10 Most Popular Foods in Uruguay

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Trying out foods from around the world gives you a tasty treat and makes you acquainted with the culture of the place as the dishes consist of the authentic flavors of the country.

If you are a meat lover, the Uruguayan cuisines we have listed down for you will blow your mind as Uruguayan dishes primarily consist of meat products. The cuisines influence the culinary traditions of France, Great Britain, Germany, etc., and become an instant favorite of anyone who has them!

1. Asado

Asado or “barbecued beef” is a widely popular dish in Uruguay. Although “Steak” is a commonly consumed food item in more or less every part of the world, Uruguayan Asado is different as it consists of high-quality meat, which is slowly cooked on eucalyptus wood embers. Therefore, do not forget to have Asado if you ever visit this country available in almost every restaurant.

Recipe for Asado

2. Chimichurri

Chimichurri is a delicious sauce from Uruguay and comes out as a perfect condiment for barbecues. Grilled meat is a very popular food item in this country; hence Uruguayan cuisine consists of delicious condiments for having them as well. It requires making a paste with parsley, garlic, oregano, olive oil, and red wine vinegar.

Recipe for Chimichurri

3. Chivito

A loved sandwich in Uruguay, Chivito is a beef sandwich that consists of grilled meat, tomatoes, lettuce, ham, cheese, and a fried egg. Ketchup, mustard sauce, hot sauce, and some mayonnaise enhance the flavors of this delicious sandwich to a different extent. It is sometimes served with fries/ boiled potatoes to make it wholesome.

Recipe for Chivito

4. Uruguayan Pamplona

Uruguayan Pamplona is a delicious dish consisting of rolled-up beef/ pork with ham, bacon, red pepper, olives, and cheese fillings. First, it requires rolling the meat with a net/ string and cooking it on a barbecue grill. It then requires slicing up the meat and serving it with some salad on the side.

Recipe for Uruguayan Pamplona

5. Olimpico

Olimpico is a popular snack item in Uruguay. It consists of slices of untoasted bread with mayonnaise, ham, cheese, tomatoes, and hot peppers. It is extremely easy to make and comes out as a perfect snack for picnics.

Recipe for Olimpico

6. Dulce de Leche

Dulce de Leche is a sweet sauce used mainly as a confection in desserts. It requires slowly simmering some milk in a pan until it becomes light brown. It comes out as a popular filling in cakes, pastries, and other food items in Uruguay.

Recipe for Dulce de Leche

7. Alfajores

Alfajores is quite popularly known as “sandwich cookie,” which comes out as a favorite of the Uruguayans. The preparation process requires baking lightly sweetened cookie dough, filling it with “Dulce de Leche,” adding some sugar on the top, and grating coconut on the edges. As a result, Alfajores look not only beautiful but also taste fantastic!

Recipe for Alfajores

8. Tortas Fritas

Also called “fried-cake,” is a popular appetizer in Uruguay. It requires making wheat flour dough, flattening it, and deep-frying it in oil. It consists of an amazing texture and tastes even better with some sprinkled sugar on top!

Recipe for Tortas fritas

9. Empanadas

Empanada is a turnover that is made from pastry dough with different types of fillings. For the fillings, beef, chicken, and a few varieties of cheese such as Mozzarella, Ricotta, Colonia and Parmesan come out as popular options. This dish is available in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian versions, hence a must-try for all.

Recipe for Empanadas

10. Choripan

Sandwiches form a significant part of Uruguayan cuisine, and Choripan is one of them. It requires putting a “chorizo” sausage in bread with some “Chimichurri.” All these ingredients are put together to make a mouth-watering dish.

Recipe for Choripan

Sources:

Chef’s Pencil

Travel Food Atlas

International Living