Chilean Food: A Collection of Chilean Recipes

Traditional and Contemporary Chilean Cuisine

By
Marian Blazes
Marian Blazes
Marian Blazes is a freelance writer and recipe developer with a passion for South American food. She wrote a cookbook focusing on the cuisine of Brazil.
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Updated on 09/17/20

Chile has a distinctive cuisine. Both European and indigenous traditions have prominently influenced modern Chilean food. Chile is known for its fantastic seafood, grilled meats (think Patagonia), stews and pasteles, empanadas, corn, beans, potatoes, native tropical fruit (lucuma and chirimoya), pisco, and excellent wines.

To a casual observer, Chilean food might seem similar to Peruvian food. Though the two countries do share similar growing climates and geography, Chilean cuisine has evolved separately and is quite unique. Peruvian food may enjoy a certain trendiness right now, but Chilean cuisine has much to offer.

  • 01 of 05

    Chilean Appetizers, Snacks, and Street Food

    Chilean style beef empanadas recipe

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

    The empanada, which is a pastry filled with pino (a combination of stewed beef and onion) or queso (cheese) is a classic Chilean appetizer, snack, and street food. Followed closely in popularity are all types of tamales, and sandwiches like the palta, tomate y palmito made with avocado, tomato, and hearts of palm.

  • 02 of 05

    Chilean Breads and Sandwiches

    panamasadolg.jpg
    Pan Amasado - Chilean Bread Rolls.

    The Spruce / Marian Blazes

    When you walk into a bakery in Chile, you probably would be surprised by the unusual shapes and the fact that you serve yourself and pay by weight. Chile's bread is considered some of the best in the world having been influenced by Fren1ch, Spanish, and German colonizers.

  • 03 of 05

    Chilean Salads, Sides, and Salsas

    Soybean Paste And Red Pepper Paste Mix, Korean Food
    Topic Images Inc. / Getty Images

    Chilean salads, sides, and salads are made with fresh vegetables and fruits. Some are spicy, some are salty and yet others are sweet. The most popular Chilean salad is ensalada chilena made with sliced onions, sliced tomatoes, vinegar, oil dressing, cilantro, and salt.

  • 04 of 05

    Chilean Main Courses

    Pastel de choclo beef corn casserole recipe

    ​The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

    Lunch is typically the biggest meal of the day, and two main dishes are often served. In small towns, businesses close for almost three hours so people can go home and eat this large meal with their families and take a siesta (nap).

    A traditional Chilean meal might consist of pastel de choclo, a "pie" made with corn, vegetables, chicken, and beef, and served with ensalada chilena (see above).

    Continue to 5 of 5 below.
  • 05 of 05

    Chilean Desserts

    Pastelitos de dulce de leche recipe

    The Spruce

    Some of the most popular Chilean desserts and pastries are jelly-filled doughnuts, liquor-filled pastries, horn-shaped flaky pastries, fried pastries, rolled crepes, sopaipillas (fried dough) and churros (fried doughnut sticks). Many desserts have been influenced by Spanish and European specialties.