Argentinian Starter

Matambre Arrollado

Rolled flank steak filled with vegetables and egg, gently cooked, chilled and sliced into colourful spirals.

35 minsPrep time
1 hr 30 minsCook time
Serves 2Servings
HardDifficulty
Matambre Arrollado
About this dish

Matambre Arrollado: the story on the plate

Matambre is the thin layer of beef taken from between the hide and ribs, its name often explained through the phrase matar el hambre, or kill the hunger. Rolling it around vegetables and eggs created a practical celebratory dish that could be cooked ahead and served cold. It is famous for its striking cross-section and the contrast between seasoned beef, firm egg, sweet pepper and herbs. Proper tying and gentle cooking keep the roll neat enough to slice without squeezing out the filling. Matambre arrollado is a familiar feature of Christmas and New Year tables, picadas and family celebrations, particularly during Argentina’s warm festive season. It is usually served cold with salads or salsa criolla.

Historical background

Matambre is the thin layer of beef taken from between the hide and ribs, its name often explained through the phrase matar el hambre, or kill the hunger. Rolling it around vegetables and eggs created a practical celebratory dish that could be cooked ahead and served cold.

Why it is famous

It is famous for its striking cross-section and the contrast between seasoned beef, firm egg, sweet pepper and herbs. Proper tying and gentle cooking keep the roll neat enough to slice without squeezing out the filling.

Cultural significance

Matambre arrollado is a familiar feature of Christmas and New Year tables, picadas and family celebrations, particularly during Argentina’s warm festive season. It is usually served cold with salads or salsa criolla.

Nutrition

Estimated nutrition per serving

These figures are estimates per serving. Actual nutrition can vary with the brands and exact amounts you use, how much oil, dressing or sauce is absorbed, any substitutions or added extras, and the portion size served.

A practical guide for comparing recipes and planning meals.

320Calories
12gProtein
28gCarbs
18gFat
Ingredients

What you need

  • 600 matambre or flank steak
  • 1.5 hard-boiled eggs
  • 1 carrots, batons
  • 0.5 red pepper, strips
  • 40 green olives
  • 1 garlic cloves
  • parsley
  • 0.5 gelatine, optional
  • Salt and pepper
Method

Step-by-step method

Follow the recipe in order, tasting and adjusting seasoning where needed.

  1. Lay the flank or matambre fat-side down and trim thick fat. Butterfly any thick sections, then pound to an even 1-1.5 cm thickness.
  2. Season well, then layer parsley, garlic, carrot batons, pepper strips, hard-boiled egg and spinach if using, keeping a clear border.
  3. Roll from the long side into a firm cylinder and tie every 3-4 cm with kitchen string.
  4. Simmer in seasoned stock at 90-95°C for 75-90 minutes, or roast covered at 170°C until tender.
  5. Rest, remove string and slice across into 1 cm rounds so the egg and vegetables show clearly.
Cook smarter

Tips, storage and serving advice

Shopping tips

For Argentinian recipes, buy good beef where the cut matters, use fresh parsley and oregano for chimichurri, choose proper dulce de leche for desserts, and look for seasonal corn, squash, trout or lamb for regional dishes.

Ingredient quality

Keep the defining ingredient honest: beef should be well marbled, cheese should melt cleanly, corn should be sweet, pasta dough should be rested, and dulce de leche should taste of milk caramel rather than plain sugar.

Common mistakes

For Matambre Arrollado, the main mistakes are losing control of the balance between matambre or flank steak, hard-boiled eggs, carrots, red pepper; rushing the "Butterfly and flatten the matambre" stage before the flavour or texture has properly developed; and overworking or holding the finished dish so long that its freshness and texture fade. Use the recipe's visual cue as your guide: The sheet of meat should be fairly even for rolling. With Matambre Arrollado, taste and observe as you cook rather than relying on the clock alone; the goal is a result that still tastes recognisably Argentinian and preserves the texture that makes this recipe distinctive.

Chef’s tips

For the best Matambre Arrollado, organise matambre or flank steak, hard-boiled eggs, carrots, red pepper before you start so the cooking itself can stay controlled. Give particular attention to the "Butterfly and flatten the matambre" stage: this is where the recipe begins to establish its final flavour and texture. A useful technique note from the method is: Ask the butcher for matambre or flank prepared for rolling if possible. Trust the visual cue — The sheet of meat should be fairly even for rolling. — more than an exact minute count. At the "Slice across the roll" stage, make the final seasoning adjustment and serve without unnecessary delay. That final check is what makes Matambre Arrollado taste deliberate rather than simply cooked.

How to know it is cooked

The dish is ready when the main ingredient reaches the named texture: meat tender or juicy, pastry golden, stew thick, pasta just cooked, fish barely opaque, or dessert fully set.

Plating advice

Plate Matambre Arrollado so the dish reads clearly at first glance. Use a smaller plate or shallow bowl and keep the portion compact, leaving enough negative space for matambre or flank steak, hard-boiled eggs, carrots to remain identifiable. The presentation should protect the intended texture — balanced contrast of tender filling, sauce, crispness or slow-cooked comfort — so avoid covering crisp elements with sauce too early or compressing delicate components. For the finish, draw selectively from the existing garnish guidance: Use chimichurri, parsley, lemon, oregano, salsa criolla, grated cheese, cocoa, coconut or dulce de leche only where it suits the dish. Use one or two elements with purpose rather than applying every option at once. For Matambre Arrollado, the final plate should feel consistent with its Argentinian identity: confident, appetising and easy to eat, with no decoration that competes with the food itself.

Make ahead

Many fillings, stews, sauces and desserts can be made ahead. Grilled meat, fried seafood, provoleta and fresh pancakes are best finished close to serving.

Storage and reheating

Cool leftovers quickly and store covered in the fridge. Keep seafood no more than 1 day, meat dishes 2–3 days, and dulce de leche desserts according to their dairy content. Reheat stews gently with a splash of water or stock. Re-crisp pastries in an oven. Avoid over-reheating steak, fish and seafood.

Wine pairing

What to drink with Matambre Arrollado

These are wine-style pairings, so you can choose any bottle in that style rather than needing one exact producer. Look for the grape, region or style name on the label.

Pairings are chosen around the dish’s flavour, texture, richness, acidity and cooking style, not just the country it comes from.

Chardonnay wine pairing
#1 Excellent match White

Chardonnay

Why it works:

Chardonnay has the structure for Matambre Arrollado: concentrated fruit and savoury depth match the beef, while tannin is softened by the dish's protein and fat.

Creamy or lightly oaked white wine with citrus, stone fruit and enough body for seafood, poultry and rich sauces.

GrapeChardonnay
RegionAustralia, New Zealand, France, Italy, Spain, Germany
Wine flavourCreamy or lightly oaked white wine with citrus, stone fruit and enough bod…
Serve at9-11°C
  • Flavour bridge: dark fruit, spice and savoury notes mirror browned meat and roasting flavours
  • Acidity: Sufficient acidity keeps a rich meat dish energetic
  • Body: Medium-full to full body matches the weight of the meat
  • Tannin: Firm tannin is buffered by protein and fat
  • Sweetness: Dry style maintains a savoury finish
  • Best for: Dinner, entertaining or recipe pairing
View wine guide
Cabernet Sauvignon / Bordeaux wine pairing
#2 Great match Red

Cabernet Sauvignon / Bordeaux

Why it works:

Cabernet Sauvignon / Bordeaux offers a different but equally credible structure for Matambre Arrollado: concentrated fruit and savoury depth match the beef, while tannin is softened by the dish's protein and fat.

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

GrapeCabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
RegionBordeaux, Napa, Coonawarra, Maipo
Wine flavourblackcurrant, cedar, graphite, tobacco
Serve at16-18°C
  • Flavour bridge: dark fruit, spice and savoury notes mirror browned meat and roasting flavours
  • Acidity: Sufficient acidity keeps a rich meat dish energetic
  • Body: Medium-full to full body matches the weight of the meat
  • Tannin: Firm tannin is buffered by protein and fat
  • Sweetness: Dry style maintains a savoury finish
  • Best for: Dinner, entertaining or recipe pairing
View wine guide
Malbec wine pairing
#3 Interesting match Red

Malbec

Why it works:

For a more adventurous pairing, malbec has the structure for Matambre Arrollado: concentrated fruit and savoury depth match the beef, while tannin is softened by the dish's protein and fat.

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

GrapeMalbec
RegionMendoza, Cahors
Wine flavourblackberry, plum, cocoa, violet
Serve at16-18°C
  • Flavour bridge: dark fruit, spice and savoury notes mirror browned meat and roasting flavours
  • Acidity: Sufficient acidity keeps a rich meat dish energetic
  • Body: Medium-full to full body matches the weight of the meat
  • Tannin: Firm tannin is buffered by protein and fat
  • Sweetness: Dry style maintains a savoury finish
  • Best for: Dinner, entertaining or recipe pairing
View wine guide
Bottle suggestions

Specific wines to try

These are named bottles or regional wine examples already linked to this recipe. Each card opens the relevant wine-style guide because individual bottle pages are not currently published.