Top 10 culinary specialities in Santiago de Chile

What can you say about Chilean cuisine? It’s a blend of flavours that will thrill your taste buds! As well as offering new sensations on the palate, the products are renowned for being fresh and of high quality. But above all, it’s a cuisine influenced not only by Amerindian cuisine, but also by English, Spanish and even German! So in just one plate you can travel the world! Do you love grilled meat, finely seasoned fish, divine seafood and crunchy, melting vegetables? Then you’ve come to the right place. At Navaway, we’re good eaters and we appreciate cuisine in all its forms and from all over the world. So get your aprons ready for a sweet, savoury and spicy culinary diversions.

What to eat in Santiago de Chile

1. Pastel de Choclo

Literally translated as “minced corn”, this is one of the most popular typical Chilean recipes among tourists! Pastel de Choclo is easily recognised by its yellow-orange shading, similar to a sunset. Many people like to compare it to a shepherd’s pie, given its shape and filling. The minced meat goes perfectly with the corn, which is then baked au gratin with a touch of sugar before being eaten. What makes this dish so special? It’s the perfect combination of sweet and savoury! Accompanied by a delicious crunchy salad, it’s a favourite with young and old alike.

2. Humita

Let’s move on to the pre-Columbian Amerindian dish that arouses curiosity the second you lay eyes on it. But what is it? Well, it’s a maize paste seasoned with a little oil and onions, then wrapped in tightly tied maize leaves like a treasure you’re trying to keep. Fun to eat, humita is usually baked in the oven, but many people like to make it in a salted water boil. In Santiago, Chile, the tradition is to serve it with a little pebre sauce and a tomato and onion salad.

3. La Cazuela

If you’re travelling to Chile or Argentina, it’s impossible not to try the Cazuela. This stew made with chunks of meat and vegetables is a comfort food. Chicken, beef, potatoes, peppers, green beans, pumpkin and maize are served in a hot broth that you’ll want to try. Some even add rice for a guaranteed explosion of flavour!

4. Empanadas

Empanadas? Here’s a word that sounds a bit familiar. These little puff pastry turnovers are one of the most famous Chilean and Spanish specialities in the world. Very easy to find throughout Latin America, the shape and the filling used to fill the pastry can change depending on the region you land in. Legend has it that the best empanadas are eaten in Santiago, so we’ll let you take a trip there and give us some culinary feedback!

5. Mote Con Huesillo

Food is all very well, but what about drinks? Specifically, what is THE drink not to be missed when travelling to such a beautiful place as Santiago de Chile? The locals will all agree on the famous “Mote Con Huesillo”, a non-alcoholic sweet known for its refreshing properties. It’s the kind of drink you like to have in the morning, before setting off to explore the city’s most beautiful districts. Made with cooked wheat and dried peaches (a fun combo), get ready to feel your taste buds tingle!

6. La Leche Asada

After Santiago’s flagship drink, here’s the most popular dessert: Leche Asada. A real nugget. No, no, no, it’s not a flan! We know the resemblance is striking, but even though the same ingredients are used, leche asada has a smoother texture, and contains an appetising toasted layer on the surface, due to the cooking process. This sweet little gem is a real treat for everyone who tastes it. Flavoured with cinnamon and citrus fruits, it’s sure to convince you to travel to Santiago de Chile!

7. Caldillo de Congrio

One of Chile’s most popular dishes, Caldillo de Congrio is cooked with fish meat, but not just any fish meat. In fact, it’s a type of eel often caught in the Chilean sea called “congrio dorado”. It is boiled in a mixture of small vegetables such as pieces of carrot, garlic, coriander and onion. Bouillabaisse is then served piping hot, and is one of the Santiagois’ favourite treats. This is your chance to find out more about this particularly old recipe.

8. Calzones Rotos

Yum-yum, we’re already salivating just looking at the photo. Calzones Rotos are small doughnut-like biscuits sprinkled with icing sugar, which are best enjoyed by the fireside with a hot cup of tea. Typical of winter snacks, they’re the ideal recipe for Chilean grandmothers! Easy to cook, one thing’s for sure: your children will love helping to prepare it by kneading the dough before putting it in the oven!

9. Chapalele

These little dumplings made from boiled potatoes and wheat flour are always a treat for Santiagois! They can be prepared either savoury or sweet, and have their origins in the divine cuisine of the island of Chiloé. These little toppings can be eaten at any time of day, and generally accompany many Chilean dishes. But it’s especially during festive periods that chapalele are king.

10. Curanto Al Hoyo

We can’t end this ranking without mentioning one of the most exquisite dishes you’ll ever taste: Curanto al Hoyo. Inherited from the Mapuche people of southern Chile, this is a simple, convivial dish based on seafood mixed with other foods. It includes mussels, cockles, potatoes, mutton, pork and chicken. You can learn about the different stages involved in preparing this unusual dish, from preserving the food to cooking it over hot stones.