Paraguay food isn’t especially famous around the world. You won’t walk down many major high streets and find a Paraguayan restaurant or cafe.

While I’m sure they do exist outside of Paraguay (and I’d love you to share the locations in the comments below), I’ve never found a single one in all the 44 countries I’ve visited.

Why is this? I’m no anthropologist but, maybe, it’s linked to the fact I’ve only met one Paraguayan outside of Paraguay in 18 years travelling.

Does that mean the food here is unedible and unworthy of being shared with the world? Hell no!

Paraguayan food, while no French cuisine or Italian pasta magnificence, is still worthy of being celebrated. It’s homely, honest and filling. While the tastes may not explode in your mouth like a Thai curry or an Indian Rogan Josh, they’re still very satisfying.

Try these 8 classic Paraguayan recipes:

Sopa Paraguaya

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Paraguayan Soup… the least soupy soup you’ll ever find.

The history is unclear, but the common belief is that it was a soup recipe gone wrong. The chef added too much cornflour yet managed to bluff their way out of it with ‘a new creation’! Thus was born Sopa Paraguaya.

It doesn’t sound too exciting – onion, cornstarch and cheese, but when done well it’s a beast of a snack. It’ll give you your protein and carb hit for the entire afternoon. It’s often eaten as an accompaniment to flesh out other meals. Very tasty.

 

Vori Vori de Pollo

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Vori Vori (or Bori Bori as it’s sometimes called) is a delicious, thick chicken soup with dumplings and cheeseballs. As far as Paraguay food goes, this should definitely be added to your dining list.

Vori Vori is found all over the country. As with all local soups and stews, everyone has their own variation. I’ve tried many types, some tastier than others, however, it’s always filling.

Pajagua Mascada

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Literally translating as chewed Pajagua, it doesn’t sound so appealing yet trust me, it is. They’re super simple to make too. Take some minced meat, boiled mandioca (also known as manioc, yuca or cassava), some seasoning and then mash it all together.

Simple, tasty, filling. Eat alone as a quick snack or as a main with rice or other carbs.

Chipa So’o

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Lots of Paraguayan cuisine revolves around taking meat and wrapping it in dough. This is just such a dish. Chopped meat, onions and egg wrapped and baked in dough. Paraguay food takes after the local people – no-nonsense and practical. If you’re looking for a tasty snack, try chipa so’o.

Mbeju 4 queso

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There are plenty of variations of Mbeju. Similar to Arepa from Venezuela or Colombia, Mbeju literally means cake. They’re simple little cakes made again from mandioca starch. This variety mixes 4 kinds of cheese to give it a salty twist.

Kivevé

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It’s time to sweeten things up a bit. While it’s almost impossible to escape anything corn related, Kivevé adds some sweetness to your Paraguayan menu. As a side fact, Kivevé is the name used for redheaded people.

It couldn’t get much simpler too. To cook this dish you’ll need pumpkin, cornmeal and Paraguayan cheese. It’s also very versatile. For example, eat it alone for breakfast, as a side dish, a vegetarian main or add extra sugar for a dessert. Kivevé is a great tasty addition to any day.

Torta Hü

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Torta Hü, or Black Honey Cake, is another example of tasty simple food. It only has a few ingredients: Cane honey, flour, sodium bicarbonate and oil. The dark colour comes from the honey. While it may sound sweet, it’s actually quite subtle. Torta Hü is definitely a classic Paraguay dessert.

The cane honey is also much better than sugar due to the added vitamins and minerals – tasty AND healthy? Sign me up!

Ka’í Ladrillo

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Let’s end on a sweetness overload! The Ka’í brick, or sweet peanut brick, isn’t unique to the country but it is classic Paraguay food.

I remember eating is as a child in the UK, but the Paraguay variation has a little something special, perhaps because of the black cane honey. As explained above, it’s full of healthy goodness like calcium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, copper, manganese etc Very tasty comfort food.

 

So what do you think? Have any of these recipes set your tastebuds alight? As I said, Paraguay food isn’t exotic or super fancy. It’s honest, simple food.

If you’re still undecided about Paraguay, check out my article about why Paraguay is definitely worth visiting.

Once you arrive you’ll want to find somewhere to stay. Paraguay has some truly unique places to rest your head.

If you want to sleep at sea in a landlocked country, why not check out the Aquidaban market boat for an unforgettable experience.

And if you’re looking for a hostel in Asuncion I 100% recommend El Farol Hostel. It’s in the perfect location, plus the staff are amazing cooks who can tell you where to find all the best versions of the above meals.

 

If in doubt, visit Paraguay!

 

And as I said above, if you know of any Paraguayan restaurants around the world then please tell me in the comments below.

 

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