Americas · Traditional

Argentinian cuisine

Celebrated for steak, empanadas, and Malbec wine.

Explore recipes Build a Argentinian menu Wine pairings

Food history

Why Argentinian cuisine is worth exploring

Argentinian food tells the story of geography, trade, agriculture and family cooking. The cuisine has been shaped by the ingredients people could grow, preserve, carry and share, as well as by markets, festivals, migration and regional identity.

Why it is famous

Argentinian cuisine is famous for dishes that feel strongly connected to place: everyday family recipes, celebration food, regional specialities and ingredients that give the cooking its recognisable character.

Regional food story

Argentinian cuisine is not one single style. Treat the country page as a gateway into regional dishes, local ingredients, family recipes and occasion-led cooking.

How to cook it

Flavours, ingredients and menu ideas

Signature ingredients

Look for the ingredients that define Argentinian cooking: staple grains or breads, seasonal vegetables, local herbs and spices, regional cheeses or dairy where relevant, preserved foods, seafood or meat traditions, and sweets linked to festivals or family gatherings.

Cooking style

The cooking style ranges from simple home dishes to more elaborate food for celebrations. Good Argentinian recipes usually balance staple ingredients with texture, seasoning and a clear sense of occasion.

Build a menu

Build a Argentinian menu by choosing a light starter, a signature main and a dessert that shows the country’s baking or sweet traditions. Add wine or drink pairings where the dish has enough richness, spice, acidity or sweetness to make the match useful.

Starters Mains Desserts

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

Provoleta con Chimichurri

Grilled provolone cheese with crisp edges, molten centre, oregano, chilli and chimichurri.

Starter 20 mins

Choripán Argentino

Argentinian chorizo in crusty bread with chimichurri and salsa criolla.

Starter 30 mins

Berenjenas en Escabeche

Pickled aubergines with vinegar, garlic, oregano, chilli and olive oil.

Starter 40 mins

Tortilla de Papas Argentina

Thick potato and onion omelette, softly set inside and golden outside.

Starter 45 mins

Sopa Paraguaya Argentina-Style

Savoury cornmeal, onion and cheese cake from the north-east borderlands.

Starter 1 hr

Empanadas Salteñas

Juicy north-western baked empanadas filled with beef, potato, onion, egg, olives and warm paprika.

Starter 1 hr 20 mins

Humita en Chala

Fresh sweetcorn, squash, onion and cheese wrapped in corn husks and steamed.

Starter 1 hr 20 mins

Matambre Arrollado

Rolled flank steak stuffed with egg, carrot, peppers, herbs and olives, sliced cold.

Starter 2 hr 5 mins

Main courses

Argentinian main courses

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

Patagonian trout cooked with butter, lemon and parsley.

Main 22 mins

Bife de Chorizo con Chimichurri

Thick sirloin steaks grilled hard and served with fresh chimichurri.

Main 25 mins

Rabas a la Argentina

Golden fried squid rings served with lemon and parsley.

Main 30 mins

Revuelto Gramajo

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

Main 30 mins

Milanesa Napolitana

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

Main 45 mins

Pacú a la Parrilla

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

Main 50 mins

Suprema Maryland

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

Main 50 mins

Ñoquis del 29

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

Main 55 mins

Cazuela de Mariscos Argentina

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

Main 1 hr

Zapallitos Rellenos

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

Main 1 hr 5 mins

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

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

Main 1 hr 10 mins

Pastel de Papas Argentino

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

Main 1 hr 15 mins

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

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

Main 1 hr 35 mins

Vacío a la Parrilla

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

Main 1 hr 40 mins

Tallarines con Tuco

Fresh or dried noodles with slow tomato and meat sauce.

Main 1 hr 50 mins

Carbonada Criolla

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

Main 1 hr 55 mins

Pizza Fugazzeta

Buenos Aires stuffed pizza with mozzarella, onions and oregano.

Main 1 hr 55 mins

Chivito a la Llama

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

Main 3 hr 25 mins

Asado Argentino

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

Main 3 hr 30 mins

Locro Criollo

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

Main 3 hr 30 mins

Cordero Patagónico al Asador

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

Main 4 hr 25 mins

Desserts

Argentinian desserts

Vigilante Queso y Dulce

Cheese served with quince or sweet potato paste.

Dessert 5 mins

Chocotorta

No-bake chocolate biscuit cake with dulce de leche and cream cheese.

Dessert 25 mins

Panqueques con Dulce de Leche

Thin pancakes rolled with dulce de leche, sometimes caramelised on top.

Dessert 40 mins

Alfajores de Maicena

Tender cornflour biscuits filled with dulce de leche and rolled in coconut.

Dessert 47 mins

Pastelitos Criollos

Fried flaky pastries filled with quince or sweet potato paste.

Dessert 1 hr 5 mins

Budín de Pan con Dulce de Leche

Argentinian bread pudding with caramel and dulce de leche.

Dessert 1 hr 20 mins

Flan Mixto

Caramel flan served with dulce de leche and whipped cream.

Dessert 1 hr 20 mins

Rogel Argentino

Crisp pastry layers filled with dulce de leche and topped with Italian meringue.

Dessert 1 hr 25 mins

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.

Red

Beaujolais / Gamay

Juicy light red with cherry, raspberry and low tannin. Excellent slightly chilled with charcuterie, poultry, pâté, saus…

Grape: Gamay Region: Beaujolais, Loire, Switzerland

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

Red

Chianti / Sangiovese

Savoury, high-acid Italian red with cherry, dried herbs and firm but food-friendly tannins. Built for tomato, olive oil…

Grape: Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Colorino Region: Tuscany, Umbria, Emilia-Romagna

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

Red

Douro Red

Structured Portuguese red with dark fruit, spice and firm tannin. Excellent with Francesinha, roast pork, beef, smoky d…

Grape: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Alicant… Region: Douro Valley, Dão, Alentejo

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

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

Red

Rioja / Tempranillo

Spanish red with red fruit, vanilla, leather and spice. Good with garlic chicken, lamb, roast meat, paprika and grilled…

Grape: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano Region: Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Navarra

Local beers

Argentinian beers

Wine can lead the meal, but local beer tells another story: what people drink in bars, restaurants and shops alongside everyday food.

Explore local beers

Quilmes Cristal

Lager 4.9% ABV

Cervecería y Maltería Quilmes / AB InBev

Argentina’s iconic national lager and a natural fit for Argentinian food pages.

Imperial Lager

Lager 5% ABV

CCU Argentina

A popular Argentinian lager from CCU, often seen as a premium mainstream choice.

Schneider

Pale lager 4.7% ABV

CCU Argentina

A Santa Fe-origin lager widely sold in Argentina.

Patagonia 24.7

Session lager 4.7% ABV

Cervecería Patagonia / AB InBev

A widely distributed Argentinian beer brand with a Patagonia-inspired identity.

Andes Origen

Lager 4.7% ABV

Cervecería y Maltería Quilmes / AB InBev

A Mendoza-associated beer brand with broad Argentinian distribution.

Food stories

Articles linked to Argentinian recipes

Explore the wider stories behind ingredients, cooking methods, celebrations and national dishes.

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