Peru, which is thought to have inspired Tallarines Verdes. Over time, local ingredients like spinach and fresh Andean cheeses were incorporated into the traditional Italian recipe, creating a distinctively Peruvian version of pesto.
With its blend of regional flavours, the dish quickly became popular in Peruvian homes and remains a staple of Peruvian cuisine, offering a delicious way to enjoy pasta.
How to make Peruvian Tallarines Verdes
Follow the step by step guide to prepare your own delicious Tallarines Verdes:
Boil the Pasta: Start by boiling a large pot of salted water and cooking the spaghetti until al dente.
Fry the Chicken: Season the chicken breasts and fry them for 5-7 minutes per side until golden and cooked through.
Prepare the Green Sauce: Mix together the basil, spinach, evaporated milk, nuts and cheese. Blend until smooth and creamy.
Sauté the Sauce: Pour the sauce into a large pan and cook for about 5 minutes. Add the cooked pasta and toss everything together until well mixed.
Serve: Once combined, serve the Tallarines Verdes with your fried or grilled chicken, and enjoy!
Tallarines Verdes Recipe
Prefer a visual guide? Follow the video recipe below for a step-by-step demonstration on how to make this delicious Tallarines Verdes at home.
Peruvian "Green Noodles" Ingredients
2 cups of spinach
2 cups of basil
190 ml of double cream
2 onions
4 garlic cloves
60 gr of fresh cheese
40 gr of parmesan cheese
300 gr of pasta
Salt and pepper to taste
Breaded Chicken:
200 gr of chicken breast
80 grr of flour
80 gr of breadcrumbs
2 eggs
1 teaspoon of garlic paste
Salt and pepper to taste