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 A
friend of mine has been traveling to Chile for business and
once a month as we catch up on each other’s lives, he
tells the tale of a far off sliver of a country, complete
with majestic mountain peaks, fertile farm land, spectacular
horse ranches and grapes as far as the eye can see. I find
myself becoming ever more enchanted with each conversation.
So naturally, when we we’re exploring
the possibilities for our monthly International Cuisine feature,
it had to be Chile.
 Chile
cradles the southwest end of South America, and boasts a varied
terrain with a wide range of climates from dry deserts to
the chilling peaks of the Andes to the Pacific’s Mediterranean
ocean breezes. This combination of diverse climates and environments
provides an extraordinary array of fish, meats, fruits and
vegetables.
Today’s Chilean cuisine is a combination
of old and new world recipes that reflect the influence of
the Spaniards, Castilians, Andalusians and Basques as well
as today’s more  modern
preparations. Typical Chilean cuisine is simple, straight-
forward, wholesome and is cooked in home-style fashion.
The people of Chile take dining very seriously.
A typical day begins with a continental style breakfast, Desayuno
and is followed by lunch, Almuerzo, which is the main meal
of the day. Dinner or supper, called, Cena, is typically a
light meal served around 9pm.
Chilean food can be spicy and is usually
very flavorful. Many herbs and spices enhance Chilean cooking
like paprika, garlic, cilantro, parsley, oregano, sweet basil,
thyme, mint, pepper, cumin, saffron, vanilla, cinnamon and
cloves.
Sample Chilean cuisine in your own kitchen
this month with ‘Lentil
and Chorizo Soup’, a delicious soup with just the
right amount of spice; or our not so traditional version of
stuffed flank steak with ‘Mozzarella
Stuffed Flank with Chilean Rub’, this entree is full
of flavor and cooks in just minutes. For a great side or main
dish try ‘Lentils
with Rice and Sausage’, filling, satisfying and good
for the soul. And for a different and low-fat dessert try
‘Honey
Flavored Meringue’, this sweet nothing will
literally melt in your mouth.
We hope you enjoy these recipes and that
they will inspire you to do your own exploring into the foods
and kitchens of Chile.
- Glutenfreeda
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