Argentine Food

Argentina was colonised by a wide variety of nations: Spanish, Italian, German, Swiss, and Polish (just to name a few). They have very strong ties to Italy when it comes to food… at least in my opinion. In Buenos Aires you will find every kind of food imaginable but in the other lesser known parts of the country you’ll find pizza, pasta, empanadas (meat pastries), sweet pastries and not much else… not exactly primal food heh. Argentineans do have one particular specialty, however, which goes really well with the Primal Regime: it’s called Asado (excuse me while I drool a little). An asado is a BBQ but not the traditional BBQs we’re used to in America, New Zealand, and Australia etc. These are whole carcasses being cooked over hot coals. In New Zealand a typical take-out meal would be fish and chips, here it’s asado. I’m lucky in that I have one of these places just around the corner. In fact, the inspiration for this post came from the fact that I ate asado yesterday nyum nyum.

First photo (above text): Carne a la parilla – meat being cooked on the grill
Second photo: Carbón para cocinar la carne – hot coals used to cook the meat

Asado a la estaca – Meat being cooked on a stake. Also the name of the place where we bought the awesomeness that is Carne Asada ” La Estaca”.

Asador cortando nuestra carne – Man cutting our meat

Costilla, chinchulines, y chorizos – Ribs, small or large intestine, and chorizo sausages.

Costillas – ribs

I have to admit that I only ate the ribs and chorizo. I have tried the small and/or large intestines but I didn’t like them much – they has a very strong flavour. Having said that, it was over 2 years ago so I perhaps should give it another go

The asado has been a hit with the Kiwis I’ve met (who have been to Argentina). For example, my Mum has already asked my bf (who’s studying architecture) to design her an asador (the place to make asado) in NZ when he comes over lol – it’s great news for me!

I hope you enjoyed your little Spanish/Argentina lesson hehe. Has anyone tried a traditional Argentine asado? How primal were you in your choices?

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