---
title: "Chilean Cochayuyo Charquicán — Homemade Seaweed Charquicán Recipe"
description: "Versión en Español. Chilean charquicán de cochayuyo is a vegetarian take on charquicán made by roasting potatoes, winter squash, and cochayuyo seaweed at 200 C (392 F), grinding the crisp seaweed, and..."
url: https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/chilean-cochayuyo-seaweed-charquican-recipe/
date: 2026-09-27
modified: 2026-09-27
author: "Carlos Uhart M."
image: https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/chilean-cochayuyo-seaweed-charquican-featured.jpg
categories: ["Main Dishes"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# Chilean Cochayuyo Charquicán — Homemade Seaweed Charquicán Recipe

[Versión en Español](https://comidaschilenas.com/receta-de-charquican-de-cochayuyo/)

![Chilean cochayuyo charquican, a seaweed and vegetable mash with a fried egg](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/chilean-cochayuyo-seaweed-charquican-featured.jpg)*Homemade Chilean charquicán de cochayuyo*

Chilean charquicán de cochayuyo is a vegetarian take on charquicán made by roasting potatoes, winter squash, and cochayuyo seaweed at 200 C (392 F), grinding the crisp seaweed, and mixing the scooped-out potato and squash with a blended sofrito of onion, garlic, celery, merkén, ají de color, oregano, and vegetable stock, plus peas, bell pepper, parsley, and cilantro, served with a fried egg. It takes 20 minutes of preparation plus 30 minutes of cooking and serves 4 people.

It is one of the best variations of the traditional stew and a good source of vitamins, folic acid, and calcium.

## How to Make Cochayuyo Charquicán?

This charquicán is an excellent alternative to the classic version and a tasty way to add cochayuyo, a nutrient-rich seaweed, to everyday meals. Roasting the seaweed until crisp softens its iodine aroma before it is ground and folded in.

## Nutritional Information

Each serving of cochayuyo charquicán contains approximately 280 kcal, 10 g of protein, 3 g of total fat (0.5 g of saturated fat), 0 mg of cholesterol, 55 g of carbohydrates, 5 g of sugars, and 350 mg of sodium. These values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients and portion sizes.

## Homemade Chilean Charquicán de Cochayuyo Recipe

**Preparation:** 20 minutes
**Cooking:** 30 minutes
**Servings:** 4 people

### Ingredients

- 500 g (1.1 lb) of potatoes
- 200 g (7 oz) of winter squash
- 100 g (3.5 oz) of dried cochayuyo
- 80 g (1/2 cup) of peas
- 1 small onion
- 1 clove of garlic
- 1 vegetable stock cube
- 1 celery stalk
- 1/2 cup of chopped bell pepper
- Chopped parsley
- Chopped cilantro
- Ají de color (sweet paprika)
- Oregano
- Merkén
- Fine sea salt
- Black pepper
- Fried or poached eggs, to serve

### Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 200 C (392 F) for at least 10 minutes. Spread the unpeeled potatoes and squash and the chopped cochayuyo on a baking sheet and roast until the cochayuyo is crisp. Remove the seaweed and keep roasting the potatoes and squash until cooked.

![Chopped dried cochayuyo seaweed](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/chopped-dried-cochayuyo-seaweed.jpg)*Cochayuyo*

1. Grind the cochayuyo in a food processor or with a hand blender into an even crumb. Separately, blend the onion, merkén, ají de color, garlic, oregano, stock cube, and celery with a little water.

![Potatoes and squash for the charquicán](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/potatoes-and-squash-charquican.jpg)*Potatoes and squash*

1. Halve the potatoes and scoop out the flesh, do the same with the squash, and place them in a large pot. Add the blended vegetables, bell pepper, peas, parsley, cilantro, and ground cochayuyo.

![Fried egg to top the cochayuyo charquicán](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/fried-egg-runny-yolk-arroz-con-huevo.jpg)*Fried egg*

1. Stir with a wooden spoon and cook for a couple of minutes more. Serve with a fried or poached egg and a sprinkle of chopped cilantro.

## Additional Tips

### Roast the seaweed

Toasting cochayuyo in the oven removes much of its strong iodine aroma, leaving a pleasant toasted note.

### Keep stock on hand

Ground cochayuyo absorbs a lot of liquid; add hot vegetable stock little by little if the mix gets too dry.

### Top with an egg

The runny yolk works like a sauce that ties together the sea and garden flavors.

| Original ingredient | Substitute | Ratio | Flavor note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Dried cochayuyo | Fresh cochayuyo, boiled with vinegar | 1:1 | Softer, milder |
| Winter squash | Butternut squash | 1:1 | Sweeter |
| Fried egg | Poached egg | 1 per plate | Lighter |
| Peas | Corn kernels | 1:1 | Sweeter |

## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

### 1. How do I soften the smell of cochayuyo?

Toast it in the oven first; the heat drives off much of the strong iodine aroma.

### 2. Do I need to soak the cochayuyo?

No. In this recipe it is used dry and toasted, which makes it easy to grind finely.

### 3. What if my charquicán is too dry?

Add hot vegetable stock little by little at the end until it is neither soup nor dry mash.

### 4. Why serve it with an egg?

It is traditional, and the yolk adds creaminess and extra protein.

## What Is Charquicán de Cochayuyo?

Charquicán de cochayuyo is a Chilean vegetable and seaweed mash, a meat-free version of the classic charquicán using cochayuyo, the edible bull kelp of the Chilean coast.

## Benefits of Cochayuyo

Cochayuyo is very low in fat and rich in fiber, iodine, calcium, and other minerals, which is why it is valued in healthy Chilean cooking.

## Did You Know?

The word cochayuyo comes from Quechua, combining words for lake or sea and vegetable, a sea plant found along almost the entire Chilean coast.

## Recommended

- [Authentic Chilean Charquicán](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/authentic-charquican-recipe/)
- [Chilean Jack Mackerel Charquicán](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/chilean-canned-jack-mackerel-charquican-de-jurel-recipe/)
- [Chilean Dried Hake Charquicán](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/chilean-dried-hake-charquican-de-pesca-seca-recipe/)
- [Chilean Cochayuyo Crackers](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/chilean-cochayuyo-seaweed-crackers-recipe/)