EARTH in Chilean Food :

MEAT AND VEGETABLES

With a strong Mapuche and Inca influence, but also Spanish and French, Chilean cuisine main ingredients are meat, seafood, and vegetables.

Being beef, chicken, pork and lamb very populars, but also corn (yeah, we love corn!) and potatoes a big part of Chilean’s daily diet.

Merkén

it’s not a dish, but one condiment that –to me- has to go with almost every Chilean –or not a – dish.

Originally from Southern Chile, this smoked and dry chili is ground and mixed with coriander seeds giving it a characteristic and delicious flavor!

Pebre

Every decent restaurant will first bring you bread, maybe butter and pebre.

Similar to de Mexican Pico de Gallo, the Chilean sauce is in every table joining empanadas, fish, humitas or anything you imagine.

There are different versions but the basic is a mixture of chopped tomatoes, onions, coriander and chili paste.

Pastel de Choclo

A pie topped with mashed corn and filled with ground beef, onions,  olives, and a boiled egg.

Usually, people like it sweet, but I prefer it salty, so I’m always asking how it was made before eating it.

Humitas

Our version of ‘tamales’, corn leaves are stuffed with ground corn and basil. The proper Chilean way to eat this is with “Chilean salad” (Ensalada a la Chilena), containing tomatoes and onions.

They are usually eaten in summer when is the corn season in the central area of the country, but you also find them as well with Pastel de Choclo froze in every Chilean restaurant or supermarket.

Cazuela

Our classic soup has two versions.

The most common with beef, which usually contains beef, rice, squash, corn and sometimes green beans. The other version can be made with chicken in a lighter and softer version.

It looks very simple and light, but it is a complete meal for one person.

Completos

If you think you have already tried all the hotdogs in the world, wait until you come to Chile.

We love avocados so we put it in everything…especially sandwiches and, yes, hot dogs!

Be careful to not drop even a piece of tomato and you will be considered a master on eating them.

And if you don’t like mayonnaise always remember Chileans LOVE it, so order them with a bit of it ( “un poquito”) and you’ll get a normal portion of it.

Empanadas

There are several versions of empanadas across the Americas, but in Chile, you will find the best! Ok, I’m biased because I’m Chilean and I grew up eating them.

Fried or baked, stuffed with beef & onions, cheese, seafood, apples, and almost anything you can imagine!

Here you can find more about this delicious recipe!

Marraquetas

Chile is one of the biggest bread consumers worldwide.

Although is not as good as French or German bread, there are local versions that you will only find in the country. Like “Pan Amasado” or “Marraquetas”, everybody’s all the time favorite.

Here you can find more about this delicious recipe!

Churrascos y Barros Luco

Sandwiches are part of the daily diet for many people, starting with breakfast or lunch or dinner.

El Barros Luco is a fine meat with melted cheese. The size and type of bread will vary depending on where you cook it.

El Churrasco is a very thin cut meat that can be accompanied by cheese or vegetables. My favorite is the Churrasco Italiano, which according to the colors of the flag takes this name. Includes tomato, avocado, and mayonnaise.

My favorites are these two, but you will find lots of variety all over the country, some including meat, fish and of course … lots of mayonnaise.

Chorrillana

The God of all fast foods in the country.

The perfect preparation to share with friends when going out for beers or to watch that soccer game at your favorite bar.

A mountain of French fries usually covered with fried onions, beef, sausages and fried eggs. It can have some changes but this is the basic Chorrillana everybody loves!

Pernil

One of the traditional and old style foods you can usually find in restaurants specialized in Chilean cuisine.

It’s a cooked pork’s knee served with boiled potatoes.

Sopaipillas

Imagine yourself starving on a cold morning in the city center and nothing to eat around the area. Until you see that small and shiny cart with these delicious and small pieces of fried dough.

The good ones have pumpkin mixed with wheat flour and you can add pebre, mustard or ketchup on top.

Asados

 

Chileans LOVE barbecues.

We will find any excuse to make one, a soccer game, elections day, a birthday, a new baby announced in the family, a farewell, a welcoming, even some weddings are celebrated eating barbecued meet.

Usually, the grill will be stuffed until the edge with Anticuchos, Choripán, and different cuts of beef, pork and chicken, and in Southern Chile, the specialty is the grilled lamb, called “Cordero al Palo”.

Mote con Huesillos

One of the very few things I’ve found to be only in Chile is this delicious dessert.

The perfect award after a long walk touring the cities or to eat under a tree in the countryside.

Re-hydrated peaches in a sweet caramelized juice with wheat, it has to be served cold to be at its best.

Here you can find more about this delicious recipe!

Manjar

If you like sweet things, don’t miss this! It’s also found in the Americas with different names and preparations, but the Chilean is –off course- my favorite.

Basically is milk with sugar, cooked for several minutes, to hours, and the main ingredient in many cakes and desserts.

 

Cuchuflis

This crunchy dough is one of my favorites in the country.

It’s cooked in a pan similar to a pancake but very crunchie, and stuffed with manjar.

It has to be eaten with few hours before turning chewy and not as crunchy as it was when just made.

There are some versions with a different preparation, but this one is the best!

Have you tried the other delicious Chilean foods? Do you have any favorite of these preparations?

Have I missed including your favorite dish?