Discover the flavors of the Carretera Austral
A trip to the Aysén region is not only a delight for the eyes, but also for a sense as important as taste. And the Carretera Austral is synonymous with pristine nature and good food. The menu for diners is varied, but beef, lamb and fish stand out. And one of the most iconic images of Patagonia when it comes to food is that of a juicy lamb barbeque with which you can begin your discovery of the flavors of the Carretera Austral.
Both in cities and in rural areas, it is common to be invited to eat a roast lamb on a stick, which is traditionally prepared by the gaucho communities, who have farms for these animals that graze freely on the plains. This dish is ideal to share with friends and accompany it with potatoes and other delicacies that southern nature gives us, such as Cagarria or Morchella Esculenta, a type of edible mushroom.
For meat lovers, it is very common to eat in towns such as Puerto Río Tranquilo, or in larger cities like Coyhaique, the enormous amount of flavors that fish give us, such as salmon and southern hake. In both cases, the dishes are usually accompanied by rice, potatoes, salad and a cold regional beer.
The Flavors of Forest Fruits
It is also possible to find an important variety of berries, with which you can prepare jams, juices, syrups and liqueurs. Among them, murta, sarsaparilla and calafate stand out. All these delights that nature gives us allow us to get to know in depth the flavors that we find along the Carretera Austral, both in its plants, as well as in its rivers, lakes and valleys. It is customary to eat abundant breakfasts with the energy and flavor contribution of these fruits, always accompanied by kneaded bread, coffee and something sweet, usually a pie or German cake.
There are just a few months left until the end of the current season, where all these traditional Aysén dishes abound. However, the arrival of snow and winter will allow us to honor even more the flavors and aromas of traditional Patagonian cuisine, one that is made with so much love in the south of Chile.
Categorías - Gastronomy