Tag Archives: cheap eats

Choripán-A savory addiction

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Hi, my name is Brian and I’m addicted to choripán.  I can remember my first choripán like it was yesterday.  I had been shopping for bombillas in La Boca and while looking out at the “splendor” of the Riachuelo I smelled something glorious.  I walked toward a barbeque pit like a zombie after fresh flesh arms extended and all.  I bought the sandwich and doused it with chimichuri and salsa criolla.  I paid the woman and thanked her.  I wanted to kiss her but she was missing a few teeth and I had a sandwich to eat.  After my first bite I had to sit down and I think I started crying, I’m not sure because time slowed down.  I knew after the third choripán that I had discovered something balefully delicious.

I now can’t control myself when I am anywhere near the bbq carts that litter the Costanera sur (see map below).   I feel like I’m missing out if I don’t try at least one.  What is choripán?  The beauty of this sandwich is its simplicity-chorizo, French bread, chimichuri, salsa criolla.  Choripán is very common in Argentina, Uruguay, & Chile.  It’s said that in the eighteenth century the Gauchos living in rural Argentina would eat chorizos in bread during celebrations.  (Gauchos are like cowboys and were common in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, & Uruguay).   There are three main types: pork, beef, and blood sausage.  These sandwiches are very common in Buenos Aires.  They’re also very inexpensive as well.  You shouldn’t pay more than eight pesos for a choripán.  If eating at a nice parilla with an elaborate selection of beef I would hold off on ordering a choripán.  There are a ton of food carts around the city that sell them and you should probably wait to order one when you’re hanging out around town (I’ve never gotten sick yet from the food carts here).

Chorizo – there are a few types available at most carnecerias:  pork (cerdo), cow (criolla), & blood sausage (morcilla)

Chimichuri –garlic, oil, vinegar, chilies, salt, oregano, pepper, thyme, laurel, onions, & parsley

Salsa criolla – a mixture of red onions, peppers (red or green), tomatoes, oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, & cumin

(map of La Costanera Buenos Aires) http://maps.google.com.ar/maps?hl=es&client=safari&rls=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=costanera+buenos+aires&fb=1&gl=ar&hq=costanera&hnear=Ciudad+Autónoma+de+Buenos+Aires,+Capital+Federal&ei=d0DXTN_yIsKB8ga3xIGSCQ&sa=X&oi=local_group&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CAQQtgMwAA

 

Breakfast in Buenos Aires

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One thing study abroad students often notice is that breakfast in Buenos Aires is a drastically different animal than many european and north americans are accustomed to. Often, breakfast constitues a quick matecito or some tostados con queso crema hile running out the door. And while the waffles and pancakes and eggs play less of a role here, they DO have a delicious morning treat that is hard to compete with: Facturas
Facturas literally translated as “bill” or “reciept”, is what the argentine’s call the genre of delicious pastries that they have to offer the morning sweet tooth. These tastey treats are best for those study abroad students and interns on the go: hop out of bed, make yourself a quick cafe and run down the street to the local panadería to grab a quick delicious breakfast before your spanish classes start! Some of these facturas can be easily recognized, and some are absolutely alien looking, but all will twist your mouth into a medialuna shaped sonrisawhich is our favorite way here at Mente Argentina to start our mornings!Here are a few delicious delicacies that you can enjoy and even learn how to cook with our Mente Argentina cooking program in Buenos Aires for a great Argentine breakfast!Facturas fillings:

Dulce de Leche- Dulce de Leche is a type of caramel, a sticky and sweet Argentine specialty that seems to go in and on just about every breakfast, snack and dessert.  Pastries of all shapes and sizes, especially croissants, known as medialunas, are filled with dulce de leche. Every grocery store has at least half an aisle devoted solely to dulce de leche. Right up there with cafe and carne, dulce de leche is an Argentine essential. Spread it on bread, fruit, crepes and just about anything else you can think of! read more about Dulce de Leche and 

Dulce de Mebrillo- This light red jam is subtler than the frutilla (strawberry) or frambuesa (rasberry) jams and makes for a light yet sweet filling for a pastry or spread. Made out of quince fruit grown commonly in the central and northern parts of argentina, it is common for membrillo to be found in or on top of your morning facturas

Crema pastelera- this vanilla flavored cream is found often on tortas and  pasteles (cakes). It is the perfect cream filling to balance out the sweetness of your pastries and we maintain that it makes life more sensible and solves all problems you may have with your loved ones :)

Types of Facturas:

Medialuna de manteka- Literally translated as half moon.  A medialuna is sweet pastry that most people eat with a coffee.  Medialunas are simmilar to a sweet croissant, made with manteka (butter)

Medialuna de grasa -Like a medialuna de manteka but made with oil/fat instead of butter. They are harder but flakier and less sweet and better to dip into your coffee with!

Palmerita- With any sort of appetite the average person could eat at least 20 Palmeritas.  They are coated in sugar, shaped like a heart, and can easilyfit in the palm of your hand, thus making them particularly dangerous!

Churro-Churros are often associate with Mexico and other countries in Central America, but in Argentina they have made quite the hit and taken on a new form. Argentine churros are often filled with dulce de leche or dipped in chocolate, a delcious afternoon snack to dunk in a coffee or capuccino.

Medialuna Rellena- Medialunas rellenas are medialunas (mini croissants, literally meaning half-moon because of their shape) filled with dulce de leche, crema pastelera, and even chocolate. Dangerously rich, dangerously delicious.

Cañoncito-this cylinder shaped pastry is filled with dulce de leche and is then covered in sugar/icing.

Rosquita- This circular deep, deep fried doughnut is covered in sugar and sometimes dulce de leche is added as well.

Bola de Fraile- my personal favorita, this is an unassuming little pastry that will blow your mind! This is a delcious fried doughnut filled with dulce de leche and covered in sugar. For a bad, mediocre, or excellent day, Bola de Fraile will always top if off just right.

Find out how to cook/bake your own facturas and their filling through our culinary courses in Argentine cuisine through Mente Argentina’s study abroad program, and for those of you already here in Buenos Aires, get yourself to the local panadería to try out the most bizarrely delicious looking factura
¡Buenos Días!

 

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