Completo Chileno (Chilean Hot Dog)

About This Recipe

The completo is Chile's national fast food, consumed in quantities that place Chile among the highest per-capita hot dog consuming nations in the world. But calling the completo a simple hot dog is a significant understatement — the standard 'completo italiano' version is loaded with so many toppings it must be eaten in two hands, the bun barely visible under an avalanche of diced fresh tomato, a generous schmear of avocado (called palta in Chile), and an astonishing quantity of mayonnaise, the latter applied with an abandon that has made the completo famous — and infamous — throughout South America. The name 'completo' simply means 'complete' — a fully loaded version as opposed to the 'simple' (Frankfurt alone in a bun). The 'italiano' variant gets its name from the colors of the Italian flag: the red of tomato, the white of mayonnaise, and the green of avocado. Other versions exist — the 'dinamico' adds sauerkraut, the 'as' adds ketchup and mustard — but the italiano is the canonical form served at fuente de soda (Chilean-style diners) and street carts throughout the country. The frankfurter itself is boiled or steamed, never grilled, and placed in a soft, slightly sweet white bun that must be able to absorb the considerable juices from the tomato without disintegrating. The ratio of toppings to sausage in a properly made completo approaches 3:1 by weight — the toppings are not garnish, they are the dish.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 4large frankfurter sausages
• 4soft white hot dog buns(slightly sweet if possible)
• 3 mediumripe tomatoes(seeded and finely diced)
• 2 ripeavocados (palta)(mashed or thinly sliced)
• 0.5 tspsalt
• 1 tbspfresh lemon juice(for the avocado)
• 0.75 cupgood quality mayonnaise(do not skimp — this is the defining ingredient)
• 1 pinchsalt(for the diced tomato)

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the toppings

   Dice the tomatoes finely, removing seeds and excess liquid. Season with a pinch of salt and set aside. Mash avocado with lemon juice and salt until creamy but still slightly chunky.

2. 2

   Cook the frankfurters

   Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add frankfurters and simmer 3–4 minutes until heated through. Alternatively, steam them over boiling water 4 minutes. Do not grill — the completo uses steamed or boiled frankfurters.

3. 3

   Warm the buns

   Warm the buns briefly in a dry skillet or low oven until just soft and warm, not toasted.

4. 4

   Assemble in the correct order

   The order matters: place the frankfurter in the bun. Spread avocado generously along one side. Pile diced tomato on top. Apply mayonnaise last and liberally — do not be timid.

   The correct ratio for an authentic completo italiano is roughly equal quantities of each topping by volume, with mayonnaise applied so it is visible from all angles.

Variations

• •

  Completo dinamico: add sauerkraut and mustard alongside the standard toppings.

• •

  Completo as: add ketchup, mustard and green relish — inspired by the American hot dog.

• •

  Vegetarian completo: substitute a grilled portobello mushroom for the frankfurter.

Storage

Completitos must be assembled and eaten immediately — assembled hot dogs cannot be stored. Prepare all toppings up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerate covered.

Frequently Asked Questions