Food in Argentina - Loving Travel

Argentinian cuisine is influenced by a combination of indigenous, Spanish, and Italian culinary traditions. It is known for its emphasis on meat, particularly beef, as well as its flavorful chimichurri sauce. Some classic dishes include empanadas (savoury pastries filled with meat, vegetables, or cheese), asado (barbecued meat), milanesa (breaded and fried meat), and dulce de leche (a caramel-like spread made from sweetened milk).

Here is a classic recipe for one of the most popular Argentinian dishes, empanadas:

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, chilled and diced
1/2 cup cold water
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
2 tablespoons raisins
2 tablespoons chopped green olives
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and pepper
1 egg, beaten

Instructions:

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.
Add the butter to the bowl and use a pastry blender or your hands to mix the butter into the flour until the mixture is crumbly.
Gradually add the water to the bowl, stirring with a fork, until the mixture forms a dough.
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain off any excess fat.
Add the onion, red and green bell peppers, raisins, olives, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Cook for 5-7 minutes or until the vegetables are softened.
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1/8-inch thickness. Cut out circles with a cookie cutter or the rim of a glass.
Place a spoonful of the beef mixture in the center of each circle.
Fold the dough over to create a half-moon shape and press the edges together to seal. Use a fork to crimp the edges.
Brush the empanadas with the beaten egg.
Bake the empanadas for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.