Chilean cuisine[1] stems mainly from the combination of traditionalSpanish cuisine,ChileanMapuche culture and local ingredients, with later important influences from otherEuropean cuisines, particularly fromGermany, theUnited Kingdom andFrance.The food tradition and recipes in Chile are notable for the variety of flavours and ingredients, with the country's diverse geography and climate hosting a wide range of agricultural produce, fruits and vegetables. The long coastline and the peoples' relationship with thePacific Ocean add a notable array ofseafood to Chilean cuisine, with the country's waters home to unique species offish,molluscs,crustaceans andalgae, thanks to the oxygen-rich water carried in by theHumboldt Current. Chile is also one of the world's largest producers ofwine and many Chilean recipes are enhanced and accompanied by local wines. The confectiondulce de leche was invented in Chile and is one of the country's most notable contributions to world cuisine.[2]
With the arrival of the Spanish conquerors led byPedro de Valdivia in 1540 came some of the products that would become staples of Chilean cuisine—wheat,pigs,sheep,cattle,chickens andwine—while the native peoples contributedpotatoes,maize,beans, andseafood. Various combinations of these basic ingredients form the basis of most characteristic Chilean dishes.After the establishment of the colony, products and dishes like chuchoca (coarsely ground dry corn),humitas,locro, and seaweeds likecochayuyo andluche served with boiled eggs became popular. Meals in colonial times tended to be heavy and rich. Lunch was always bigger than dinner, starting with a dish calledde residencia of fish, meat, or poultry, followed by aguisostew withchoclo (fresh sweet corn) and potatoes.There were three kinds of bread accompanying the meals:tortilla de rescoldo, Spanish bread (made of fatty dough), and Chilean bread (flat and crunchy). Lunch and dinner ended with herbalinfusions, generallypaico to help digestion, and finally fruit for dessert, mainlystrawberries andlucumas.
In the seventeenth century, pastry was popularized by the nuns who baked it in convents. A popular Chilean saying, “tiene mano de monja” (“s/he has the hands of a nun”), comes from this period and refers to someone who is skilled at baking or cooking in general. The nuns’ pastry recipes quickly become popular among the rest of the Chilean population. During the same period,geese andturkeys arrived in Chile fromMexico andmelons andwatermelons came fromJamaica.During the eighteenth century, Chilean cuisine started to become more sophisticated, particularly among the aristocracy.Tea andcoffee began to replacemate,Chilean wine became popular and people started to drinkchicha, a sweet, undistilled wine made from fermented grapes or apples.
During the early years of Chilean independence, the so-calledPatria Vieja, Chileans celebrated withempanadas, chicha andred wine, which is still traditional today at the annual celebrations of independence.
During the nineteenth century, Chile began to form its own identity and food became a part of this. Immigration, which had been limited and incidental at the beginning of the young republic, was now actively encouraged by the Chilean government between late nineteenth century and early 20th century. The variety of produce increased with the arrival ofGerman immigrants in the south of the country, who had a strong influence on Chilean cuisine, even until today. They brought with thempork dishes,sausages and pastries. Today,Berliners andkuchens are common in bakeries throughout Chile.Italian immigrants contributed pasta and meat products, and in towns likeCapitán Pastene in the south of Chile, they still prepareprosciutto in the same way as the first Italian immigrants.[3]
In the twentieth century, French culture had a strong influence on Chile, including its cuisine. French gastronomy and techniques influenced the preparation of the food, and even replaced some dishes, for example theSpanish tortilla, which was replaced by theomelette. Along with the Italians, Germans, and French cameCroatians,Greeks,Palestinians,Belgians andBasques.In the 21st century, Chile is a modern and prosperous country with strong economic growth bringing greater disposable income and the consequent development of a rich gastronomic industry.[4]
To some extent, food consumption is related toblanqueamiento or whitening. For example, inOsorno, a Chilean city with a strongGerman heritage, consumption of desserts, marmalades andkuchens whitens the inhabitants of the city.[5] While indigenous and raw dishes such añachi are associated with masculinity, European cuisine and specially desserts are considered feminine.[5]
Maize: Known in Chile and Peru aschoclo, and in some English-speaking countries as corn, maize was the staple diet that prospered in the empires of theMaya,Aztecs, andIncas. It was also cultivated using varying techniques by theAtacameño people of northern Chile. Through trade and travel, maize was brought to and eventually embraced by theMapuche, who began using it in their own preparations. Chileanchoclo is a different variety of maize than that known elsewhere. It originated in Peru and is distinguishable by its very large kernels, which are tougher than North American corn, and its savoury, somewhat nutty flavour.
Lúcuma: A subtropical fruit of Peruvian Andes origin, native to Peru, lúcuma is grown in southern Ecuador and the northern coast of Chile. The fruit is very nutritious, having high levels ofcarotene andvitamin B3. Lúcuma is exported all over the world and is a popular flavour for desserts and ice cream.
Murta ormurtilla: an endemic shrub native to southern Chile. The Mapuche name isuñi, and Spanish names include murta and murtilla (“little myrtle”); it is also sometimes known as “Chilean guava”. It was used by the Mapuche before the arrival of the Spaniards. It is used in the preparation ofjams andliquor.
Potato: Featured heavily in dishes such ascazuela, the potato has two centres of origin, namely the South of Peruvian Andes (Solanum indigenous) and theChiloé Archipelago (Solanum tuberosum).[7][verification needed] It is a fundamental ingredient in a wide array of dishes.
Quinoa: grown as a crop primarily for its edible seeds, quinoa originated in the Peruvian Andean region of South America, where it has been an important food for 6,000 years. Varieties of quinoa are grown inConcepción andTemuco.
Nalca orpangue: The Chileanrhubarb is a plant species native to southern Chile. Its leaves are used in the preparation ofcuranto and the stems in salad, as fruit or in preserves.
Avocado:Palta, as it is called in Chile, has been consumed since pre-Hispanic times. Avocado originated in Mexico and Peru. The Chilean variety is calledNegra de la Cruz (“La Cruz Black”) after the town ofLa Cruz in theValparaíso Region, the main producer; it is also calledPrada orVicencio.
Aji verde (green chili): One of the most common varieties in Chile; called green chile because it is consumed before its maturation.
Olives: Although originating in Europe, olives fromAzapa inArica are considered a variety of their own, typical of the dry northern region, and are widely recognized in Chile.
A characteristic of Chilean cuisine is the variety and quality of fish and seafood, due to the geographic location and extensive coastline. TheHumboldt current brings a supply of seafood that gathers along the Pacific coast perpendicular to Chilean waters. These include:
Northern cuisine is strongly influenced by the AndeanAymara,Diaguita andAtacameño cultures, and also by the coastalChango people. The northern diet is traditionally high in protein.The use oftubers like theapilla or oca and theulluco is common, though these are practically unknown in central and southern Chilean cuisine.Traditional northern Chilean cuisine also includes the use of camelid meats likellama andalpaca. The herbrica-rica, which is endemic to the region, is used as a seasoning.[8] Dishes likechairo have been prepared for centuries by theAndean cultures, although they are not as common nowadays among the northern Chilean population and are almost unknown in the rest of Chile.
Asado: Meat roasted on the barbecue. In the north it is possible to find asados prepared withalpaca meat.
Chicharrón de papa: Pieces of meat and fat fromllama andlamb, boiled and then fried. It may be served with potatoes or salad, or consumed as a snack by farmers and peasants.
Guatitas: A stew of cow stomach (guatita means “tummy”).
Chairo: An altiplanic llama stew, one of the least known in the rest of Chile.
Carapulcra: Spicy soup, with potatoes, corn and different kinds of meat.
Tortilla de mariscos: A kind of omelette of beaten eggs fried with seafood and chorizo, similar to prawn tortilla from Spain.
Machas a la parmesana: A type of shellfish similar to the razor clam that is cooked in the oven with bits of Parmesan cheese and other condiments. It is often eaten as an appetizer.
Conchas de camarones: Prawns, leeks, and cheese, milk and other ingredients form a mix that is served in oyster shells.
Erizos con salsa verde: Sea urchin is very abundant in the Chilean seas, but its extraction is limited by the government to only certain times of the year. It is often eaten raw as an appetizer with a little lemon, coriander or parsley, and onion.
Caldillo de congrio: A fish stew with conger eel and vegetables, commonly found throughout the country.
Picante de conejo, cow stomach or chicken: Spicy dish of vegetables fried and stewed with meat of rabbit, chicken, or cow stomach. Hand crushed potatoes are added at the end.
Plateada con quinoa: Literally “silver-plated”. A cut of beef known in English as “rib cap” is cooked with quinoa, onions, garlic and white wine.
Cazuela marina: A stew of different types of seafood, such as razor clams, oysters and shrimp, similar to paila marina but with more vegetables.
Estofado de cordero: Lamb stew.
Ensalada chilena nortina: Onions and tomatoes prepared a lajulienne. It is similar to the basicensalada chilena with the addition of goat cheese and olives.
Ensalada dequinoa: Quinoa salad comprising quinoa and other vegetables.
Timbal de quinoa: A mix of quinoa, avocado and other ingredients; served shaped like atimbal drum.
Risotto de quinoa y pimientos amarillos: Quinoa risotto with yellow peppers.
Sango: A kind of bread made from wheat flour cooked with oil and salt; served withchicharrones
The cuisine of the central valley and coast has been influenced by the traditions of the native people and European immigrants, particularly those who arrived during the second half of the nineteenth century, with farm life and agriculture the most important influence. In the past, agriculture was a very important aspect of the economy and the Fundo (ranch, farm) was the centre of everyday life. Country traditions still survive and food is a good example of this.
Locos con mayonesa (“locos with mayonnaise”), accompanied usually with lettuce and potato salad.
Palta reina: Avocado stuffed with chicken salad, tuna, prawns, or other fillings.
Tomates rellenos: Stuffed tomatoes, generally filled with sweetcorn, mayonnaise, and other ingredients.
Pastel de choclo: a layered pie, usually made in a deep dish or a claypaila with chopped beef at the bottom prepared “al pino” (a thick stew of minced or chopped beef, chopped onions and seasoning), chicken, olives and a hard-boiled egg, topped with a mixture of ground fresh corn and basil, and baked in the oven.
Humitas: similar to Mexicantamales, the humita is a mixture of fresh and ground corn baked inside corn husks.
Pan de Pascua: similar to a sweet sponge cake flavoured with ginger, cinnamon, liquor and honey. It usually contains candied fruits, raisins, walnuts and almonds.
Pan amasado: a traditional type of bread, which has animal fat in it. It is kneaded for a long time to achieve a very dense type of bread.
Leche asada: A baked milk dessert with caramel, similar to the originalpanna cotta made with eggs instead of gelatine, as it is made in most places today.
Southern Chilean cuisine has been greatly influenced byMapuche cuisine andChilotecuisine. There are two products that have attracted particular attention: theMerkén condiment and the “Kollongka”,Araucana or Mapuche chicken, known by their unusual blue-green eggs.Another great influence on southern Chilean cuisine was immigration from Europe, particularly theGerman migration of the nineteenth century. Traditional German cakes and desserts have been adopted in much of Chile.As in the rest of Chile, seafood has a very important place in the diet, but due to the thousands of islands that make up the southern region, the ocean has a particular relevance here.
Merkén: a traditionalMapuche condiment, made with dried and smoked red chillis and coriander, ground to a fine powder. It is used to season all kinds of dishes.
Araucana, Kollongka or Mapuche Chicken: Endemic to southern Chile, known by their light blue/green eggs.
Caldillo de almejas: Clam soup[9] (“caldillo” is a clear thin soup).
Chupe delocos: A rich stew made with the loco or Chilean abalone, served with bread and baked in clay pots or “Paila de greda”
Asado al palo: A form of roasting or barbecuing meat in which the whole animal (usually a lamb) is put on a stick next to a big wood fire and cooked for several hours until tender.
Cancato: A baked stew of fish, cheese, onions and pepper, seasoned with lemon and wine.
Cazuela chilota: TheChiloé version of cazuela differs from traditional cazuela because the stock is made either of driedcholgas (ribbed mussels) and cabbage or ofluche (a brown leafy alga) and lamb instead of beef or chicken, giving it a very distinct flavour.
Sopa chilota de pescado seco: Dried fish soup.
Curanto: A traditional preparation where seafood and meat is cooked in a big hole in the ground using heated stones.
Pulmay: A kind ofcuranto, cooked in a big casserole dish instead of a hole.
Chapalele: A Chilean dumpling made from boiled potatoes and wheat flour.
Crudos: Crudos (Spanish for “raw”) is a typical German-Chilean dish similar to asteak tartare.
Empanadas: a stuffed baked pastry, filled with meat, onions and other condiments. They can also be fried or have different fillings.
Milcao: The dish is a type of potato pancake prepared with raw grated potatoes and cooked mashed potatoes mixed with other ingredients.
Chochoca: Also known as chochoyeco, trotroyeco or trutru, this is a traditionalChilote dish prepared with raw squeezed potatoes and boiled mashed potatoes or flour, stuck to a pole and roasted in a fireplace.
Valdiviano: One of the oldest dishes in Chilean cuisine and named after the conquistadorPedro de Valdivia, this soup made ofjerky, onions and potatoes was one of the dishes eaten by the conquering Spanish troops.
Baked goods, desserts and breads
Brazo de Reina: a classic Swiss Roll, usually filled with strawberry jam, raspberry jam or manjar (Chileandulce de leche), and topped with chocolate swirls or icing sugar.
Empanadas de manzana: a baked pastry filled with baked apples andcinnamon.
Kuchen: the traditional German cake filled with seasonal fruits such as strawberries, blackberries, apricots, plums, peaches, rhubarb, etc.
Sopaipillas: A deep fried dough. There are two versions: one plain, which is made with white flour, animal fat and water, and another in which pureed pumpkin is mixed to the dough. In each version, the dough is formed as disks and then deep fried. It can be eaten sweet, with icing sugar or a sweet caramel sauce, or as a salty snack, topped with a chili sauce or mustard.
Easter Island cuisine includes dishes of both Chilean andPolynesian extraction. It includes a much wider array of fish than the mainland cuisine, and some fruits and tubers that are not possible to find in continental Chile.[10]
Ceviche: Can be made with soy or coconut milk, in contrast to the traditional continental version, and withmata huira (glasseye),toremo (yellowfin tuna) orkana-kana (swordfish).
Chile's unique combination of geography and climate make it ideal for wine growing. This tradition goes back to the sixteenth century and the arrival Spanish conquistadors, and has grown as an industry in recent decades, making Chile one of the world's biggest wine producers. Wine is not the only traditionally produced and consumed beverage, however: the northern regions produce aguardiente, a distillation of grape, the favourite liquor of many Chileans, and the southern regions are known for their high-quality beers.
Borgoña (drink): Cold red wine with chopped strawberries and sugar.
Chicha: Sweet fermented wine, usually made from grapes but sometimes from apples too. This is typically drunk around the 18 September independence day celebrations.
ChileanAguardiente: Similar to Italiangrappa, made by distilling grape residues.
Licor de oro (golden liquor): A liquor distilled from a mixture ofaguardiente and fermented milk.
Cola de mono (literally, monkey's tail): Made and consumed throughout Chile, this is a traditional Chilean drink served around Christmas time, very much like the tradition of servingeggnog during Christmas in North America. Its texture and taste are somewhat similar to aWhite Russian.
Ponche a la Romana: Champagne with pineapple ice cream. Typically served on New Year's Eve.[11]
Terremoto (Earthquake):Vino pipeño with pineapple ice cream served in a one-liter glass. The next round usually contains the same drink though only in a glass that holds half a liter. This is called a Replica (aftershock).
Mango sour: a mixture of aguardiente and mango juice, similar to the Peruvianpisco sour
Papaya sour: a mixture of aguardiente and papaya juice.
Té frío: A curiosity rather than a unique beverage. In the market ofAngelmo,Puerto Montt, at a time when it was forbidden to serve alcohol, the white wine was served in a cup of tea instead of a glass to disguise the forbidden content.
Vaina Chilena [es]: A cocktail containing cognac, aged wine, egg yolk, cinnamon and sometimes cocoa liquor.
Beside the big fast food chains present in almost every country in the world, Chile has its own traditional “fast food”. The traditional empanada can be eaten at September independence day celebrations or as a quick lunch. The Chilean version of the hot dog is more complex than standard North American hotdogs: as well as mustard and ketchup, it can be topped with mashed avocado, chopped tomatoes, sauerkraut and home-made mayonnaise. During the cold winter,sopaipillas are also a popular snack served on the streets.
Barros Jarpa: Grilled cheese and ham on white bun. Named after Chilean minister Ernesto Barros Jarpa.
Barros Luco: Grilled cheese and meat on white bread. Named after the Chilean President Ramón Barros Luco (President from 1910 to 1915).
Churrasco Italiano (Italian): Named after the colours of the Italian flag (red tomatoes, white mayonnaise and green mashed avocados), it is a beef sandwich topped with tomato, avocado and mayonnaise.
Chacarero: like the normal churrasco, but with green beans and tomatoes.
Legumes have been important in Chilean cuisine since pre-colonial times, with beans, lentils and chickpeas as part of a traditional diet and generally cooked with rice, fresh sweet corn or even pasta (Porotos con rienda)
Porotos con riendas (literally, “beans with reins”): A stew of beans and spaghetti.
Porotos Granados con mazamorra: fresh beans and ground fresh corn.
Porotos Granados con pilco: Pilco is a mix of corn, tomato, onion, garlic, cumin, basil, green chilli, paprika and pumpkin.
Lentejas con arroz: Stew of lentils and rice, usually accompanied by longaniza or chorizo.
Arroz graneado: Rice is one of the most popular side dishes, in Chile is generally fried with a clove of garlic and carrot (Brunoise). It can also contain red peppers and onions.
Pasta is very common in everyday Chilean meals, but is not prepared very differently from in other countries, except for some changes in the name and forms of the pasta itself.Bolognese, white sauce (béchamel), and cream-based sauces are the most common.
Croquetas de pescado: Fish cakes, generally made of tuna and called “croquetas de atun”.
Fritos de coliflor: Cauliflower cakes
Panqueques: Crepes, are usually eaten withDulce de leche or Manjar, but they can also be a main course, layered with vegetables, or layered into a sweet cake.
Tortilla: The basic flour and egg tortilla can be mixed with potatoes, cauliflower, peas, green beans, carrots, seafood and many other ingredients.
Empanadas are common in many cultures with different names. In Chile, empanadas can have distinctive fillings and can also be cooked in unusual ways to give them a very distinctive flavour and shape. For this reason, empanada sellers in Chile (whether a restaurant, street stand, market, etc.) always specify if their empanadas are fried or baked.
Empanadas: Can either be “de horno”, baked, or “fritas”, fried.
Chileans are one of the biggest bread eaters in the world; second after the Germans, in fact.[12][13][14][15] Chileans eat bread at breakfast, lunch (as a side or appetiser),Las onces or dinner. Bread for “onces” should be as fresh as possible, ideally bought still hot from the local bakery.
Around the 1920s, a tin toaster was invented in Chile, also known asChilean toaster, which over the years began to be used to heat bread, also due to the difficulty of toasting certain varieties (such asmarraqueta) in electric toasters.[16][17]
Marraqueta, also called Pan Batido or Pan Frances: a staple in any home, marraqueta is a simple kind of bread which is characteristic for having a crispy crust and a soft, airy interior. Marraqueta and mashed avocado are the most common element in “las onces”.
Coliza This bread is rectangular or diamond shaped with a flat top. The bread is made of layers and layers of dough and is easily pulled apart. It also looks like the bread is folded over and over.[18]
Dobladas, also called dobladitas: similar to colizas, made of fatty and heavy dough folded in triangles.
Meat is very important in Chilean cuisine and for many Chileans it is essential ingredient in every dinner or lunch. According to studies, Chilean per capita meat consumption (including poultry, beef and pork) has doubled in the last two decades[19] while seafood consumption has decreased.
Cazuela: This soup/stew can contain poultry, beef, pork lamb or goat.
Asado: Barbecues can also contain poultry, beef, pork lamb or goat.
Carne al disco or asado al disco: meat prepared in a disc over a bonfire.[20]
Poultry dishes
Chicken is the most common of the poultry meats and is an ingredient in traditional dishes likeAsado,Pastel de choclo andCazuela. Although in recent yearsturkey has become popular, it is not quite a tradition. Duck is rarely consumed in the centre and northern regions, but can be popular in southern countryside.
Pollo arvejado: Chicken and pea casserole.
Pollo al Cognac: Chicken stew slowly cooked with plenty of cognac and white wine.
Beef dishes
Although imported beef is available from other Latin American countries, Chileans prefer locally produced beef. Chilean cattle is fed with mineral-rich prairie grass and produced generally in small herds in small farms instead of being mass-produced and fattened on corn, as in some other countries. This produces leaner beef, but since it is the fat within the muscle tissue that makes beef tender, it also makes it tougher beef.[21]Along with the previously mentioned asado, cazuela and empanadas, other Chilean beef dishes include:
Niños envueltos (literally, “wrapped children”): This peculiarly-named dish contains vegetables and other ingredients wrapped in thin sliced beef.
This rich meat is not commonly eaten in much of Chile but it is very popular inPatagonia among both local people and tourists.
Cordero al palo: Another characteristic dish of the southern regions - a lamb roasted on a stake over a bonfire. In the northern regions, similar dishes are prepared but with young goats, called cabritos.
Rabbit dishes
Conejo escabechado is probably the most popular rabbit dish. The rabbit is cooked in a casserole with oil, vinegar, onions and garlic.
Chileans enjoy all kinds of seafood, sometimes prepared raw with lemon, coriander and onions, or just simply in the shell with lemon juice and a glass of white wine. Seafood markets are commonly found in fishing villages.
Tortas: Sponge cakes in layers, filled with whipped cream, creme patissiere,Dulce de leche and fruit. The sponge should be very light and moist, and can be covered with more whipped cream or meringue. This is the most common type of cake for birthdays.
Empolvados: A small pastry consisting of two small, spongy cakes covered in powdered sugar with manjar in between.
Queques: A heavier and drier cake, with no layers and usually covered in icing sugar.
Pasteles: Like a torta but smaller in size, usually square.
Tartaletas: Like a pie covered in fruit.
Torta tres leches
Pan de huevo
Cuchuflí: A spongy pastry tube, filled with manjar.
^Nikolai Ivanovich Vavilov ForMemRS was a prominent Russian and Soviet botanist and geneticist best known for having identified the centres of origin of cultivated plants
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