A Guide to Argentina Food for Visitors
Dulce de leche
Dulce de leche is a popular sweetener used in Argentinian cooking, often seen
for sale all over the country in large glass jars. Made by boiling equal parts
of milk and sugar it has a very sweet, caramel taste and has a consistency
between honey and butter. It is loaded with calories and is a popular condiment
for spreading on bread and sweetening drinks. Ice cream is of excellent
quality in Argentina and Dulce De Leche is one of the most famous flavours. In
the hot summer months cafes all over the country and in particular Buenos
Aires serve Dulce De Leche ice cream to cool off in the intense heat.
Mate
This popular beverage is drunk through a long metal straw called a bombilla,
out of a gourd full of mate leaves and boiling water. It is common to be offered
a drink of mate during long waiting periods and especially during arduous land
journeys. Considered an icebreaker in Argentina it's considered impolite to
refuse, so if you are offered some, take a sip and pass the gourd on to someone
else. Many travellers buy their own mate gourd and find it an excellent way to
make friends while travelling around the country.
Asado/Parilla
Argentinians love their meat, and the Asado, or Argentinian barbeque, is the way
they like it best - grilled on a huge spit over a pit full of red hot coals. If
you are invited to an Asado or decide to eat in a Parilla (BBQ restaurant),
bring your appetite because the food is served in large portions and consists
entirely of sausages, steaks, ribs with just a few grilled peppers on the side.
Many Parillas are all you can eat for a fixed price so it might be wise to eat
lightly beforehand. In the southern parts of the country the Asado uses goat
meat instead of beef.
Typical meals
Lunch
and dinner often consists of standard fare such as pizza, pasta and meat dishes.
North American, continental and Middle Eastern cuisine are generally available.
Beef is of a particularly high quality. Those of you who are fond of tasting
typical food will be pleased to find that Argentina offers exquisite regional
dishes such as empanadas, this is minced meat and other ingredients covered with
puff pastry, and locro a pork and maize stew. However Argentina is justifiably
famous for 'asados', restaurants specializing in barbecued and grilled meat
dishes, mainly beef, but also pork, lamb and chicken. Sandwiches de miga are
wonderful dainty sandwiches made of very thin-crusted white bread and filled
with slices of ham and cheese. Churros are also worth a taste. They are a bit
like donuts and can come filled with dulce de leche or chocolate. The variety of
cuts of meat and methods of preparing these is nothing less than spectacular,
and the price of such a meal accompanied by one of the many excellent local
wines makes it a bargain.
Typical drinks
Argentine
wines are excellent and inexpensive. Their out-standing quality is
recognized throughout the world. Whiskies & gins are excellent as are
classic & local wines. Don't overlook 'ginebra bols' and 'caņa' both of
which are national specialties. You'll be hard pressed to find 'mate' served
anywhere although it's the most famous and distinct Argentine drink.
Argentina Recipes
Where's the BEEF? In a word "Argentina". Argentina is the
beef capital of South America with more per capita consumption of beef
than anywhere else in the world.
We have put together a collection of the finest recipes that reflect
the flavor and tastes of Argentina.
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Here's our picks of the month:
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