The food culture and traditions of Chile stem from its native Mapuche heritage as well as from the (mainly Spanish) Europeans settlers. The culture differs depending on the area of the country - north, central, or south.
The food culture of the north of Chile
Peru has a strong influence on cuisine in the north of Chile, and as a result, it is easy to find an abundance of tropical fruits like the chirimoya and lucuma. There are also a lot of corn-based foods like听pastel de choclo听and humitas which are like Mexican听tamales.听Pastel de choclo听is a corn pudding with ground beef, sliced hard-boiled egg, raisins, and olives traditionally served in a clay bowl.
Asado听is a barbecue grill favourite in all parts of Chile but only in the north can you try the unusual meats of llama or alpaca.
贵颈苍补濒濒测,听Quinoa听is native to Peru, but it is frequently found in northern Chile. It is often served as a salad called听timbal de quinoa听served with avocado.
The food culture in Central Chile
The central part of Chile is significantly influenced by the many fruits and vegetables grown there in its Mediterranean climate. Avocado, or听palta,听and tomatoes are popular in many salads.听颁补锄耻别濒补,听a popular comfort food, is a stew with chicken or beef served in a broth with a potato, a portion of pumpkin, a piece of corn on the cob, and other veggies such as bell peppers, carrots, and green beans.听
A classic Chilean sweet is听Pan de Pascua, a candied fruit bread that is served at Christmas and Easter. And the favourite drink of Chile is听Mote con Huesillos.听Mote听is a syrupy sweet peach nectar served with dried peaches and husked wheat. Though it may sound unusual, it is one of the most commonly served drinks throughout Chile.听
The food culture in Southern Chile
The cuisine of southern Chile is influenced by the traditions of the Mapuche, the indigenous people of southern Chile. Chiloe, the large island south of Puerto Montt, also has many particular customs and traditions.
Asado al palo听is grilled lamb roasted near the fire on a stick or rotated on a spit over the fire.听Cazuela de chilote听is the traditional听cazuela of听Chiloe made with听choros听(mussels) and lamb.听Milcao听is a traditional fried potato pancake in Chiloe.听Curanto听is a seafood feast cooked in a pit of hot stones with sausage, pork, potatoes, and听milcao听wrapped in the leaves of the native听nalca听plant. The Mapuche people have also contributed听merken, a spice made from dried and smoked red chillies and coriander which is often used to flavour meat.听
There is also a strong influence from the German immigrants who arrived in 1860. Examples of this influence include听Kuchen听补苍诲听berlines, which are famous German pastries served in the south of Chile.
Typical food in Chile
Empanadas听are a mainstay in all parts of South America, but each country has its particular style of听empanada. In Chile, the most typical is听empanada de pino, which are pastries baked with a mixture of beef, onion, sliced hard-boiled eggs and an olive. It is the go-to fast food of Chile along with the Chilean-style hot dog known as a听completo! It includes a boatload of mayo, chopped tomato, and听sauerkraut. Remove the听kraut听and add mashed avocado, and it becomes a听completo italiano.
Bread is the staple of most cultures, and Chile is no different. The most popular kinds of bread are the听marraquetas听which are light and fluffy with a crispy exterior and听hallullas, which are a more substantial round roll.听Hallullas听are served at most restaurants with听pebre听which is chopped tomato, onion, and cilantro condiment.
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