my comfort recipes
♥ Log in Sign up
  • en
  • fr
  • es
  • pt
  • de
  • it
  • nl
    • 🌍 World Kitchen
    🌍 World Kitchen
    Log in Sign up
    Home / Chilean Kitchen / Caldillo de Congrio

    Caldillo de Congrio

    The legendary conger eel stew that Pablo Neruda sang about — silky, garlicky, and deeply comforting.

    ⏱ 25 minPrep time
    🔥 40 minCook time
    🍽 6Servings
    🏷 Chilean KitchenCategory
    ☆☆☆☆☆No ratings yet
    Caldillo de Congrio

    Caldillo de congrio was immortalized by the poet Pablo Neruda in his Oda al Caldillo de Congrio, and it remains one of Chile’s most treasured seafood dishes. A rich, garlicky broth holds slices of conger eel and potato, finished with a swirl of cream and a shower of cilantro.

    The stew that inspired a poet

    The broth is silky and deeply savory, perfumed with garlic, onion, and paprika, while the fish cooks into tender, flaky pieces and the potatoes soak up all the flavor. A touch of cream at the end makes it luxurious without hiding the sea.

    Chilean recipes →

    Step by stepInstructions

    1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat and cook the onions for 8 minutes until soft; add the garlic, paprika, oregano, and bay leaves and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
    2. Add the tomatoes and cook 5 minutes until they break down, then pour in the fish stock and bring to a boil.
    3. Add the potato rounds and simmer for 15 minutes until just tender.
    4. Season the fish with salt and pepper, nestle it into the broth, and simmer gently for 6 to 8 minutes until it flakes easily.
    5. Remove the bay leaves, stir in the cream, and taste for salt.
    6. Ladle into deep bowls and finish each with a generous shower of cilantro and a grind of pepper.

    💡 Chef tips & storage

    Congrio is conger eel — ask your fishmonger, and if it's not available, any firm white fish such as halibut or cod works beautifully. Slice the potatoes thin so they cook through in the broth, and serve with crusty bread.

    Rate this recipe

    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    ☆☆☆☆☆No ratings yet
    Sign in to rate this recipe.

    Recipe details

    Prep25 min
    Cook40 min
    Servings6
    CategoryChilean Kitchen
    PublishedAugust 17, 2026
    Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

    Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

    Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →

    Keep browsingYou might also like

    View all recipes →