Embark on a culinary journey through Chile with these 20 traditional dishes, a celebration of diverse flavors and cultures.
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THE BEST TRADITIONAL CHILEAN RECIPES AND FOODS
Chile is a country of diverse landscapes, cultures, and cuisines. From the Andes mountains to the Pacific coast, from the desert to the forest, Chile offers a variety of flavors and dishes that reflect its rich history and geography. Chilean food is influenced by indigenous, Spanish, Italian, German, and French traditions, as well as by the abundance of seafood, meat, corn, potatoes, and fruit. In this list, you will find 20 traditional Chilean dishes that you need to try. From savory empanadas and hearty stews to sweet cakes and desserts, these recipes will take you on a culinary journey through Chile. So grab your fork and get ready to taste these 20 delicious Chilean foods.
Empanadas de pino are a traditional Chilean dish that consists of pastry pockets filled with a savory mixture of beef, onion, raisins, olives, and hard-boiled eggs. You can bake them or fry them until golden and crisp, and serve them with salsa or pebre for dipping.
Chilean beef stew is a hearty and comforting dish that’s made with beef, potatoes, carrots, onion, garlic, and spices. You can cook it in a pot or a slow cooker until the meat is tender and the sauce is thick, and serve it with bread or rice for a satisfying meal.
Choripanes are a popular street food in Chile that are made with grilled chorizo sausages and crusty bread rolls. You can top them with chimichurri sauce or pebre sauce for some extra flavor and freshness, and enjoy them as a snack or a lunch.
Mote con huesillos is a refreshing drink that’s also a dessert in Chile. It’s made with dried peaches, wheat berries, sugar, water, and cinnamon. You can simmer the ingredients until the peaches are soft and the wheat berries are plump, and serve it chilled or at room temperature.
Completos are a Chilean version of hot dogs that are loaded with toppings like avocado, tomato, sauerkraut, mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard. They are easy to make and fun to eat, and you can customize them with your favorite ingredients.
Country Chilean bread is a rustic and simple bread that’s made with flour, yeast, salt, water, and lard. You can knead the dough by hand or use a stand mixer, and shape it into round loaves or rolls. You can bake them in the oven until golden and crusty, and serve them with butter or jam for breakfast or as a side dish.
Baked Chilean sea bass is a delicious and easy dish that’s made with sea bass fillets, butter, lemon juice, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper. You can bake them in the oven until flaky and moist, and serve them with roasted vegetables or salad for a healthy and elegant meal.
Marraqueta is a type of bread that’s very popular in Chile. It’s made with flour, yeast, salt, water, and malt extract. You can shape the dough into oval loaves with four sections each, and bake them in the oven until crisp and airy. You can serve them with cheese, ham, or jam for a delicious and filling snack.
Chorrillana fries are a Chilean specialty that are made with french fries topped with scrambled eggs, beef strips, onion, and cheese. You can cook them in a large skillet or a baking sheet until hot and cheesy. You can serve them with ketchup or salsa for a hearty and indulgent dish.
Pastel de choclo is a traditional Chilean dish that’s made with a corn-based crust and a meaty filling. It’s similar to a shepherd’s pie but with more flavor and texture. You can make the filling with ground beef, chicken, onion, garlic, raisins, olives, hard-boiled eggs, and spices. You can make the crust with fresh corn, milk, butter, sugar, and basil. You can bake it in the oven until golden and bubbly. You can serve it with salad or pebre for a delicious and comforting meal.
Sopaipillas are a traditional Chilean snack that are made with fried dough and served with pebre sauce or honey. They are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and can be enjoyed as a breakfast, appetizer, or dessert. You can make them with flour, baking powder, salt, butter, water, and pumpkin puree.
Pebre is a fresh and spicy salsa that is a staple in Chilean cuisine. It’s made with chopped tomatoes, onion, garlic, cilantro, jalapeño, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. You can serve it with bread, meat, cheese, or sopaipillas for a burst of flavor and freshness.
Chacarero is a Chilean steak sandwich that is loaded with toppings like green beans, tomato, avocado, and mayonnaise. It’s a hearty and satisfying sandwich that can be made with grilled or pan-fried steak and crusty bread rolls. You can season it with salt, pepper, oregano, and vinegar for some extra tanginess.
Chilean tomato and onion salad is a simple and refreshing salad that can be served as a side dish or a light meal. It’s made with sliced tomatoes, onion, cilantro, olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper. You can let it marinate in the fridge for a few hours to enhance the flavors and serve it with bread or cheese.
Manjar or dulce de leche is a creamy and sweet caramel sauce that can be made from scratch with milk, sugar, baking soda, and vanilla extract. It’s a popular dessert in Chile and other Latin American countries that can be used as a filling or topping for cakes, cookies, pastries, or ice cream. You can cook it in a pot over low heat until thick and golden, stirring occasionally.
Tres leches or milk cake is a moist and rich cake that’s soaked in three kinds of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream. It’s a classic dessert in Chile and other parts of Latin America that can be topped with whipped cream and fruit. You can bake it in the oven with flour, baking powder, salt, eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, and butter. You can poke holes in the cake and pour the milk mixture over it. You can refrigerate it until chilled and serve it with more whipped cream or fruit.
Chilean alfajores are a delicious and delicate cookie that are filled with manjar or dulce de leche. They are made with flour, butter, sugar, eggs, baking powder, and vanilla extract. You can roll the dough and cut it into circles, then bake them in the oven until lightly golden. You can sandwich them with manjar and sprinkle them with powdered sugar for a sweet treat.
Brazo de reina or queen’s arm is a traditional Chilean dessert that consists of a sponge cake rolled with a dulce de leche filling. It’s made with eggs, sugar, flour, baking powder, vanilla extract, dulce de leche, and coconut flakes. You can bake the cake in a sheet pan and spread it with dulce de leche, then roll it up and coat it with coconut flakes for a beautiful and tasty dessert.
Humitas are a savory and hearty dish that are made with fresh corn, onion, garlic, basil, butter, salt, and pepper. They are similar to tamales but with a softer texture and a sweeter flavor. You can grind the corn and mix it with the other ingredients, then wrap it in corn husks and steam it until cooked. You can serve them with tomato salad or pebre sauce for a satisfying meal.
Thousand layers cake or mil hojas is an impressive and elegant cake that’s made with thin layers of pastry dough and manjar or dulce de leche. It’s a labor-intensive but rewarding dessert that can be made from scratch or with store-bought puff pastry. You can bake the pastry layers in the oven until crisp and golden, then stack them with manjar and dust them with powdered sugar for a stunning and scrumptious dessert.
Ingredients
- Chilean Beef Empanadas
- Chilean Beef Stew (Estofado)
- Choripanes
- Mote con Huesillos
- Chilean-Style Hot Dogs (Completos)
- Chilean Country Bread (Pan Amasado)
- Baked Chilean Sea Bass
- Marraqueta Bread
- Chilean Chorrillana Fries
- Chilean Beef and Corn Pie (Pastel de Choclo)
- Chilean Sopaipillas with Pumpkin
- Chilean Pebre Sauce
- Chacarero Steak Sandwich
- Chilean Tomato and Onion Salad
- Homemade Manjar (Dulce de Leche)
- Tres Leches Milk Cake
- Chilean Alfajores
- Chilean Dulce de Leche Cake (Brazo de Reina)
- Chilean Corn Tamale (Humitas)
- Thousand Layers Cake (Milhojas)
Instructions
- Select your favorite Chilean food recipe.
- Gather all necessary ingredients.
- Create a tasty Chilean dish using simple steps and enjoy!
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