If you love Peruvian food but also care about calories, this recipe is for you.
In this video, I’m sharing my Low Calorie Huancaína Pasta — a lighter, high-protein version of one of Peru’s most iconic comfort foods. This healthy huancaína sauce is made with measured ingredients, fat-free dairy, almond milk, and keto bread to keep it creamy, satisfying, and full of authentic flavor without the extra calories.
My fiancé and I eat low calorie and measure our food regularly, and because we travel to Peru twice per year, we’ve learned many traditional recipes over time and slowly adapted them into lighter, balanced versions we can enjoy at home. This recipe fits perfectly into that lifestyle while still feeling comforting and indulgent.
In this video, you’ll learn:
✔️ How to make low calorie huancaína sauce
✔️ How to use ají amarillo and ají limo for authentic flavor
✔️ How to thicken creamy sauces without heavy cream
✔️ How to build a high-protein Peruvian pasta dish
✔️ How we adapt traditional food to fit a healthy lifestyle
📝 Ingredients (Measured for Accuracy)
For the Huancaína Sauce:
• 340g ají amarillo
• 20g ají limo
• 540g fat free cottage cheese
• 180g queso fresco
• 614g unsweetened almond milk
• 124g keto bread (35 cal slices)
• 5g xanthan gum
• Salt, to taste
For the Pasta & Protein:
• Carbe Diem low calorie fettuccine
• Milanesa steak
Both ají peppers can usually be found frozen at most Latino markets.
Calorie Breakdown and Portion Guide
A lot of you asked how this pasta stays under 400 calories, so I wanted to share the breakdown here.
For the full batch of huancaína-style sauce, I use a mix of peppers, cottage cheese, queso fresco, cashew milk, low-calorie bread, and seasonings. When everything is added together, the entire sauce batch comes out to roughly 1,400 to 1,500 calories total.
Since this makes multiple portions, the calories per serving depend on how you divide it.
If you split the sauce into:
• 6 servings, each portion is about 240 calories
• 5 servings, each portion is about 290 calories
• 4 servings, each portion is about 360 calories
My usual plate lands somewhere in the middle, around 300 to 350 calories for the sauce.
When I pair it with a measured portion of pasta, which is usually around 120 to 150 calories, the full bowl stays close to 380 to 420 calories total.
That’s how I’m able to enjoy a creamy, comforting Peruvian-style pasta while keeping it balanced.
Instead of using heavy cream or lots of oil, this version gets its richness from cottage cheese and a small amount of queso fresco, which helps keep the overall calories lower without sacrificing flavor.
If you have questions about portions or want me to break down another recipe, let me know in the comments.
🥗 Why We Measure Our Food
Eating low calorie doesn’t mean eating boring food. It means planning, measuring, modifying classics, and enjoying cultural dishes without guilt. This approach allows us to enjoy Peruvian comfort food regularly while staying on track with our health goals.
🌎 About Taylor Chapters
I’m an American living between cultures, sharing food, travel, and lifestyle stories inspired by Peru and South Florida. On this channel, you’ll find authentic recipes, travel guides, and realistic wellness tips.
If you enjoy Peruvian food, healthy recipes, and cultural cooking, make sure to subscribe for more.
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