Argentina is a country with many European influences. From Spain and France to Italy and beyond. You can see it in their culture, architecture, food, and language. Although Spanish is the lingua franca, it's not hard to see how other European languages have infiltrated into the day-to-day lexicon - as well as the cuisine. Several of these recommendations you'll recognize from other European cuisines.
The natives of Argentina don't try to disguise their love for food. The colorful city life and top-notch restaurants experienced in the capital of the country, Buenos Aires, will leave you wanting more. To fill you in on some of the dishes the natives and tourists frequently visit the country for, continue reading. By the end of this piece, you'll have eight amazing cuisines to try out on your next visit.
Chimichurri
This uncooked sauce is rich in flavor with hints of garlic and parsley, oregano, and red wine vinegar touching your palette in a flavor explosion. This sauce is traditionally served as a condiment to meat.
Asados
As the nation’s staple dish, you will find it offered at nearly all restaurants throughout Argentina as well as made in the homes of the natives. This dish is created by serving mouthwatering slabs of meat over an open fire.
Empanadas
Delightful pastries filled with meats, potatoes, boiled egg pieces, and scallions smothered in a thick red sauce and cheese to create what the country calls the empanada. Although empanadas are easily found at restaurants all over the world, they don’t get any more authentic than what you will find in Argentina.
Pasta
Argentina has long since had an Italian influence in its architecture and cuisine. Fettuccine, gnocchi, and cannellini are just a few of the favored kinds of pasta of Argentina. Throughout the nation, you can find many delicate kinds of pasta made fresh at restaurants and marketplaces.
Carbonado
This hearty dish is usually served in northern Argentina and over the colder winter months. This thick and flavorful stew is made with meat, potatoes, carrots, peppers, and sweet corn, topped with dried apricots and raisins, then cooked on the grill in a hollowed-out pumpkin.
Media Lunas
This breakfast dish takes its influence from France. Much like a croissant, a media luna is a flaky pastry baked with lard or butter then brushed with a sugar glaze. It is a quick yet sufficient way to start the day with coffee.
Alfajores
For those with an intense craving for sweets, the alfajores are a sandwich cookie with a thick Dulce de Leche paste made with caramelized milk. The cookie is dipped in chocolate and coconut flakes. Yum!
Milanesa
For this plate, a cut of veal or chicken is pounded thin and coated with breadcrumbs. The cuts are then pan-fried and served with mashed potatoes and topped with egg or cheese sauce.
Have you tried any of these? Let me know your favorite. What other delectable specialties have you tried that you'd recommend to anyone visiting Argentina? Let me know in the comments below!
If Argentina is on your "bucket list" check out my guide below for travel tips and inspiration to get you on your way to booking an amazing Argentinian adventure!
And if you need help planning a trip, reach out to me. I'm happy to help!