Cuisine
Chilean recipes
Chilean recipes bring together indigenous ingredients like corn and potatoes with Spanish colonial influences, creating hearty, comforting dishes that families have treasured for generations. Home cooks turn to these recipes for Sunday lunches, special celebrations, or whenever they want to gather loved ones around warming, traditional food. Classics like pastel de choclo, a golden corn and beef pie baked until bubbling, showcase the beautiful simplicity of Chilean home cooking. These recipes come straight from real family kitchens, where they've been lovingly prepared and handed down through the years, carrying memories of Chilean homes and tables across time and distance.
2 recipes preserved by Recipe Filer cooks. Free to read, free to share.
Chilean cooking questions
What is the difference between Pastel de Choclo and shepherd's pie?
Pastel de Choclo uses a sweet corn topping made from fresh or frozen sweetcorn blended with basil, rather than mashed potato. The filling typically contains seasoned beef, chicken, hard-boiled eggs, olives and raisins, creating distinctive sweet-savoury Chilean flavours unlike traditional shepherd's pie.
Can I make Pastel de Choclo ahead of time?
Yes, assemble the dish completely, cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. You can also freeze it unbaked for up to three months. If baking from frozen, add 15-20 minutes to the cooking time and cover with foil initially.
What can I use instead of ají de color in Chilean recipes?
Substitute ají de color, a mild Chilean paprika paste, with regular sweet paprika or a mix of paprika and tomato purée. For authenticity, add a pinch of cumin. Avoid hot paprika unless you prefer spicier dishes, as ají de color is quite mild.
