---
title: "Chilean Copihue Salad — Edible National Flower Salad Recipe"
description: "Versión en Español. Chilean ensalada de copihues is an unusual salad of thinly sliced copihue petals, the national flower of Chile, with vinagrillo leaves (wood sorrel), sliced mushrooms, halved cherr..."
url: https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/chilean-copihue-edible-flower-salad-recipe/
date: 2026-09-27
modified: 2026-09-27
author: "Carlos Uhart M."
image: https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/chilean-copihue-flower-salad-featured.jpg
categories: ["Salads"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# Chilean Copihue Salad — Edible National Flower Salad Recipe

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

![Chilean copihue salad with red petals, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, and pumpkin seeds](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/chilean-copihue-flower-salad-featured.jpg)*Homemade Chilean ensalada de copihues*

Chilean ensalada de copihues is an unusual salad of thinly sliced copihue petals, the national flower of Chile, with vinagrillo leaves (wood sorrel), sliced mushrooms, halved cherry tomatoes, and toasted pumpkin seeds, dressed with olive oil and lleuque vinegar. It takes 20 minutes to prepare and serves 4 people.

The copihue, kodkülla in Mapudungun, is endemic to Chile, and few people know its petals are edible; use only flowers from authorized growers, since wild copihues are protected.

## How to Make Chilean Copihue Salad?

If you cannot find vinagrillo leaves or lleuque vinegar, replace them with spinach or arugula and apple cider vinegar. The petals are cut into fine strips, the vegetables are sliced, and the salad is dressed just before serving.

## Nutritional Information

Each serving of copihue salad contains approximately 180 kcal, 8 g of carbohydrates, 14 g of fat, 4 g of protein, 3 g of fiber, 2 g of sugars, 0 mg of cholesterol, and 30 mg of sodium. These values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients and portion sizes.

## Homemade Chilean Ensalada de Copihues Recipe

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

### Ingredients

- 16 copihue petals (from authorized growers)
- 150 g (5 oz) of cherry tomatoes
- 100 g (3.5 oz) of mushrooms
- 50 ml (3 tablespoons) of lleuque or apple cider vinegar
- 50 ml (3 tablespoons) of olive oil
- 2 cups of vinagrillo (wood sorrel) leaves
- Toasted pumpkin seeds
- Fine salt
- Black pepper

### Instructions

1. Wash the vinagrillo leaves in cold water, drain on paper towels, and set aside. Gently wash the copihue petals without tearing them, drain on paper towels, and cut them lengthwise into very thin strips with a thin knife or kitchen scissors.
2. Clean and thinly slice the mushrooms, and halve the cherry tomatoes. In a bowl, whisk the olive oil with the lleuque vinegar, salt, and pepper.
3. Arrange the vinagrillo leaves on a salad platter, add the mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and copihue strips, and top with pumpkin seeds. Dress with the vinaigrette just before serving.

## Additional Tips

### Cut with scissors

Very sharp kitchen scissors give clean cuts that keep the delicate petals fresh-looking.

### Substitute the wild greens

Baby arugula can mimic the sharp, tangy vinagrillo, and good apple cider vinegar can replace lleuque vinegar.

### Dress at the last minute

The petals wilt quickly, so add the vinaigrette right before serving.

| Original ingredient | Substitute | Ratio | Flavor note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Vinagrillo | Baby arugula or spinach | 1:1 | Less tangy |
| Lleuque vinegar | Apple cider vinegar | 1:1 | Easier to find |
| Copihue petals | Other edible flowers (nasturtium) | 1:1 | Peppery |
| Pumpkin seeds | Toasted pine nuts | To taste | Richer |

## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

### 1. Is it legal to eat copihues?

Only from authorized cultivation. The copihue is Chile’s national flower and wild plants are protected, so never pick them in the wild.

### 2. What does copihue taste like?

The petal has a very mild, slightly sweet vegetable flavor, a fleshy but tender texture, and a subtle floral aroma.

### 3. What is vinagrillo?

It is a wild Chilean plant of the genus Oxalis, with clover-shaped leaves and a sharp, refreshing sour taste.

### 4. How do I store the petals?

Wrap washed and dried petals in paper towel in an airtight container in the warmest part of the refrigerator.

## What Is the Copihue?

The copihue (Lapageria rosea) is a climbing plant with bell-shaped red, pink, or white flowers, endemic to southern Chile and declared the national flower in 1977.

## Copihue in Chilean Culture

Copihue is a symbol of Chile and of the Mapuche people, prized mainly as an ornamental plant, and its cultivation helps preserve native flora.

## Did You Know?

The copihue also produces a small, sweet, edible berry that the Mapuche traditionally ate, although it is rarely found in markets today.

## Recommended

- [Chilean Romaza Salad](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/chilean-romaza-wild-dock-leaf-salad-recipe/)
- [Chilean Nalca and Digüeñes Salad](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/chilean-nalca-and-diguenes-salad-recipe/)
- [Chilean Changles Salad](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/chilean-changles-wild-coral-mushroom-salad-recipe/)
- [Chilean Digüeñes Ceviche](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/chilean-diguenes-wild-mushroom-ceviche-recipe/)