It can be difficult to find Argentinian restaurants in the US. Sure, some buffets like Wicked Spoon might feature Latin American food, but often they’re limited to Mexican dishes. Dishes from Argentina are overlooked.
But foodies know that the cuisine in Argentina is one of the attractions for tourists. If you’re ever in this country, then you owe it to yourself to try these following Argentinian dishes:
Locro
On May 25 of each year, Argentina celebrates the anniversary of their May Revolution. And during this time, you’ll find lots of people enjoying locro. Sure, it’s also popular in other countries such as Paraguay, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. But it so beloved in Argentina that it’s considered one of their national dishes, and it’s actually popular the whole year-round.
There are actually many recipes for locro, even in Argentina. But a typical version might feature various meats and vegetables. You can have sausage, pancetta, beef, and pork, along with carrots, potatoes, white beans, white hominy, and squash. They add all these ingredients in a pot, and then simmer them for several hours until they get this thick consistency for the stew.
Empanada
You’ll find this humble food in street stalls and restaurants, and it’s a simple dish, really. Basically, you have a pocket of dough (baked or fried), and inside you have some sort of savory filling. You can get versions of empanada, including pork empanada, beef empanada, or chicken empanada.
It’s actually a favorite food in plenty of former Spanish colonies, from lots of Latin American countries to even the Philippines in Asia. That’s also true even in Argentina, as each cook there seems to have their own special version.
But first, you should try the empanadas in Tucuman province. This region is so proud of their empanadas that they host the National Empanada Festival here each year. It usually features chicken, beef, or tripe (mondongo), along with some spring onions, vinegar, and pimento. Then they fry the dough.
Or you can also go with some empanada Jujeña. You know you’re no longer in the US, as this might feature llama meat, though goat, chicken, and beef are also common options. You might also find chili, garlic, onions, and peas among the other ingredients.
Choripán
This is another food item that’s actually popular in many other countries. You can find it in El Salvador, Chile, Uruguay, and Peru.
But it’s also considered a traditional food item for sports watching. It’s very popular in street food stalls near football stadiums, much like hot dogs are among Americans watching baseball. But it’s also popular as an appetizer, especially if you’re eating asado later on.
In Argentina, the traditional version features a pork or beef sausage that’s sliced down the middle. It’s then served with some salsa criolla (onion relish) or chimichurri and set inside a roll.
Asado
This is Argentinian barbecue, but it’s not that simple. It’s generally considered a national dish that symbolizes their culture and heritage.
It typically features roasted beef, though some go with other meats such as mutton, pork, and lamb. They roast the meats on a special cast-iron grill called a parrilla, and this can take hours. So, enjoy your Choripán while waiting for the asado!