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It’s no secret that Argentina is one of the South American countries most well-known for its meat and barbecue style. Like its neighbors Brazil and Uruguay, Argentina has a rich culture steeped in tradition. The gaucho, or South American cowboy, is one of the reasons why meat has become such a staple food in Argentina.
Here Zanduco Restaurant Equipment & Supplies discusses some of the details of Argentine-style grills and what makes them so unique!
The History
Before getting into the details of contemporary Argentine grilling, it’s important to understand why meat is such a staple in Argentine culture today. In the 16th century, cattle were introduced to Argentina and they took well to the vast, rolling plains located in las pampas (the countryside). The ones that cared for and raised the cattle were known as gauchos and it’s these people that started the traditional Argentinian asado, or barbecue.
However, back then they did things a little differently, and rather than cook their meat on a grill, the gauchos dug holes in the ground and built fires, then slowly roasted the animals over the hot coals for hours at a time.
Argentine Grilling Today
These days, unless visiting the Argentine countryside, meat is cooked on a more modern grill. But there are some key differences between today’s Argentine grill and your standard charcoal grill, the first being that they come equipped with a side box enabling the chef to add wood to the coals when necessary. Additionally, the bottom is lined with bricks to reflect and focus the heat from the coals back onto the grill. Argentinian grills also often come equipped with a grill grate that can be easily raised and lowered to further control the cooking.
Popular Types of Meat for Argentinian Barbecues
Beef is the principal dish when it comes to Argentine asados, and it comes in all different cuts. In addition to beef, one will often find sausage or chorizo on the menu, as well as blood sausage, known as morcilla. Argentine barbecues often feature every part of the animal, so don’t be surprised if you’re offered prime cuts of beef as well as the offal like sweet bread, kidneys, chitlins, and other parts of the cow.
Contact us for more about Argentine-style grills today!
If you want to hold your very own Argentine-style barbecue, contact Zanduco Restaurant Equipment & Supplies today for more about our grills. You can also call 1 (855) 926-3826.
