Milcao

Milcao
Milcaos fritos
Alternative namesMelcao, Milcado
CourseMain course, side dish
Place of originChile
Region or stateChiloé Archipelago
Serving temperatureHot
Main ingredientsPotatoes of Chiloé, lard, salt and vegetable oil.
VariationsBaemes

Milcao or melcao (sometimes hypercorrected to milcado) is a traditional potato pancake dish originating from the Chiloé Archipelago in Chile. The dish is prepared with raw grated potatoes and cooked mashed potatoes mixed with other ingredients. It forms an important part of the Chiloé dishes curanto and reitimiento, and is mentioned frequently in folklore as part of Chilote songs and riddles. The dish spread to the south of Chile and Argentina with the migration of many Chilote families to Patagonia during the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.