Name: Pebre Sauce
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Chilean
Ingredients: 1/4 onion chopped very small (white or yellow onion); 1 bunch cilantro or 2 cups cilantro leaves; 1-2 tomatoes; 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar; 1 tablespoon oil; 1/2 teaspoon red chili sauce, like Tabasco; salt

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Chilean Pebre sauce, or Pebre Chileno, is essential to our traditional dishes: Humitas (fresh corn tamales), Empanadas de Pino (beef empanadas), and bean soups in winter (Porotos con Riendas) and summer (Porotos Granados) are not the same without it.

It is served with appetizers like Sopaipillas, Choripan, Chapaleles, or Pan Amasado and is enjoyed with numerous main Chilean dishes.

What is Chilean Pebre?

It is a sauce or condiment served at home and at restaurants in Chile to complement many meals. It combines cilantro, onion, tomato, and Ají Cristal (sweet or spicy pepper) with vinegar and oil. It's very old and traditional. Each family in Chile has its recipe.

Pebre Sauce

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Author: Pilar Hernandez
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 0minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 6
Category: Appetizer
Method: Raw
Cuisine: Chilean

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Description

A foundational Chilean flavor.

Ingredients

¼ onion chopped very small (white or yellow onion)
1 bunch cilantro or 2 cups cilantro leaves
1-2 tomatoes
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon oil
½ teaspoon red chili sauce, like Tabasco
salt

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Instructions

Chop the onion finely. Cover with boiling water for 10 minutes, then wash with cold water and drain.
Separate the stems of the cilantro leaves and discard the thicker stems. Chop all the rest very fine.
Cut the tomato into four and discard the seeds. Chop the rest into small cubes.
Gather everything in a bowl and season. Stir well and taste. Adjust the seasoning to taste.
It is better to let it rest for 1 hour before eating so the flavors marry.
Serve with BBQ, empanadas, etc.

Notes

It can be done in the food processor, but chop everything separately to get the right texture.

Nutrition

Serving Size:
Calories: 23
Sugar: 1 g
Sodium: 302.9 mg
Fat: 1.8 g
Saturated Fat: 0.3 g
Carbohydrates: 1.6 g
Fiber: 0.5 g
Protein: 0.4 g

How do you store it?

Once ready, it can be kept in the fridge in a closed container for several hours. However, it's best not to refrigerate overnight, as the cilantro will oxidize and change flavor and color.

I suggest correcting the seasoning the next day if left overnight because the tomato juices dilute the flavors.

Can I use olive oil?

No, traditionally, you should not use olive oil. Pebre needs to be seasoned with more neutral vegetable oils. I like grapeseed and sunflower oil.

Can I use any onions?

Again, since Pebre is a simple sauce with few ingredients, you should use yellow Spanish onion to adhere to tradition. Red onions are uncommon in Chile, but green onions could be the best replacement in a pinch.

Is Pebre spicy?

Many families don't add chilies or spicy peppers. Instead, they will put a bottle or bowl of chili paste on the table for each dinner to adjust the spiciness.

Is Pebre the same as Pico de Gallo?

No, Pico de Gallo is a Mexican dish made with tomatoes, yellow onion, and jalapeños; some recipes include a little chopped cilantro, as Pebre is Chilean and primarily based on chopped cilantro.

Is Pebre the same as Chancho en Piedra?

No, Chancho en Piedra has a different texture and never includes cilantro. See the recipe here: Chancho en Piedra.