VINO NAVEGADO
I spent the summer months of 2010 studying abroad in Santiago, Chile. During that time, my host family introduced me to Chilean food and culture. It was winter there, and one of my most vivid memories in Chile was a chilly evening that my host father prepared vino navegado for us. It's a warm spiced beverage made with red wine. At the very end of its preparation, my host father lit the mixture with a match, and we also stood around the stove and watch as the fire eliminated the alcohol.
Here's what you'll need to make it:
- 1 bottle red wine
- 1 thinly sliced oranges (do not remove the peel)
- 3 sprigs of whole cinnamon
- 4 whole cloves (or ~1/4 tsp ground cloves)
- 1/2 cup of sugar
Making vino navegado is super easy. Just combine all the ingredients and bring the mixture to a boil, while stirring continuously to dissolve the sugar. Boil it for 8-10 minutes or if you're a daredevil like my host father, CAREFULLY place a lit match to the mixture in order to ensure the elimination of all the alcohol in the wine. If you want to keep the alcohol, bring it to a boil and then immediately remove it from the heat. Enjoy!
MEMORIES FROM CHILE
