Stuffed Pork Loin
Arrollado de Huaso (Stuffed Pork Loin)

Reminiscent of Italian porchetta, my Chilean version is filled with chorizo and a popular vegetable in Chile—sweet potato, or camote. Forming the chorizo into a rectangle with a rolling pin helps more evenly distribute the meat. If you’d rather not flatten the pork yourself, simply ask your butcher to butterfly it for you.

Serves 6

Multi-color cauliflower
Cauliflower Fritters

This is a popular dish in Chile. Parboiling the cauliflower makes the fritters tender.

Serves 4

Citrus cilantro fish
Pan-Seared Cilantro Citrus Fish

This marinade enhances all types of firm white fish, such as halibut, sole, cod, and hake, which in Chile is called merluza and is extremely popular because of its sweet, mild taste. Fun fact: What’s sold in the US as Chilean sea bass is typically neither Chilean nor bass but rather Patagonian toothfish, rebranded to make it sound more appealing. The sea bass eaten in Chile is actually called corvina. This marinated fish is delicious grilled, but here I’m detailing a stovetop method that turns the marinade into a sauce.

Serves 4

Chilean-style spareribs
Costillar de Chanco (Chilean-Style Spareribs)

Grilling is a popular method of cooking in Chile, where families often gather on weekends to enjoy simple but ample meals, often barbecues. St. Louis-style ribs are “squared off” or trimmed and have a flat, meaty shape. Ask your butcher to halve them—this creates more flavorful surface area. Baby back ribs can be substituted for the St. Louis-style ribs and don’t need halving. Multiply quantities as needed.

Serves 2

Chorizo hash
Chorizo Hash

While hash is often served with fried eggs, this flavorful combination of ingredients can also be used as a filling for omelets. It can be made ahead and rewarmed. Perfect for a festive brunch, lunch, or dinner.

Serves 4

New potatoes and fresh peas
Chicken Sausage Skillet Dinner

Parboiling the potatoes cuts the cooking time of this flavorful dish. The recipe makes a delicious dinner, but it’s also great for a picnic since you can enjoy it at room temperature—for safety, remember to consume hot or cold foods within an hour of taking them off the stove or out of the fridge. Note: If you can only find chicken sausage links, simply squeeze them out of their casings and into the hot pan.

Yields 4 servings

Smashed potato pie
Smashed Potato Pie

Whether you want to skip the gluten of a typical pie crust or are simply looking for a tasty alternative, using new potatoes is a delicious choice.

Yields 6 to 8 servings

Skillet torta
Skillet Torta

This is a fun breakfast or lunch dish that can be made fresh…or it’s a great way to add zest to leftover vegetables. It has the cheesy goodness of a quiche but without a heavy crust. I’m giving it a Spanish flair with Manchego, a sheep’s milk cheese, but you can use whatever cheese you like, even a mix of cheeses if you have a little bit of this and a little bit of that in the fridge.

Yields 4 servings

Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Pea Pesto
Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Pea Pesto

This dish gets a double dose of flavor from the cheesy crust on the cauliflower and the pesto sauce.

Yields 4 servings as a main, 6 as a side dish

Poached salmon with leek sauce
Poached Salmon with Leek Sauce

This recipe is perfect for spring—a light cooking technique and vibrant flavors. Leeks are the unsung heroes of the allium family, delivering a sweet, oniony taste. Just be sure to triple-wash them to remove all the sand before cooking.

Yields 4 servings

Gourmet grilled cheese
Gourmet Grilled Cheese

Forget the white bread and American cheese. My version calls for three or four types of cheese—feel free to choose your own favorites—and slices of a crusty loaf enhanced with olive oil for another layer of flavor. I like to cut each sandwich into four lengths and artfully stack them on a plate for an elegant presentation. The following ingredients are for two sandwiches; multiply quantities as desired.

Yields 2 generous servings

Leg of lamb roasted
Butterflied Leg of Lamb

A roasted butterflied leg of lamb makes a beautiful presentation and is a breeze to carve either at the table or in the kitchen. The olive oil and lemon marinade adds great flavor—if possible, marinate the lamb the day before you plan to cook it.

Yields 8 servings