#1 Eat Pastel de Choclo

This popular traditional dish is an excellent representation of mestizo (mixed) cooking in South America, blending the ingredients for Spanish empanadas and indigenous Andean dish humitas. Pastel de choclo is a sweet and savory corn pudding dish typically cooked and served in a clay bowl, to English, it was a corn pudding. Ingredients include sweetcorn, olives, ground beef, hard boiled eggs, onions and raisins. With a wonderful combination of flavors and classic South American ingredients, it is the perfect dinner dish for fall and beyond.

#2 Take a try of Chilean Carica

Also known as Chilean Golden Papaya or Chilean Mountain Papaya, even though it grows near the Atacama Desert (famed as the driest place on Earth). Due to its limited crop size, the exotic Chilean papaya is usually sold and consumed only in Chile. When exported, Chilean papaya is considered a gourmet fruit, used in desserts and garnishing. Unlike other papayas, Chilean Carica is never eaten raw. It should be cooked before eating because of the high level of papain present, an enzyme that digests proteins. This boutique fruit with a bright yellow color and delightful sweet taste is sold in preserves for about USD5 to USD10 a jar.

#3 Chilean “empanada”

This tasty typical food is usually served during festivities or at restaurantes that serve local cuisine. It’s something like a meat pie, and although there are several types of empanadas, the most typical one has a filling called “pino” which is a mix of chopped onions and beef, olives, hard-boiled eggs and raisins, all stuffed inside a flour-based dough. Empanadas are the protagonist during the Chilean Independence celebrations.

#4 Meal with Quinoa

Harvesting quinoa in northern Chile dates back 7,000 years. These protein packed seeds are integral to the survival of the Mapuche people. If you’ve never tried quinoa (pronounced ‘keen-wah’) it’s a light and tasty seed that's soft when cooked and served in salads, risotto, soups, and stews. You'll also see puffed quinoa pops for breakfast and foods made from quinoa flour including some delicious pastries. It is still used to make drinks, sides and desserts.

#5 Wine Tasting in Central Valley

Central Chile is known for its valleys that produce some of the world’s finest wines. From Valle del Elqui to Valle del Itata, there are a great number of wineries that are mix Chilean history, culture and traditions. A one-day visit from Santiago can include short trips to the Valle de Casablanca, Valle de Colchagua, Valle de Maipo, Valle de Cachapoal, Valle de Aconcagua, among others. You can also visit the wineries by bike or take a horse ride to learn more about the history of Chilean wines.

Interested to try some of these Chilean food? Check out the affordable Chile itineraries here!