Top 5 must-eat foods in Argentina

Get to the heart of the Argentinian culture by eating your way through its delicious cuisine

There’s a saying that affirms that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Well, that’s true for this culture as well. Get to the heart of the Argentinian culture by eating your way through its delicious cuisine.

While the country has many fine dining opportunities, especially in Buenos Aires and Mendoza, there are some staple foods you must try in while in the South American country.

1. Asado: It is almost a crime to leave the country without spending a leisurely afternoon beside the warmth of a grill or open fire, feasting on copious grilled meats. This is the national dish, originating from the country’s gauchos, or cowboys, who would subsist on the abundant cows dotting the plains. Expect to find beef, pork, ribs, sausages, blood sausages, and sweetbreads hot off the grill.

2. Matambre: The name of this food comes from the saying “matar el hambre,” meaning to kill one’s hunger. Matambre is a long, thin slice of meat that is rolled around a filling, which usually includes spinach, onions, sliced carrots, and hard-boiled egg. Together, these are simmered in stock until the meat is tender. After, it is drained, cooled and sliced. As an appetizer, it can be had at any hour of the day, but it is usually consumed for lunch and/or dinner.

3. Alfajores: Argentina is the world’s largest consumer of alfajores: crumbly shortbread-like biscuits sandwiches filled with either jam, mousses, or dulce de leche. Akin to their national cookie, Argentinians indulge in these cylindrical delicacies anytime throughout the day.

4. Dulce de leche: Dulce de leche is the Argentinean equivalent to jam or honey, even if it doesn’t compare to either. This is made from boiling condensed milk until it becomes a thick, caramel colored paste, hence the brownish color. It can be eaten at almost every hour of the day, as well as for a snack. You can have it by itself, or smear it on a croissant.

5. Empanadas: Argentina’s favorite street food. These stuffed dough pockets are similar to a Cornish pasty. Translating as “wrapped in bread,” empanadas come baked or fried and can be veggie or meat filled. Common stuffing includes chicken, cheese and ham, sweetcorn, caprese, or blue cheese.

Latin American Post | Luisa Fernanda Báez Toro

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