Keto Pastel de choclo (Chilean Corn and Beef Casserole)

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  • prep time

    prep time

    15 min

  • cook time

    cook time

    1 h 10 min

  • ready time

    ready time

    1 h 25 min

Keto Pastel de choclo (Chilean Corn and Beef Casserole)

Pastel de choclo is one of the most traditional dishes in Chilean cuisine. Its name translates to corn pie, but it is more like a corn casserole. It is basically the Chilean version of an English pie, but with some variations in the filling, and uses corn for the topping instead of potatoes. In this recipe, we will show you how to recreate one of our favorite Chilean Keto recipes.

How can you make a Keto-friendly version of this authentic Chilean dish?

To recreate a Keto pastel de choclo, we must understand its flavors to find proper substitutes. This dish is unique in its contrast of sweet and savory ingredients. The filling consists of ground beef, onions, chicken, black olives, hard-boiled eggs, and raisins. Most of these ingredients are low carb, except for the raisins, which we omitted.

The corn in the topping, however, is not Keto-friendly. To replace it, we have used a combination of cauliflower and baby corn. Baby corn has the flavor of corn but is low-carb and not anywhere as sweet. To compensate for the sweetness of regular corn, we are adding a sweetener. The corn is traditionally simmered in milk until soft, but we have simmered the cauliflower and baby corn mix in heavy cream.

What ingredients can you omit for a simpler Keto pastel de choclo?

This dish has various ingredients and flavors as a part of its identity. If you would like to give this recipe a try, but prefer simpler flavors, then there are some ingredients you can omit. The chicken is the first ingredient that you can remove. There are versions of this recipe that omit the chicken. You can also remove the hard-boiled eggs and raisins.

Can you make a vegetarian Keto pastel de choclo?

In fact, you can. The difference is in the filling; replace the meat with a combination of mushroom and eggplant. To make this Keto dish vegan, omit the eggs and replace the heavy cream with coconut milk and the butter with oil.

  • Net Carbs

    3.1 g

  • Fiber

    1.9 g

  • Total Carbs

    6.5 g

  • Protein

    30.8 g

  • Fats

    35.4 g

464 cals

Keto Pastel de choclo (Chilean Corn and Beef Casserole)

#1 Low Carb & Keto Diet App Since 2010

Track macros, calories, and access top Keto recipes.

Download on the App Store
Get in on Google Play

Ingredients

  • Extra virgin olive oil

    Extra virgin olive oil

    2 tbsp

  • Onion

    Onion

    0.25 small

  • Garlic

    Garlic

    1 clove

  • Ground beef

    Ground beef

    300 g

  • Cumin, seed

    Cumin, seed

    1 tsp

  • Salt

    Salt

    0.75 tsp

  • Black pepper

    Black pepper

    0.25 tsp

  • Chicken Breast Boneless Skinless Raw

    Chicken Breast Boneless Skinless Raw

    4 oz

  • Raw egg

    Raw egg

    2 large

  • Cauliflower

    Cauliflower

    0.75 cup, cut pieces

  • Baby Corn, Cut

    0.75 cup

  • Cream Heavy Whipping

    Cream Heavy Whipping

    0.5 cup, fluid (yields 2 cups whipped)

  • Butter

    Butter

    2 tbsp

  • Powdered Erythritol (Icing Sugar)

    Powdered Erythritol (Icing Sugar)

    2 tsp

  • Greek olives

    Greek olives

    2 tsp, sliced

Recipe Steps

steps 9

1 h 25 min

  • Step 1

    Place a skillet over medium heat and add the oil. Finely chop the onions and add to the skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes, then grate the garlic and add it in. Cook for 1 minute or until the garlic is fragrant, then add the beef.
    Step 1
  • Step 2

    Cook the ground beef for 5 minutes until browned, while stirring. Mix in the cumin powder, 1/2 tsp salt, and pepper. Remove the pan from the stove and set it aside.
    Step 2
  • Step 3

    Preheat your oven to 350 Fahrenheit. Add the chicken breast to a boiling pot of salted water. Drop the heat to low, and let the chicken cook for 12 minutes. Take the breast out of the water, and let it rest for 10 minutes, then chop it into cubes.
    Step 3
  • Step 4

    For the topping, add the cauliflower florets and baby corn to a food processor with 2 tbsp of heavy cream. Pulse until it reaches a finely granulated texture. Add the butter to a saucepan over medium heat and add the cauliflower and baby corn mixture.
    Step 4
  • Step 5

    Pour the remaining heavy cream into the pot. Add the sweetener and ¼ tsp salt and stir to combine. Reduce the heat to low and let it cook for 10 minutes or until the vegetables are soft and the heavy cream has evaporated completely. Set the saucepan aside.
    Step 5
  • Step 6

    Fill a small pot with water and add 1 egg. Let the egg boil for 7-8 minutes. Run the egg under cold water, deshell, and slice it. Set aside.
    Step 6
  • Step 7

    Grease a casserole dish with butter. Add the beef mixture to the casserole and spread it evenly. Distribute the sliced hard-boiled eggs on top of the meat.
    Step 7
  • Step 8

    Roughly chop the olives, and sprinkle them on top. Add the chopped chicken. Add the cauliflower and baby corn mixture on top, and spread it to cover the other ingredients.
    Step 8
  • Step 9

    Bake the Keto pastel de choclo for 30 minutes, or until the surface is golden. Let it cool for 10 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley, and serve immediately.
    Step 9

Comments 6

  • jennscakes

    jennscakes 3 years ago

    Can you swap out the heavy cream with coconut cream or something? I don't do dairy :(

    • recipewriter

      recipewriter 3 years ago

      Absolutely!

  • IncredibleAvocado347509

    IncredibleAvocado347509 3 years ago

    I swapped some of the ingredients around as well as the instructions. I personally think boiled eggs aren’t worth the hassle, and to save on dishes I cooked everything in and ovenproof pan and a sauce pan. I threw the chicken in when browning the beef, cubing beforehand, it cooked fully in the oven, I also skipped olives, and added cheese sprinkled on top to add some crispness after broiling. Overall I am really happy how mine turned out, it would’ve been perfect if I splashed a tiny bit of Tabasco on my portion before I ate it!

    • Seeingeagle

      Seeingeagle 3 years ago

      Why is the corn not listed in the ingredients list? So not really sure the cab contents.

      • jennscakes

        jennscakes 3 years ago

        it's the Napoleon baby corn toward the bottom of the list.

      • MamaB

        MamaB 3 years ago

        It is there...