The 20 most famous dishes of Argentina
Argentine cooking is a cuisine of beef and the asado grill, strongly shaped by Italian and Spanish immigrants, famous for empanadas, dulce de leche and mate.
1Asado Argentino
Argentina's grilling ritual: cuts of beef and sausage slow-grilled over wood embers with only coarse salt,…
2Empanadas Salteñas
Half-moon pastries with braided edges filled with knife-cut beef, onion, egg, olives and cumin, baked or…
3Chimichurri
A green sauce of parsley, oregano, garlic, vinegar, oil and chili — the partner of every Argentine grill.
4Milanesa a la Napolitana
A breaded, fried beef cutlet topped with tomato sauce and melted cheese — a Buenos Aires classic.
5Dulce de Leche
Argentina's thick milk caramel slow-cooked for hours, spread on toast and used in countless desserts.
6Alfajores de Maicena
Two crumbly cornflour biscuits sandwiched with dulce de leche and edged with coconut — of Andalusian-Arab…
7Locro
A thick stew of white corn, beans, squash and meat, eaten on national day (25 May) — of Andean origin.
8Choripán
Grilled chorizo in crusty bread with chimichurri — the first bite of every asado and football match.
9Provoleta
A thick disc of provolone grilled over embers until melting inside and crisp outside, sprinkled with oregano…
10Matambre Arrollado
A thin flank of beef rolled around eggs, carrots, peppers and herbs, poached and served cold in colourful…
11Humita en Chala
Fresh corn paste with onion, cheese and basil, wrapped in corn husks and boiled — from northwestern Argentina.
12Carbonada Criolla
A beef stew with squash, corn, sweet potato and dried peaches or apricots, sometimes served inside a whole…
13Pastel de Papa
Minced beef with onion, olives and boiled egg under a golden mashed-potato crust — Argentina's take on…
14Medialunas
Small sweet Argentine croissants brushed with shiny syrup, eaten for breakfast with coffee or mate.
15Mate
An infusion of yerba mate leaves sipped from a hollow gourd through a metal straw (bombilla) and passed among…
16Revuelto Gramajo
Crisp shoestring potatoes scrambled with eggs, onion, peas and ham — a late-night Buenos Aires dish.
17Fugazzeta
A thick Buenos Aires-style pizza stuffed with cheese and piled with onions — created by Italian immigrants.
18Panqueques con Dulce de Leche
Thin crêpes rolled around dulce de leche, sometimes caramelised with sugar — a restaurant favourite.
19Vitel Toné
Cold sliced veal in a tuna, mayonnaise and caper sauce — a Christmas dish in Argentina of Italian origin.
20Ñoquis del 29
Potato gnocchi that Argentines eat on the 29th of every month, with money under the plate for good fortune.