🥟 Salteñas
Salteñas are baked pastries similar to empanadas, but uniquely Bolivian. They’re filled with a juicy stew of:
- Beef or chicken (sometimes pork)
- Potatoes
- Peas
- Carrots
- Olives
- Hard-boiled egg
- A slightly sweet, spicy sauce thickened with gelatin so it stays liquid while baking
They’re typically eaten in the morning, often as a late breakfast or snack, and mastering how to eat one without spilling the filling is almost a national sport.
Other iconic Bolivian dishes
While salteñas get the “national” label most often, Bolivia 🇧🇴 has strong regional classics:
- Silpancho (Cochabamba): breaded beef, rice, potatoes, fried egg, salsa
- Pique macho: beef, sausages, fries, onions, peppers, spicy sauce
- Sopa de maní: peanut soup with beef and vegetables
- Fricasé (La Paz): spicy pork stew with hominy