Americas · Traditional

Argentinian cuisine

Celebrated for steak, empanadas, and Malbec wine.

Food history

Why Argentinian cuisine is worth exploring

Argentinian food reflects Indigenous traditions, Spanish colonisation, vast cattle country and major waves of Italian and other European immigration. That history is visible in a cuisine where asado and empanadas sit comfortably beside pasta, pizza, milanesas and dulce de leche.

Why it is famous

People often come to Argentinian cuisine through asado, empanadas, chimichurri, milanesa, choripán, pizza, pasta, dulce de leche and mate. Stay with it a little longer and a more interesting pattern emerges, where famous dishes sit alongside deeply local cooking and recipes tied to particular landscapes, communities and occasions.

Regional food story

The Pampas are inseparable from cattle and gaucho grilling culture; Patagonia is known for lamb and cold-water fish; the north-west has stronger Andean traditions with maize, potatoes and empanadas; Mendoza connects food closely with wine; Buenos Aires carries a pronounced Italian-Spanish immigrant legacy.

Cook by course

Argentinian recipes

Start with a starter, choose a main, then finish with a dessert to build a complete country-inspired menu.

Starters

Argentinian starters

Main courses

Argentinian main courses

Entraña a la Parrilla

Entraña a la Parrilla

Skirt steak grilled quickly, sliced across the grain and served with lemon or chimichurri.

Main 22 mins
Trucha Patagónica con Manteca y Limón

Trucha Patagónica con Manteca y Limón

Patagonian trout cooked with butter, lemon and parsley.

Main 22 mins
Bife de Chorizo con Chimichurri

Bife de Chorizo con Chimichurri

Thick sirloin steaks grilled hard and served with fresh chimichurri.

Main 25 mins
Rabas a la Argentina

Rabas a la Argentina

Golden fried squid rings served with lemon and parsley.

Main 30 mins
Revuelto Gramajo

Revuelto Gramajo

Scrambled eggs with matchstick potatoes, ham, peas and onion.

Main 30 mins
Milanesa Napolitana

Milanesa Napolitana

Breaded beef cutlets topped with ham, tomato sauce and melted cheese.

Main 45 mins
Pacú a la Parrilla

Pacú a la Parrilla

Paraná river pacú grilled with lemon, garlic, herbs and crisp skin.

Main 50 mins
Suprema Maryland

Suprema Maryland

Retro breaded chicken with banana, sweetcorn cream, peas and peppers.

Main 50 mins
Ñoquis del 29

Ñoquis del 29

Potato gnocchi traditionally eaten on the 29th with tomato sauce or tuco.

Main 55 mins
Cazuela de Mariscos Argentina

Cazuela de Mariscos Argentina

Seafood stew with prawns, squid, mussels, tomato, peppers and white wine.

Main 1 hr
Zapallitos Rellenos

Zapallitos Rellenos

Round courgettes stuffed with beef, rice, onion and cheese.

Main 1 hr 5 mins
Sorrentinos de Jamón y Queso

Sorrentinos de Jamón y Queso

Large round stuffed pasta with ham and cheese, served with tomato or cream sauce.

Main 1 hr 10 mins
Tira de Asado

Tira de Asado

Cross-cut beef short ribs grilled over embers until smoky, salty and tender.

Main 1 hr 10 mins
Pastel de Papas Argentino

Pastel de Papas Argentino

Argentinian beef and olive cottage pie topped with creamy mashed potato.

Main 1 hr 15 mins
Pollo al Disco

Pollo al Disco

Chicken cooked in a plough-disc pan with peppers, onion, wine and stock.

Main 1 hr 30 mins
Guiso de Lentejas Argentino

Guiso de Lentejas Argentino

Lentil stew with chorizo, pancetta, vegetables, tomato and paprika.

Main 1 hr 35 mins
Vacío a la Parrilla

Vacío a la Parrilla

Slow-grilled flank cut with crisp fat, smoky edges and tender slices.

Main 1 hr 40 mins
Tallarines con Tuco

Tallarines con Tuco

Fresh or dried noodles with slow tomato and meat sauce.

Main 1 hr 50 mins
Carbonada Criolla

Carbonada Criolla

Beef, pumpkin, corn, potato, peaches and tomato in a sweet-savoury criollo stew.

Main 1 hr 55 mins
Pizza Fugazzeta

Pizza Fugazzeta

Buenos Aires stuffed pizza with mozzarella, onions and oregano.

Main 1 hr 55 mins
Chivito a la Llama

Chivito a la Llama

Goat cooked slowly over open flame with garlic, herbs and lemon.

Main 3 hr 25 mins
Asado Argentino

Asado Argentino

The Argentinian mixed grill: beef ribs, chorizo, morcilla and slow fire with chimichurri.

Main 3 hr 30 mins
Locro Criollo

Locro Criollo

Hearty corn, bean, squash and meat stew finished with paprika chilli oil.

Main 3 hr 30 mins
Cordero Patagónico al Asador

Cordero Patagónico al Asador

Patagonian lamb cooked slowly beside fire until smoky, crisp-edged and tender.

Main 4 hr 25 mins
Desserts

Argentinian desserts

Wine and drink pairings

What to drink with Argentinian food

When pairing wine with Argentinian food, match the structure of the dish first: fresh whites for seafood and herbs, medium reds for tomato, spice or roast meat, sparkling wines for fried or salty starters, and sweet or fortified wines for desserts.

Barbera
Red

Barbera

Bright Italian red with red fruit, low tannin and high acidity. Excellent with tomato, pork, sausages, cheese and heart…

Grape: Barbera Region: Piedmont, Lombardy
Cabernet Sauvignon / Bordeaux
Red

Cabernet Sauvignon / Bordeaux

Structured red with blackcurrant, cedar, graphite and firm tannins. Best with roast beef, lamb, steak, rich gravies and…

Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc Region: Bordeaux, Napa, Coonawarra, Maipo
Côtes du Rhône / GSM Blend
Red

Côtes du Rhône / GSM Blend

Southern Rhône-style blend with dark fruit, herbs, pepper and moderate tannin. Reliable with stews, roast meat, beans a…

Grape: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre Region: Rhône, Languedoc, Australia
Malbec
Red

Malbec

Plush, dark red with blackberry, plum, cocoa and smooth tannins. Excellent with beef, charred meat, pies and smoky dish…

Grape: Malbec Region: Mendoza, Cahors
Pinot Noir / Burgundy
Red

Pinot Noir / Burgundy

Elegant red with red cherry, earth, spice and fine tannins. Great with duck, mushroom, poultry, pork and lighter beef d…

Grape: Pinot Noir, Spätburgunder Region: Burgundy, Oregon, Central Otago, Baden
Sangiovese
Red

Sangiovese

Italy’s signature red grape style: bright acidity, red fruit and savoury tannin.

Grape: Sangiovese Region: Tuscany, Romagna, Umbria
Spätburgunder
Red

Spätburgunder

German Pinot Noir with red cherry, earth and gentle spice. Excellent with pork, sausages, roast poultry, mushroom sauce…

Grape: Spätburgunder / Pinot Noir Region: Baden, Ahr, Pfalz
Syrah / Shiraz
Red

Syrah / Shiraz

Peppery, dark-fruited red with savoury spice and medium-to-firm tannins. Great with grilled meat, pepper, smoke, sausag…

Grape: Syrah, Shiraz Region: Northern Rhône, Barossa, South Africa