Charquicán is the dry meat popular in the Incas times used in different dishes around the Andean region. Charquican in Chile is a popular stew . A similar dish eaten in Northwest Argentina is called Charquisillo, a dish made with ch’arki and rice.

Charquicán
Charquicán
TypeDry meat
CourseMain
Place of originArgentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru
Region or stateAndean
Created byAymara
Serving temperatureHot
Main ingredientsch'arki (jerky), potato, pumpkin (squash), corn, onion, paprika, oregano, cumin, salt, pepper
VariationsValdiviano, Tomatican. Modern versions use minced meat instead of jerky.
Food energy
(per serving)
Energy: 391 Kcal
  • Protein: 17.1 g
  • Total fat: 11.1 g
  • Cholesterol: 29.2 mg.
  • H. Carbon: 57.4 g
  • Dietary Fiber: 9.6 g
  • Sodium: 151 mg. kcal

Chilean Charquicán is made with charqui or beef, potatoes, pumpkin, white corn, onion and sometimes peas and corn. It was originally made from dried and salted llama meat or beef. The modern Chilean version of Charquicán is made with minced beef and topped with a fried egg.

In Peru, fish charqui is used, usually Guitarra fish. It is typically consumed during Easter. The fish stew is combined with dice potatoes, served with a side of white rice and sometimes chickpeas.

Origins edit

The word "charquicán," from charquikanka, is thought to be a Quechua word meaning "stew with ch'arki". An alternative theory posits that it is a hybrid word of the Quechua ch'arki and the Mapudungun cancan (dried roasted meat).[1] This dish was commonly eaten by merchants travelling between the port of Arica and the mines of Potosí and by peasants travelling with herds of livestock. Later, in the times of the Chilean War of Independence, the Charquicán cuyano was a frequently eaten by the soldiers of the Army of the Andes.

Variation edit

  • Tomatican: has added tomatoes.
  • Charquicán of quchayuyu, or Cochayuyicán: Meat or jerky replaced with quchayuyu seaweed (Durvillaea antarctica).

See also edit

References edit

External links edit