Changles with Sautéed Potatoes — Traditional Southern Chilean Mushroom Dish

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 in many ways, from raw to cooked.

How to Make Changles with Potatoes?

The potatoes are boiled in their skins, the changles are simmered slowly with the onion, spices, and broth, and at the end the potatoes are peeled, quartered, and browned in hot oil.

Nutritional Information

Each serving of changles with potatoes contains approximately 250 kcal, 40 g of carbohydrates, 8 g of fat, 5 g of protein, 5 g of fiber, 3 g of sugars, and 400 mg of sodium. These values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients and portion sizes.

Homemade Changles with Sautéed Potatoes Recipe

Preparation: 20 minutes
Cooking: 30 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 kg of changle mushrooms
• 200 ml (¾ cup + 1 tablespoon) of beef broth
• 4 medium red skinned potatoes
• 2 medium onions
• 1 bunch of parsley
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon of oregano
• 1 teaspoon of ají de color (Chilean paprika)
• Aliño completo (Chilean spice mix)
• Oil for frying
• Fine salt
• Black pepper

Instructions

1. Clean the changles very well with a damp cloth or towel, never washing or soaking them in water. Set aside. Wash the potatoes, put them unpeeled in a large pot, cover with cold water, add a tablespoon of salt, bring to a boil, and cook for about 20 minutes. Set aside.

2. In a medium skillet, heat a splash of oil and sauté the finely diced onions until slightly translucent. Add the changles and stir gently with a wooden spoon.

3. Add the ají de color, ½ teaspoon of aliño completo, the bay leaf, and the beef broth, and simmer over low heat for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat, taste, adjust the seasoning, and keep warm.

4. Peel the boiled potatoes, cut them into quarters, season with a little oregano, and brown them evenly in hot oil in a large skillet for about 5 minutes. Serve the changles with the freshly sautéed potatoes, topped with parsley and ají de color to taste.

Additional Tips

Blanch if needed

Dip the changles in salted boiling water for 30 seconds and then in cold water to fix their color and remove grit without them soaking up water.

Cook over medium low heat

High heat makes changles release their liquid all at once and turn rubbery.

Crisp potatoes

Brown the potato quarters in a single layer without moving them for 2 to 3 minutes per side, and add the oregano at the end.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why should changles not be washed with water?

Their porous, branched structure acts like a sponge, so soaking them makes them watery and dilutes the sauce. A clean damp cloth is enough to remove the soil.

2. Can I use vegetable broth instead of beef broth?

Yes, it makes the dish fully vegetarian and lets the earthy flavor of the mushroom stand out even more.

3. Which potato variety is best?

Red skinned potatoes or southern native varieties brown evenly without falling apart because they are lower in starch.

4. How long do cooked changles keep?

Up to 48 hours in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat gently and sauté the potatoes just before serving.

5. What is aliño completo?

A classic Chilean spice mix with cumin, black pepper, garlic powder, oregano, and coriander. A pinch of cumin and black pepper can replace it.

Benefits of Changles

Changles are rich in antioxidants, fiber, and potassium, and they are low in calories and filling.

Did You Know?

The changle (Ramaria flava), also called chandi or manecillas, is an edible wild mushroom of southern Chile that grows in damp, dark forests.

Recommended

• Chilean Changles with Noodles Recipe
• Chilean Preserved Changles Recipe
• Chilean Changles Salad Recipe
• Chilean Changles Empanadas Recipe