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Charquicán

A hearty mash of potatoes and pumpkin laced with beef, crowned with a fried egg — humble, filling, and full of flavor.

⏱ 15 minPrep time
🔥 45 minCook time
🍽 6Servings
🏷 Chilean KitchenCategory
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Charquicán

Charquicán is the great ‘use-what-you-have’ dish of the Chilean countryside, traditionally made with sun-dried beef called charqui. Modern versions use fresh ground beef simmered with potatoes, pumpkin, and onion, then mashed together and finished with a golden fried egg.

The countryside in a bowl

The mash is rustic and slightly chunky, sweet from the pumpkin and rich from the beef, with cumin and paprika warming every bite. A crispy-edged fried egg on top turns it into a complete, deeply satisfying plate.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat and cook the onion for 6 minutes until soft; add the garlic, cumin, and paprika and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
  2. Add the ground beef and cook for 8 minutes, breaking it up, until browned and crumbly.
  3. Add the pumpkin, potatoes, and broth, bring to a boil, then lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes until the vegetables are very soft.
  4. Add the peas and cook 5 minutes more, then season with salt and pepper.
  5. Mash everything roughly with a potato masher, leaving some chunks for texture, and adjust the seasoning.
  6. Fry the eggs in a little oil until the edges are crisp and the yolks are still runny, then serve the charquicán in bowls topped with an egg and a shower of cilantro.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Don't over-mash — charquicán should keep some texture. The fried egg is traditional and non-negotiable for most Chileans; leftovers reheat wonderfully the next morning.

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Recipe details

Prep15 min
Cook45 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 →