Dreaming of a South American adventure? There has never been a better time to visit Argentina!
Although the country has been rattled by high inflation and political upheaval in recent years, this has resulted in Argentina becoming one of the most affordable travel destinations in the Americas.
You can get great value for money on accommodation, sightseeing activities and eating out. And does any country in the region have tastier food? We struggle to think of one.
Take a look at our guide to some of the top eats and treats throughout Argentina which you must try before leaving the country.
1. Beef
Argentineans are famed for having a high protein diet with beef forming a particularly large part of the national cuisine.
The country is known for the quality of its beef and on average each Argentinean will consume 55 kg every year!
Steak and barbecued beef are massively popular and can be found on the vast majority of Argentinean menus. Parrillas are restaurants that specialise in steak.
2. Chimichurri
All that meat needs a sauce to help wash it down and in Argentina the sauce of choice is the Chimichurri. This tangy sauce is also used as a marinade and is made of minced garlic, oregano, olive oil, parsley and red or white vinegar.
A common variation on the sauce includes red bell pepper and tomato although lemon, paprika and cilantro are other ingredients sometimes incorporated.
3. Dulce de Leche
Literally translated this means ‘candy of milk’. Sweetened milk is heated slowly to create a rich, sweet spread or sauce.
In Argentina it is a national food, served with ice cream and puddings or as a filling for cakes or pancakes. Alfajores, for example, are shortbread biscuits sandwiched together with liberal quantities of dulce de leche.
4. Mate
Mate is one of Argentina’s traditional drinks. To make it the dried leaves of the yerba mate plant are infused in hot water.
In order to make the bitter natural flavour more palatable mate can be flavoured with herbs or sweetened with sugar. A metal straw known as a bombilla is often used to drink mate and the beverage is a large part of Argentinean celebrations.
5. Empanadas
Empanadas originated in Galicia and Portugal but have become hugely popular in South American nations. They are simply dough stuffed with meat, cheese or vegetables which are then deep fried.
Variations of the recipe have existed since the early sixteenth century. In Argentina empanadas are commonly served at festivals and parties as well as in restaurants.
The dough is typically made of beef drippings and wheat flour with chicken as the most common filling.
6. Medialunas
In Argentina medialunas are a breakfast staple. They are very similar to French croissants and derive their name from their half-moon shape.
Often they are coated with a butter-based sweet glaze (de Manteca) but they can also be coated with the not sweet lard-based medialuna de grasa.
7. Milanesa
The Argentinean Milanesa is a breaded and fried seasoned fillet of meat. It is very similar to the American chicken fried steak except more thinly coated.
Common meat options include chicken, beef and veal. If the fillet is topped with tomato and mozzarella cheese it becomes Milanesa a la napolitana after the Argentinean pizzeria credited with creating it.
Start Planning a Foodie Break to Argentina
Where you love food, or fancy a gap year in South America, hopefully these foods and drinks have whet your appetite for booking a flight to Argentina. There are of course so many more local delicacies and treats to sample in towns and cities throughout the country.
If you are in need of ideas for your trip search our Argentina gap year programs or if you are after a full time move, a popular option is to take a TEFL certification course and teach English.