Popular Recipes
Often overlooked and unknown, Chilean foods can surprise you with their ingredient-forward simplicity. If possible, visit Chile during the summer, when abundant fruits and vegetables assure you of nature’s sweeter and crispier bounty. The 3 dishes that you must try are Empanadas de Pino, Pastel de Choclo, and Sopaipillas con Pebre.
Hi, I’m Pilar Hernandez
I was born and raised in Chile and moved to Houston, Texas, in 2003 without knowing how to cook and speaking no English. There I became a cookbook author and urban farmer. In July 2022, I moved to Seattle, WA.
I will show you how to cook Chilean food with the ingredients you find in your supermarket. I’ll challenge you to try exotic fruits like lucuma or maqui, our favorite cereals, wheat berries, and quinoa.
Welcome to my Chilean kitchen!
Traditional Bread
Bread is omnipresent in Chilean households. The most common Chilean bread is the Marraqueta (Pan Batido or Pan Francés). Marraqueta and Hallullas are described as Pan Corriente, the most common and cheapest everyday options. Pan amasado is found in the city, but it is considered the bread of the countryside. Enjoy it on holidays and buy it when road-tripping.
Get my cookbook!
The Chilean Kitchen* has 75 traditional recipes lovingly adapted to work with American ingredients. Eileen’s beautiful writing and Araceli’s amazing photography will transport you to my Chilean kitchen right on your own!
*Affiliated link
Cake Recipes
Chileans are famously sweet-obsessed. We have a long tradition of sweets, and many are still made at home. The most significant influences on cakes came from Europe. The Spanish nuns brought the dulce de leche (called Manjar in Chile), Huevo mol, and merengue. The Milhojas cake is the most traditional and beloved.
Sandwich Recipes
Sandwiches hold a special place in the hearts and stomachs of Chileans, and several distinctive types of sandwiches are popular throughout the country. Three classics are Completo (hotdog), Chacarero, and Churrasco.
Cookie & Candy Recipes
These treats often reflect the country’s cultural and culinary influences. Many classics exist: Alfajores, Chilenitos, Cocadas de manjar, and Camotillos.
Soup Recipes
A soup course before the main dish has long been traditional. Each region of Chile may have variations and twists on these traditional soups, making them even more diverse and flavorful. Cazuela, Paila Marina, and Porotos Granados are the most popular soups.
Dessert Recipes
The one important rule to remember if feeding a Chilean is that fruit is not dessert. We love fruit, and Chile has unique stone fruits, berries, and grapes, but we expect something more elaborated for dessert. Popular alternatives are Leche Asada, Mote con huesillos and Espuma de limón.