Completos, or Chilean-style hot dogs, are part of the essence of Chilean food culture. They can be a quick lunch, a big snack, or the centerpiece of a party with friends. Chilean Completos are a type of hot dog unique to the country and have a distinctive set of toppings that make them a flavorful and filling snack or meal.
In addition, Completos have their own vocabulary to describe popular topping combinations:
- Italian Completo: tomato, avocado, and mayo
- Dynamic Completo: tomato, avocado, salsa Americana, and Chilean Salsa Verde
- German Completo: with sauerkraut, tomato, and mayo
Which one do you prefer?
If you are invited to a birthday party, and someone says Completada, expect to have all the ingredients on the table, and each person does their own. Seconds are allowed.
Why are Chilean-style hot dogs called Completo?
Most likely, it is because eating hot dogs American-style, just the bread, frank, and maybe a little mustard, is not a thing in Chile. Hot dogs are always loaded with toppings. It's a complete meal with your meat and veggies. The frank or sausage is always boiled or steamed. It's not the star of the dish.
When and where do Chileans eat Completos?
It's an everyday meal, a quick solution for lunch and dinner at home, and a fast (almost on-the-go) lunch for errands or college cafeterias. It is also very popular for parties at home. It's considered a complete meal.
Is the order of the toppings important?
The mashed avocado is generally used to hold and "seal" the other toppings inside the bun, like the diced tomato. On top of the avocado are condiments: mayo, mustard, ketchup, Chilean salsa verde, or Americana.
What kinds of hot dog franks are more common in Chile?
Pork or a mix of pork and beef. Hotdogs, franks, are called vienesas in Chile, but most Latinos call them salchichas.
Common mistakes by non-Chileans:
- Do not add lemon juice to the avocado. This is never done in Chile. Only salt is used to season the avocado.
- Season the diced tomatoes with vegetable oil (not olive oil) and salt.
- Do not eat a Completo with a fork and knife. This is like tacos. You hold your Completo parallel to the table and maneuver around.
- Do not grill your franks or hot dog sausages.
- But remember, it's your house. You make the rules. Enjoy!
Completo Chilean Hot Dog
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4
- Category: Sandwichs
- Method: Stove-cooked
- Cuisine: Chilean
Description
A Chilean classic for quick (almost on the go) lunch or parties with lots of friends.
Ingredients
- 4 hot dog buns (preferably brioche ones)
- 4 hot dog sausages or franks cooked in water and keep warm
- 1 large avocado, mashed and seasoned with salt
- ½ chopped onion in fine diced or Chilean Salsa verde
- 2 tomatoes, chopped into small squares and seasoned with salt, drained
- ½ cup sauerkraut
- mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard
Instructions
- Heat the buns in the toaster if you like them crispy, or wrapped in aluminum foil in the oven if you like them soft.
- Cut the onion an hour before and let it stand in boiling water with sugar to make it softer. Wash with cold water and strain before serving. Or prepare the Chilean Salsa Verde.
- Put together the hotdogs. I usually put the mayonnaise, then the sausage, the tomato, the sauerkraut, the avocado, and the salsas.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 485
- Sugar: 8.7 g
- Sodium: 1129.8 mg
- Fat: 30.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 6.6 g
- Carbohydrates: 41.7 g
- Fiber: 9.2 g
- Protein: 14.5 g
Pedro says
I did the recipe in your book, so good.
Katie says
Do you know how to make the dough for the completo buns? I have found many recipes with the ingredients in kilos and weight measurements but I don't have a food scale.
Pilar Hernandez says
I use this recipe https://www.chileanfoodandgarden.com/quick-hamburger-buns/ instead of doing the rolls, give them an oval shape.