Amazing Argentinian Recipes to Make at Home (2024)

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Explore Argentinian Cuisine, From Appetizers to Dessert

By

Marian Blazes

Marian Blazes

Marian Blazes is a freelance writer and recipe developer with a passion for South American food. She wrote a cookbook focusing on the cuisine of Brazil.

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Updated on 01/1/23

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Argentina is a large and developed country that produces and exports many different foods, including beef and wine, which the country is particularly famous for. The asado, an elaborate meal of grilled meat, is one of the most important culinary traditions in this country.

Argentina's cuisine is highly influenced by Europeand includes many Spanish-style dishes, Italian pasta and pizzas, and French pastries. The Argentinians add their unique style to these recipes, making them their own. The food ranges from gourmet to rustic: In Buenos Aires, one can find a very sophisticated restaurant culture with foods from around the world.In the more rural parts of Argentina, people still eat a more traditional South American diet. Bring a little Argentinian flavor into your kitchen with traditional appetizers, sauces, side dishes, main courses, desserts, and drinks.

  • 01 of 14

    Pizza a Caballo (Pizza Sandwich)

    Amazing Argentinian Recipes to Make at Home (1)

    Pizza a caballois a "pizza sandwich" made with two very different kinds of dough. A slice of thick-crusted cheese pizza is topped with a thin slice of fainá, a chickpea flatbread, and then enjoyed. It is a unique and delicious appetizer.

  • Argentinian-Style Chimichurri Sauce

    Amazing Argentinian Recipes to Make at Home (2)

    Argentinian-style chimichurri sauce is a bright green, chunky sauce starring garlic and parsley. It is a traditional component of an Argentinian mixed grill, which features a variety of meats. Although a ubiquitous accompaniment to steak, the classic sauce is also delicious with chicken and fish.

  • 03 of 14

    Provoleta (Grilled Provolone Cheese)

    Amazing Argentinian Recipes to Make at Home (3)

    Grilled provolone cheeseis a smoky, delicious treat and a wonderful appetizer or side dish to accompany a full meal. Thick slices of provolone cheese are drizzled with olive oil, seasoned with salt, oregano, and red pepper flakes, and then placed in the freezer to firm up. The cheese is grilled for a few minutes until nicely browned and served with grilled bread and olives.

  • 04 of 14

    Fugazza (Focaccia)

    Amazing Argentinian Recipes to Make at Home (4)

    Fugazzais like an Argentinian focaccia—and like all flatbreads, itis an extremely versatile dish. No matter what ingredients are arranged on the dough, however, the fugazza is always topped with sweet onions. Try it with mozzarella cheese, or experiment with the stuffed variety called fugazzeta.

    Continue to 5 of 14 below.

  • 05 of 14

    Tira de Asado (Grilled Beef Ribs)

    Amazing Argentinian Recipes to Make at Home (5)

    Asadois a quintessential Argentinian grilled feast featuring a wide range of meat and vegetable dishes as well as side dishes and desserts—all served with a variety of sauces. Specific grilled meat dishes are also referred to as asado, such as tira de asado, which is grilled beef ribs. The ribs are simply seasoned with salt, placed on the grill, and then served with chimichurri sauce on the side.

  • 06 of 14

    Carbonada Criolla (Beef Stew)

    Amazing Argentinian Recipes to Make at Home (6)

    Carbonada criollais abeef stew with a unique twist. In addition to the usual white potatoes and onions, this recipe features sweet dried fruits, sweet potato, and winter squash. In combination with onion, garlic, and tomatoes, along with the savory beef and beef broth, the stew takes on a complex flavor, perfect for a chilly evening.

  • 07 of 14

    Dulce de Leche

    Amazing Argentinian Recipes to Make at Home (7)

    Dulce de lechetranslates to "sugar of milk" but it is actually a delicious and popular caramel sauce used to sweeten many Argentinian desserts. Although a slow-cooking process, making dulce de leche is not difficult. Evaporated and condensed milks, along with corn syrup, cinnamon sticks, and baking soda, are cooked until golden and very thick. The sweet sauce is then drizzled over cakes, cookies, ice cream, and pastries.

  • 08 of 14

    Alfajores (Sandwich Cookies)

    Amazing Argentinian Recipes to Make at Home (8)

    Alfajoresare layered cookies with crisp exteriors and soft, creamy interiors. They come in many flavors, including caramel. This version calls for spreading dulce de leche between two cookies and then coating the edges with shredded toasted coconut. It also includes a bit of South American brandy called Pisco, which adds a special taste.

    Continue to 9 of 14 below.

  • 09 of 14

    Pasta Frola de Dulce de Membrillo (Dessert Tart)

    Amazing Argentinian Recipes to Make at Home (9)

    Pasta frola de dulce de membrillois a wonderful dessert made with a cookie-like shortbread crust andsweet filling. The name comes from the Italian shortbread crust (pasta frolla) that is used to make jam pies (crostate). This Argentinian rendition includes quince paste, called dulce de membrillo, but a dulce de leche filling is also common.

  • 10 of 14

    Torta Negra Galesa (Welsh Fruitcake)

    Amazing Argentinian Recipes to Make at Home (10)

    Torta negra galesais Patagonian black Welsh cake, a rich, delicious variety of fruitcake. The cake was born out of resourcefulness, where the female Welsh settlers combined the few provisions they had, including candied fruit, nuts, spices, molasses, and alcohol, to create a dessert that would be tasty as well as keep for a few months.

  • 11 of 14

    Tortas Fritas (Fry Bread)

    Amazing Argentinian Recipes to Make at Home (11)

    Tortas fritasmay resemble Native American fry bread, but they are more like fried biscuits. However, they are made with more fat than a traditional biscuit would be. Tortas fritas are often enjoyed as an afternoon snack with yerba mate tea, and also make their way to the weekend breakfast table. Serve with jam or dulce de leche.

  • 12 of 14

    Yerba Mate Tea

    Amazing Argentinian Recipes to Make at Home (12)

    One of the most important Argentinian beverages is yerba mate tea and drinking it is a very social activity throughout the country. Tea drinkers brew the mate in beautiful gourd cups and sip it with a silver straw called a bombilla. This version turns the tea into a late by adding whole milk and sugar.

    Continue to 13 of 14 below.

  • 13 of 14

    El Submarino (Special Hot Chocolate)

    Amazing Argentinian Recipes to Make at Home (13)

    El submarinois an Argentinian hot chocolate that is especially favored by children. The drink is served as a mug of hot milk with a piece of dark chocolate on the side. This chocolate is then plunged into the hot milk (hence the name "the submarine") where it melts, creating a delicious, creamy drink, with a tasty bit of chocolate "sludge" on the bottom.

  • 14 of 14

    Malbec Wine

    Amazing Argentinian Recipes to Make at Home (14)

    Malbecis Argentina's signature grape, and has made a name for itself with red wine lovers. It is a medium- to full-bodied wine that has hints of black cherry, plum, and blackberry. This red wine has high levels of alcohol and tannins, and pairs well with red meat and spicy foods.

Watch Grilling Master Francis Mallmann Cook a Satisfying Vegetarian Dish

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Amazing Argentinian Recipes to Make at Home (2024)

FAQs

What is the most famous dish in Argentina? ›

1. Asado. The way to Argentina's heart is through its asado, or barbecue, also known as parrillada. Don't leave the country without spending a leisurely afternoon beside the warmth of a grill or open fire, feasting on copious grilled meats.

What is the national dish of Argentina? ›

While asado is the national dish of Argentina, pizza is definitely the go-to meal for Buenos Aires. We put our own spin on this worldwide staple, with an emphasis on cheese, cheese, and more cheese!

What is the comfort food in Argentina? ›

Carbonada. It's the epitome of comfort food in Argentina and a popular dish during the winter months. Carbonada is a hearty stew made from beef and vegetables in a thick broth. Apart from these basics, other ingredients include sweet potatoes, potatoes, bacon, corn on the cob, carrots, and peppers.

What food do Argentines love? ›

It's no secret Argentines love meat. The country eats over 100 kg per person per year, and much of that in the form of milanesas. This traditional, inexpensive and delicious dish consists of round steak coated in breadcrumbs. Whisked eggs are used to make the breadcrumbs stick to the meat.

What is a typical Argentinian breakfast? ›

Two of the most common Argentina breakfast foods are pastries: Tostadas (yes, the kind you're familiar with, although here they're served with cream cheese or other sweet spreads) and medialunas, an Argentina variant of the croissant with a little more sweetness and density to it that can come filled with any variety ...

How do you say hello in Argentina? ›

Do you know how to say “hi” in Spanish? Hola (hello/hi) is the most commonly used greeting in Spanish.

What is Argentina's favorite meat? ›

Vacío (Flank steak)

Other popular cuts include Ojo de Bife (rib-eye), Asado de Tira (ribs), Bife de Costilla (T-bone), and Cuadril (rump steak). If you're dining with friends, you might like to order the Bife Angosto, a tasty cut of rich fatty meat served in a large portion to share.

What is Argentina's favorite snack? ›

Alfajores

The alfajor is a traditional sweet treat from Argentine cuisine, renowned globally for its delectable taste. It consists of two cookies sandwiched together with a filling of fruits, chocolate, or some type of mousse. However, undoubtedly, the most popular ones are those filled with dulce de leche.

What time do Argentines usually eat dinner? ›

Dinner. Dinner is actually the wrong term in Argentina. Since dinner is usually happening after 10 pm you should better call it a midnight meal. Enjoying the last meal of the day earlier is unthinkable for Argentines; on the weekends they eat even later.

Can you eat salad in Argentina? ›

Argentineans are well used to preparing meat thanks to their flesh-filled cuisine so, generally speaking, meat will be safe to eat and cooked properly. Salads and fruit are fine to eat, even if they have been washed, but only in big cities.

What do Argentines eat with steak? ›

Chimichurri Sauce and Steak is a match made in heaven, arguably one of the BEST sauce for steak in the world! This famous sauce from Argentina is made with parsley, oregano, garlic, red wine vinegar and olive oil. It's quick to make and will take your next steak dinner to a whole new level!

What do Argentines generally eat more of? ›

Argentinians are the biggest consumers of beef in the world, and red meat is an essential part of the country's culture.

What is the star dish in Argentina? ›

The asado, the star of Argentinian gastronomy. The football, the tango, the dulce de leche, what's more famous in Argentina than these clichés? In fact, there is one phenomenon the Argentinian people is very proud of: the asado. This country's national dish is a classic of the local gastronomy.

What is Argentina best known for? ›

The seven things Argentina is most famous for are related to sports, food, art, and travel. If you are a person who enjoys spending good times with friends and family, drinking wine, hiking, sightseeing, and sharing memories, Argentina will fascinate you.

Why is asado so popular in Argentina? ›

With such a meat-centric culture it's no wonder that asados would be a tradition so important in Argentine society. The tradition of asados goes all the way back to the times of the gauchos (cowboys) who lived off the resources of the land and their livestock, particularly their cows.

Is Argentina famous for its chicken or beef? ›

From Buenos Aires to Patagonia, Argentine beef has a reputation for its flavor and tenderness that no other country can match. Argentine beef stands out from other beef for its characteristic taste due to the high-quality cuts of meat and flavorful layer of fat it is known for.

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