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Paprika or Chilean Color

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Chilean ColorPaprika, or Chilean Color, is the heart and soul of Chilean cuisine, similar to the sofrito for other cultures. Use it to sauté onions at the beginning of any Chilean dish.

Stored in the fridge and omnipresent. Some dishes that start with the melting of the Chilean Color are winter soups like Porotos con Riendas (bean and spaghetti soup), Charquicán (winter squash and potato stew), and so many more. Also, it can be a finishing touch.

My grandmother always used the rendered fat from chicharrones. I use the rendered fat from the bacon. It gets me very close to the original flavor.

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Paprika or Chilean Color

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  • Author: Pilar Hernandez
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 1 cup
  • Category: Savory
  • Method: Stove cooked
  • Cuisine: Chilean
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Description

The Chilean sofrito o starter fat for many dishes.

Ingredients

Units
  • 1 cup, 190 grams shortening or lard
  • 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
  • 1 tablespoon merkén (Chilean smoked chili, available at Amazon), optional
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled, optional

Instructions

  1. In a small saucepan or skillet, over medium heat, melt the shortening. If you want, add the garlic and let fry for 1 minute, remove and discard.
    Ingredients for chilean colorlard being melt garlic clove fried
  2. Add the paprika and Merken if using. Lower the heat to low, cook, stirring for 2 minutes.
    Paprika and merken for color
  3. Allow to cool in the same pot, it will solidify or transfer to a glass jar, you can strain if desired.

    Straining the color

  4. Keep refrigerated.
    Chilean ColorChilean color

 

Chilean Paprika or Chilean Color

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  1. Seth De Young says

    Hi Pilar,

    Thanks so much for sharing these recipes. My family and I live in NW Iowa and have befriended a young man, Juan, from Santiago. He misses his local food. My family and I have made Choclo de Pastel and the Chilean Beef Empanadas. Both were a hit. Juan recently gifted us with a jar of Merquen. What a unique spice! Juan gave us a brand name called Etnia, do you have a favorite brand of Merquen? If so where do you purchase it?

    Thanks again we appreciate your efforts to share these recipes.

    Seth and Jen De Young

    Reply