---
title: "Chilean Puyes with Merkén — Sautéed Whitebait Recipe"
description: "Versión en Español. Chilean puyes salteados al merkén are tiny translucent river fish quickly sautéed for about two minutes in olive oil perfumed with a crushed unpeeled garlic clove, seasoned with se..."
url: https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/chilean-puyes-sauteed-merken-whitebait-recipe/
date: 2026-09-27
modified: 2026-09-27
author: "Carlos Uhart M."
image: https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/chilean-puyes-sauteed-merken-featured.jpg
categories: ["Appetizers"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# Chilean Puyes with Merkén — Sautéed Whitebait Recipe

[Versión en Español](https://comidaschilenas.com/receta-de-puyes-salteados-al-merken/)

![Chilean puyes, tiny translucent fish sautéed in olive oil with merkén and parsley](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/chilean-puyes-sauteed-merken-featured.jpg)*Homemade Chilean puyes salteados al merkén*

Chilean puyes salteados al merkén are tiny translucent river fish quickly sautéed for about two minutes in olive oil perfumed with a crushed unpeeled garlic clove, seasoned with sea salt, pepper, and merkén, and served with crackers or toast. They take 10 minutes of preparation plus 5 minutes of cooking and serve 4 people.

Puyes are small, scaleless fish caught with nets in southern Chilean river mouths, traditionally cooked right after the catch.

## How to Make Chilean Puyes with Merkén?

This dish is made right after fishing, with fresh puyes, as a nourishing meal after a hard day’s work. The garlic flavors the oil first, and the fish cook in just a couple of minutes.

## Nutritional Information

Each serving of sautéed puyes contains approximately 180 kcal, 18 g of protein, 12 g of total fat, 35 mg of cholesterol, 0 g of carbohydrates, and 250 mg of sodium. These values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients and portion sizes.

## Homemade Chilean Puyes Salteados al Merkén Recipe

**Preparation:** 10 minutes
**Cooking:** 5 minutes
**Servings:** 4 people

### Ingredients

- 200 g (7 oz) of fresh puyes
- 60 ml (1/4 cup) of olive oil
- 1 clove of garlic
- Merkén
- Fine sea salt
- Black pepper

### Instructions

1. Rinse the puyes in cold water, fresh or fully thawed, drain, and set aside. Crush the garlic with the flat of a wide knife, leaving the skin on.

![Fresh puyes with translucent skin](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/fresh-puyes-translucent-fish.jpg)*Fresh puyes*

1. Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet with the crushed garlic and cook for a couple of minutes. Add the puyes, salt, pepper, and a pinch of merkén and sauté for about two more minutes.

![Olive oil for sautéing the puyes](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/olive-oil-sofrito-tuna-antipasto.jpg)*Olive oil*

1. Toss the pan to mix everything, remove the garlic, and serve the puyes with their olive oil, alongside crackers or toast.

![Merkén to season the puyes](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/merken-mapuche-smoked-chili.jpg)*Merkén*

## Additional Tips

### Keep the garlic skin on

The skin protects the garlic so it perfumes the oil without burning or turning bitter.

### Cook very briefly

Puyes should cook for no more than two minutes, or their delicate texture is lost.

### Dry thawed fish well

Excess water makes them boil instead of sauté.

| Original ingredient | Substitute | Ratio | Flavor note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Puyes | Whitebait or small silversides | 1:1 | Similar texture |
| Merkén | Smoked paprika and chili flakes | A pinch | Less smoky |
| Olive oil | Butter and oil | 1:1 | Richer |
| Crackers | Toasted marraqueta | | Heartier |

## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

### 1. Where can I find fresh puyes?

The season peaks in late spring and early summer, at local markets near river mouths in southern Chile, such as the Palena.

### 2. Can I cook them frozen?

Yes, but thaw them fully in the refrigerator and drain them very well so they sauté instead of boil.

### 3. What do I serve them with?

Traditionally on crackers or toast, or as part of a seafood starter spread.

### 4. Do puyes need cleaning inside?

No. They are so small that they are eaten whole, with no internal cleaning needed.

## What Are Puyes?

Puyes are tiny, translucent juvenile fish of the genus Galaxias found in southern Chilean rivers and estuaries, prized as a seasonal delicacy.

## Benefits of Puyes

Puyes are a good source of high-quality protein and omega 3 fatty acids, and since they are eaten whole they also provide calcium.

## Did You Know?

The puye harvest is concentrated in late spring and early summer, especially at the mouth of the Palena River in the Aysén region.

## Recommended

- [Chilean Fried Pejerrey](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/chilean-fried-pejerrey-silverside-recipe/)
- [Chilean Baked Reineta](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/chilean-baked-reineta-with-vegetables-reineta-al-horno-recipe/)
- [Chilean Lisa a la Teja](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/chilean-mullet-clay-tiles-lisa-a-la-teja-recipe/)
- [Chilean Pickled Fish](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/chilean-pickled-fish-pescado-en-escabeche-recipe/)