Chile Forum

There is a short video reportage on the La Tercera website about the winner of this year's empanada contest in Santiago. In the video, the experts talk about what makes a great empanada.

They hold this contest every year shortly before the Fiestas Patrias when Chileans go about eating massive amounts of empanadas and anticuchos. This year's winner is Los Ciervos, located on Tobalaba 2113. I have not been there. The only empanada place that I really like is La Punta in Vitacura. Las Bezanilla (Av. Vitacura corner Alonso de Cordoba) has empanadas but they are not as good as the ones at La Punta.

Here is the link to the video:
http://www.3tv.cl/index.php?m=video&v=19901

Another article describing what makes a good empanada (in connection with this contest):
http://www.lanacion.cl/los-ciervos-de-tobalaba-tienen-las-mejores-empanadas-segun-ranking-de-expertos/noticias/2011-08-29/201311.html

The top ten:
1. Los Ciervos, Tobalaba 2113, Providencia
2.- Empanadas Zunino, Puente 801, Santiago Centro
3.- Los Gansos, Av. Ecuador 4660, Estación Central
4.- Gilberto Monti, Av. Manuel Montt 2112, Providencia
5.- Líder Emporium, El Rodeo 12830, Lo Barnechea
6.- Álvaro Monti, Av. Manuel Montt 846, Providencia
7.- Doña Tina, Los Refugios 15125, Lo Barnechea
8.- Dolce & Salato, El Matico 3899, Vitacura
9.- El Ingenio, Av. Vitacura 5346, Vitacura
10.- Lo Saldes, Av. Colón 6371, Las Condes

Foodie topics, lists and reviews are always appreciated. I'd like to try La Punta. Did they not participate in the contest?

I wouldnt really rely on this list.... they are probably great empanadas, but the best ones you get on the side of the road from a big clay earth oven!!!

It is really disappointing to me how most Chileans make the same boring empanadas...pina. blaaa. I just don't know why people are resistant to new foods (and other things) so much here. It annoys me, I will be honest. This year I have convinced my mother in law to let me make the inside of the empanadas and she will make the bread part so we can try a new flavor. I can't wait! If anyone has any good spicy chicken recipes post it here please.

jessicak1234 wrote:It is really disappointing to me how most Chileans make the same boring empanadas...pina. blaaa. I just don't know why people are resistant to new foods (and other things) so much here. It annoys me, I will be honest. This year I have convinced my mother in law to let me make the inside of the empanadas and she will make the bread part so we can try a new flavor. I can't wait! If anyone has any good spicy chicken recipes post it here please.

It's the same way in Argentina, though sometimes there you could find sweeter versions that would throw a few raisins in with the meat. We however found one place in Buenos Aires that tried a few different combos, making empanadas that tasted like chicken and biscuits, and one containing bacon. We think that the empanadas actually made us sick, but were so good, and it was so nice to have something different in empanadas that we ordered from them several times. Congrats on convincing your mother in law to let you try something new! For a chicken empanada, adding in a bit of curry and some raisins might be a nice flavor combination.

You could experiment with the filling of the empanadas.

The empanada came from the Middle East, and was brought to Spain, and from Spain to Latin America and the Philippines. In the Middle East and North Africa, they have variations of the empanada and the filling can be something sweet or spicy.

But you can experiment with your own mix. You can fill it with a mixture of ground chickpeas, finely chopped onions + garlic + carrots, and green peas, then add cumin, coriander, paprika, and hot red pepper flakes. Now that would be a very savoury empanada and not that different from the original Arabic version.

You can use ground lamb, as they do in the Middle East and add spices like cumin and coriander. You can do what you like with your empanadas!

jessicak1234 wrote:It is really disappointing to me how most Chileans make the same boring empanadas...pina. blaaa. I just don't know why people are resistant to new foods (and other things) so much here. It annoys me, I will be honest. This year I have convinced my mother in law to let me make the inside of the empanadas and she will make the bread part so we can try a new flavor. I can't wait! If anyone has any good spicy chicken recipes post it here please.

It's the same way in Argentina, though sometimes there you could find sweeter versions that would throw a few raisins in with the meat. We however found one place in Buenos Aires that tried a few different combos, making empanadas that tasted like chicken and biscuits, and one containing bacon. We think that the empanadas actually made us sick, but were so good, and it was so nice to have something different in empanadas that we ordered from them several times. Congrats on convincing your mother in law to let you try something new! For a chicken empanada, adding in a bit of curry and some raisins might be a nice flavor combination.