Are you a non-meat eater traveling to Bolivia? Fear not! In this post, we’ll go over several tasty vegetarian Bolivian foods so you don’t miss out on experiencing the local and authentic cuisine.
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I’m sure you’ll agree with me when I say that traveling as a vegetarian can be challenging! Especially in countries where meat is a staple part of most dishes and where the language barrier is rough.
However, trying new and delicious foods is also one of the best ways to experience a culture. Luckily, finding veggie food in Bolivia is easier than you might expect. There are even some Bolivian foods that are naturally vegetarian.
Whether you’re an herbivore or not, here are some of the best and naturally vegetarian Bolivian foods and snacks that you have to try if you’re visiting the country!
Finding Vegetarian Food in Bolivia
Did you know that there are over 2,000 varieties of potatoes in Bolivia? Both potatoes and meat are a staple part of the cuisine in this mountainous Andean country. Luckily there are plenty of dishes starring just the potato.
While many dishes tend to be meat-heavy, there are a handful of traditional, filling meals that are naturally vegetarian. Of course, as vegetarianism and veganism grow in popularity, there are also plenty of restaurants that cater to this diet.
So if you are planning a trip to Bolivia, don’t worry – you should have a fine time finding vegetarian food! I will say that vegan food might be a bit trickier as cheese is also heavily used in most pastries or dishes. It’s not impossible but it may be a bit harder.
10 Vegetarian Bolivian Dishes & Snacks
For anyone who is vegetarian and doesn’t want to miss out on experiencing typical Bolivian foods, here are 10 naturally vegetarian dishes, pastries, and snacks that you won’t want to miss!
1 Plato Paceño (Basic Corn & Potato Plate)
The national dish of the capital city of La Paz is known as Plato Paceño. Paceño or Paceña is the word used to describe native people from La Paz. This is a popular street food that is pretty simple but gives you all the nutrients you need – plus it’s naturally vegetarian.
The plate consists of boiled potatoes, white corn, fried cheese, and fava beans. It’s important to note that Bolivian corn, choclo, has much bigger kernels than typical corn.
Although Bolivian fried cheese is super delicious, the rest of the dish is pretty basic. However, it’s a quick and easy go-to vegetarian meal when all else fails!
2 Papa A La Huancaina (Potato Dish with Peanut Sauce)
Papa a la Huancaina is a traditional Peruvian and Bolivian dish. The main difference between the two is how the sauces are made. I may be biased, but after trying both – I definitely prefer the Bolivian recipe much better!
This Bolivian dish is naturally vegetarian, refreshing, and delicious. The plate starts with a bed of lettuce, followed by potatoes, and then on top, the most important part, a spicy peanut sauce.
The sauce is then topped with queso fresco – fresh cheese, tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, and olives. This can easily be a vegan meal if you omit the cheese and eggs. It’s a great protein-packed dish usually served for lunch.
The special ingredient that makes the peanut sauce distinct and yummy is aji amarillo – yellow pepper. It typically comes in a paste or powdered form then blended in with the sauce.
Comparatively, the sauce in Peruvian Papa a la Huancaina is made from crackers and cheese instead of peanuts, giving it a much more different flavor.
3 Veggie Salteñas (Vegetable Empanadas)
If you only try one thing while in Bolivia, let it be salteñas! Salteñas are juicy and delicious empanadas stuffed with a stew of veggies and potatoes. They are typically made with either pork or chicken but in recent years, vegetarian salteñas have also become more readily served.
Small and warm, this popular street food is typically eaten for breakfast on the go. Salteñas are savory on the inside while sweet on the outside. The crust is also thicker with a yellow/orange tint to it making it quite different than most traditional empanadas.
A key ingredient that makes a salteña what it is, is gelatin. So beware while this may seem like a vegan-friendly snack, it is not. There are plenty of vendors that sell salteñas – however, they are unlikely to be the veggie ones.
For the best vegetarian salteñas in La Paz, visit Paceña La Salteña. They have many locations throughout the city and they do not disappoint! You can read more about this mouth-watering snack and amazing salteña restaurant right here.
4 Sopa De Mani (Peanut Soup)
Another yummy dish that spotlights the peanut is this warm and hearty peanut soup. While this traditional soup is commonly served with beef or chicken, the search to find a vegetarian one is most certainly worth it.
The soup consists of lightly pan-fried noodles (usually tubular like rigatoni or penne), potatoes, diced onion and carrots, and peas. Blended peanuts are added to the broth giving it a creamy texture and flavorful taste.
This meal packs a ton of protein while still giving you a taste of typical Bolivian foods, with a vegetarian twist. Keep in mind soups are mainly served around lunchtime in most Bolivian towns.
5 Api Con Pasteles (Cheese Empanada with Warm Corn Drink)
This next one is a traditional drink and a pastry, typically consumed in the early cold mornings. It’s a great way to warm up and start the day full of energy.
Api is a sweet and warm, thick drink made from purple corn spiced with cinnamon. It’s typically served with pasteles de queso – warm and yummy cheese empanadas topped generously with powdered sugar.
It may sound a bit odd at first to drink something made out of purple corn but trust me, it’s delicious and worth the try. You can read more about this combo in my post here – Why You Need To Try Bolivian Api Con Pastel (Amazing!)
6 Humitas (Bolivian Tamale)
Humitas (humintas) is a popular Bolivian food that is sometimes also served with api at tea time. They resemble Mexican tamales but instead of using corn flour, they are made with freshly ground corn.
The ground corn is blended into a paste and wrapped in corn husks then either baked or steamed. Sometimes cheese is mixed into the paste or sprinkled on top. Raisins are also sometimes added.
Huminta is a sweet and tasty snack that is also typical of Bolivian cuisine, so be sure to add this one to your vegetarian list!
7 Sonso (Yuca & Cheese)
A popular crop commonly grown in Bolivia is yucca also known as cassava. It’s a starchy plant, kind of resembling a potato but sweeter in taste.
Sonso is a popular street food made from mashed yucca and cheese. It’s typically grilled on a skewer but can also be baked or fried. This is a perfect vegetarian food to try on the go!
8 Pasankalla (Sweet “Popcorn”)
Pasankalla (pă-sen-kai-ya) is essentially sweetened popcorn. However, they use larger corn kernels that are typically grown in Bolivia to make this tasty snack.
This snack can easily be found in most outdoor food markets. It’s important to note that not all pasankalla is sweetened, especially in La Paz. Copacabana is where it originated from and is typically the town where you find the sweetest kinds.
Don’t be afraid to ask the street vendors to try a piece before you buy to make sure it’s sweet. If it’s not, ask around to see if they can point you in the right direction. While you can try it without any sugar, it’s definitely better with it!
9 Cuñape (Yucca Cheese Bread)
Cuñape is a savory pastry often eaten at tea time but can also easily be found on street corners. It’s a small and round roll made from yucca flour and gooey cheese. It’s made from the same ingredients as sonso but baked and resembles bread.
This is one of my favorite Bolivian snacks! The yucca gives it a distinct starchy flavor that the salty cheese balances out. Be sure to try these vegetarian street pastries, as they’re the perfect treat to snack on.
10 Chuño
While this isn’t a dish by itself, chuño is used in many recipes in Bolivia and is worth noting because of how different and unique it is. Chuño is a freeze-dried potato that originated in the Andes thousands of years ago.
Indigenous natives began making chuño because of how long its shelf life is. They could carry it around for years and then toss it into a soup to rehydrate it.
There are two types of chuño – black chuño and white chuño. While they also differ in taste, the main difference is the process of how they are freeze-dried.
Black chuño tends to be more bitter and is made by burying the potato underground in high-altitude regions so the ground freezes them. Then they are smashed, typically stepped on, to remove excess liquid.
White chuño is made by soaking the potatoes in cold rivers for long periods. Then they are dried in direct sunlight. Chuño is used in many Bolivian soups and stews like chairo but it is also sometimes served as a side dish.
I personally love chuño as it has such a unique but flavorful taste. If you are a fan of potatoes this is a great variety to try!
I hope this quick and easy list of the top 10 best vegetarian foods to try in Bolivia gave you some excellent ideas of what to expect when you visit! Fear not, Bolivia is rather vegetarian-friendly meaning you shouldn’t have a hard time finding a warm and authentic meal.
For more Bolivia information, you may also like:
- Bolivian Empanadas: The Best Salteña Spot in La Paz! (2023)
- Hostal Las Olas: Unique & Beautiful Hotel In Copacabana, Bolivia
- La Paz Cable Car: The Most Unique Urban Transit System
