Versión en Español Chilean fig syrup, or arrope de higos, is a thick, dark syrup made by soaking dried figs overnight, simmering them in their soaking water with cinnamon, cloves, and orange peel for 60 to 75 minutes, removing the figs, and reducing the liquid until it coats a spoon. It takes 12 hours of soaking and 2 hours of cooking, and makes 8 servings. A traditional preserve of Chile’s Norte Chico, spread on bread,…
Versión en Español Mapuche wheat muday, or muday de trigo, is a traditional drink of wheat cooked for an hour, ground, mixed back with its cooking water, extra water, and honey, and rested for at least 12 hours; it is drunk fresh as a non alcoholic refresher or left 3 to 5 days at room temperature to ferment lightly. It takes 12 hours of preparation and 70 minutes of cooking, and serves 20. A cloudy,…
Versión en Español Changles with sautéed potatoes is a traditional southern Chilean dish of changles, wild coral mushrooms, cleaned with a damp cloth and simmered for 20 minutes with sautéed onion, ají de color, bay leaf, aliño completo, and beef broth, served with boiled red skinned potatoes browned in oil with oregano. It takes 20 minutes of preparation and 30 minutes of cooking, and serves 4. Changles are a prized ingredient in Mapuche cooking, eaten…
Versión en Español Chilean conger in beer with shrimp, or congrio a la cerveza, is conger fillets braised for 10 to 12 minutes in a sauce of caramelized onion, garlic, flour, paprika, tomato, and pilsner beer, finished with sautéed shrimp and parsley. It takes 30 minutes of preparation and 25 minutes of cooking, and serves 4. A simple recipe that brings out the sea flavors of conger, one of Chile’s most traditional fish. How to…
Versión en Español Homemade white sauce, or bechamel, is a roux of butter and flour cooked for 2 minutes, whisked off the heat with whole milk, then brought to a boil until smooth and thick and seasoned with nutmeg and salt. It takes 10 minutes of preparation and 15 minutes of cooking, and makes 6 servings. Perfect for pasta and lasagna, and the base for mushroom sauce or Chilean conger eel in salsa margarita. How…
Versión en Español Homemade apple compote, or compota de manzana, is peeled apple wedges simmered covered for 15 to 20 minutes in water with lemon juice, cinnamon sticks, and sugar until tender, then left chunky or blended into a smooth purée and served chilled. It takes 15 minutes of preparation and 20 minutes of cooking, and serves 6. A simple, traditional apple and cinnamon purée that children love, soft and easy to digest for the…
Versión en Español Vegetarian lentil burgers, or hamburguesas de lentejas, are patties of coarsely mashed cooked lentils mixed with garlic, onion, parsley, flour, egg, and an optional pinch of merkén, chilled for 2 hours, pan fried in olive oil, and served in buns with a mayonnaise and yogurt spread, tomato, and lettuce. They take 45 minutes of preparation, plus soaking and chilling, and 60 minutes of cooking, and serve 4. Their texture and flavor are…
Versión en Español Homemade ham and ricotta ravioli are squares of fresh egg pasta made with flour, eggs, olive oil, warm water, and salt, rolled to about 3 mm and filled with a mixture of ricotta, chopped ham, and grated Parmigiano Reggiano, then boiled for 3 to 5 minutes. They take 45 minutes of preparation and 5 minutes of cooking, and serve 4. An Italian classic that you can fill with spinach, meat, or cheese,…
Versión en Español Garlic roasted eggplant, or berenjenas al horno, is eggplant cut into 1 to 2 cm slices, seasoned with salt and pepper, brushed with garlic and olive oil, sprinkled with merkén if you like, and baked at 180°C (356°F) for 25 minutes until lightly golden. It takes 15 minutes of preparation and 25 minutes of baking, and serves 2. A simple, delicious way to enjoy eggplant on its own or as a side…
Versión en Español Chilean banana pudding, or pudín de plátano, is a layer of crushed butter cookies topped with a stovetop custard of milk, cornstarch, egg yolks, sugar, vanilla, orange zest, coconut, and sliced banana, covered with meringue and briefly browned in the oven, then chilled. It takes 20 minutes of preparation and 20 minutes of cooking, and serves 6. A soft, delicious dessert that invites endless variations, sweetened with honey or mixed with chia…