Appetizer · Dinner · Latin American ·

A guide to making authentic Peruvian anticuchos

Name: A guide to making authentic Peruvian anticuchos
Prep time: 90 min
Cook time: 270 min
Total time: 360 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Appetizer
Ingredients: Beef heart, 1 lb — cut into 1-inch cubes; Olive oil, 1/4 cup; Red wine vinegar, 3 tbsp; Ground cumin, 1 tbsp; Garlic, 2 cloves — minced; Salt and pepper, to taste; Aji amarillo peppers, 2 — seeded and chopped; Mayonnaise, 1/2 cup; Lime juice, 1 tbsp; Garlic, 1 clove — minced; Salt, to taste; Wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes; Sea salt, for finishing; Fresh cilantro, 1 tbsp — chopped; Lime wedges, for serving

Discover the vibrant flavors of these traditional Peruvian beef heart skewers marinated in a spicy vinegar sauce. Learn how to grill perfect anticuchos at home to impress your guests at your next backyard barbecue.

4.1(801 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·August 8, 2025

A guide to making authentic Peruvian anticuchos — Appetizer served and photographed from above

Prep

1 h 30 min

Cook

4 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

Beef Heart Marinade

Aji Sauce

Skewers

Garnish

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 472 kcal
Protein: 24.3 g
Carbs: 3.3 g
Fat: 40.3 g
Fiber: 0.5 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 1886 kcal
Protein: 97.1 g
Carbs: 13.2 g
Fat: 161.2 g
Fiber: 2 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
Beef heart 1 lb — cut into 1-inch cubes	582	95	0	21	0
Olive oil 1/4 cup	477	0	0	54	0
Red wine vinegar 3 tbsp	9	0	0.3	0	0
Ground cumin 1 tbsp	22	1.1	3.3	1.3	1.4
Garlic 2 cloves — minced	9	0.4	2	0	0.1
Salt and pepper to taste	0	0	0	0	0
Aji amarillo peppers 2 — seeded and chopped	8	0.3	1.6	0.1	0.3
Mayonnaise 1/2 cup	770	1	3.6	84.8	0
Lime juice 1 tbsp	4	0.1	1.3	0	0
Garlic 1 clove — minced	4	0.2	1	0	0.1
Salt to taste	0	0	0	0	0
Wooden skewers soaked in water for 30 minutes	0	0	0	0	0
Sea salt for finishing	0	0	0	0	0
Fresh cilantro 1 tbsp — chopped	1	0.1	0.1	0	0.1
Lime wedges for serving	0	0	0	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Beef Heart

1
Combine marinade ingredients
In a large bowl, combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, ground cumin, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
2
Coat the beef heart
Add the beef heart cubes to the marinade, ensuring they're fully coated.
Tip: Ensure the marinade covers all the beef cubes to maximize flavor infusion.
3
Marinate
Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or overnight for best results.

Preparing the Aji Sauce

1
Blend peppers
In a food processor, blend the aji amarillo peppers until smooth.
Tip: Use latex gloves when handling aji peppers to avoid irritation.
2
Add remaining ingredients
Add mayonnaise, lime juice, and minced garlic, and continue blending until creamy.
3
Season and chill
Season with salt to taste, then refrigerate until ready to serve.

How to Make A guide to making authentic Peruvian anticuchos

Total time: 6 h · Yields 4 servings

1
Preheat and skewer
Preheat the grill to medium-high heat, then thread marinated beef heart cubes onto skewers.
2
Grill the skewers
Place skewers on the grill, grilling each side for about 3-4 minutes until nicely charred.
3
Rest before serving
Remove skewers from the grill and allow them to rest for 5 minutes before serving.