The Little Italy of South America

Written by Alanna McFadden

Published on March 24, 2024

In 2024, I was awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, which allowed me to act as a citizen diplomat during my time abroad. As part of a service project to raise awareness about the scholarship, this article was written to high-school students in Nebraska in collaboration with Reach the World.

Did you know that Argentina has the second highest population of Italians outside of Italy? Nearly half (47%) of the population has Italian blood, with over 20 million Italians in Argentina. As a result, the cuisine is heavily influenced by Italy. In fact, one of the first dishes my Argentine host mom cooked for me was pizza!

In Argentina, people often create fusion dishes between Argentine and Italian cuisines, like empanadas caprese (caprese empanadas), which are filled with mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. Empanadas are baked or fried turnovers consisting of pastry bread and filling. The name comes from the Spanish word empanar which means to bread or to cover in pastry. Empanadas are common in many países hispanohablantes (Spanish-speaking countries) and the fillings vary depending on the region. Common fillings include meat, cheese, and vegetables, but there are other popular variations that include ingredients like raisins. 

Additionally, there are many staple dishes characteristic of Argentine cuisine. One of the most famous is milanesa: a breaded cutlet of nearly any kind of meat, including milanesa de llama (milanesa made with meat from llamas!). Milanesa has Italian roots, but there are many variations created in Argentina, including milanesa en caballo (milanesa on horseback) which is topped with sunny side up eggs. There are also variations that lean into their Italian roots, such as milanesa napolitana (Neopolitan Milanesa), which closely resembles chicken parmesan.

For dessert, a staple sweet here is dulce de leche: a thick and sugary caramel-like sauce made from heating sweetened milk. Additionally, there are a wide variety of Italian desserts common in Argentina, including gelato (Italian ice cream) and panna cotta (sweetened cream thickened with gelatin). 

Another fun fact about Argentina is that it has an extremely high cattle population, with over 54 million heads of cattle in the country in 2022. There are many cattle farms in La Pampas (a grasslands province in Argentina), which typically raise cows to accommodate Argentina's large consumption of beef. Asados (Argentine barbecues) are very common and typically consist of a wide array of meats of different cuts. My personal favorite is chorizo: a pork sausage seasoned with paprika and garlic that pairs amazingly with tomatoes. 

Lastly, a personal observation that I found to be interesting: Never have I ever seen so much HAM AND CHEESE! Empanadas de jamón y queso (Ham and cheese empanadas), medialunas de jamón y queso (Ham and cheese croissants), sándwiches de jamón y queso (ham and cheese sandwiches), todo con jamón y queso (everything with ham and cheese)! Likewise, the McDonald's and Burger King menus in Argentina even offer ham and cheese sandwiches.

In South Carolina, foods with ham and cheese are usually not served in restaurants. They are typically eaten by adults as hors d'oeuvres (French for appetizer) at small get-togethers or by children for school lunches. But here in Argentina, foods with ham and cheese are common for full meals and as toppings for a variety of foods, like chicken sandwiches or pizza! 

Field Note: Food

What food did I try?:

I tried an Empanada de carne (Beef empanada) at Blas Pascal University's welcome luncheon.

How did I feel when I tried it?:

I felt amazing! It was a little spicy from the red and green bell peppers and so flavorful with the onions, garlic, paprika, and cumin. The beef broth made them juicy as well. 

How is the food prepared?:

First you prepare the filling by cooking ground beef, peppers, and onions in a pan and adding desired seasonings. Then you place the filling in pastry bread and fold the bread so that the ingredients are sealed within it. Finally, bake or fry and enjoy! 

Is this food connected to the local environment? How?:

Beef empanadas are extremely popular here because Argentina has a lot of cattle farms that raise quality beef. Argentina has one of the highest rates of beef consumption in the WORLD, with the average Argentine consuming 162 POUNDS of beef in a year!

Location:

Córdoba, Argentina

Location Data:

POINT (-64.1887761 -31.4200833)