Ñuble, Chile

Chile

The Ñuble region in central Chile is longaniza country. Its capital, Chillán, produces more longaniza per capita than anywhere else in the nation. The central valley climate grows the ají peppers and oregano that season the sausage, while small farms in the surrounding foothills raise the pigs. Longaniza de Chillán holds IGP status, making it the first geographically protected sausage in Chile. The Mercado Central de Chillán is the best place to taste the range of local producers, from mild family-recipe versions to fiery merkén-spiked links.

Click to activate map

Sausages from Ñuble, Chile

Longaniza Chilena

Longaniza Chilena

Ñuble, Chile

Chile's go-to fresh pork sausage, seasoned with ají de color (Chilean paprika), cumin, garlic, and oregano. Some makers add merkén, a smoked chili from the Mapuche tradition, for extra heat. The grind is coarse, the casing thin, and the links either coiled into spirals or strung out long. Every asado in Chile starts with longaniza on the grill, split lengthwise and charred until the fat crackles. The sausage shows up on street carts stuffed into marraqueta bread with pebre, the cilantro-onion-chili salsa that goes on everything.

freshporkgrilled