Uruguay
country located on the southeastern coast of South America. The second smallest country on the continent, Uruguay has long been overshadowed politically and economically by the adjacent republics of Brazil and Argentina, with both of which it shares many cultural and historical similarities. An independent country since 1828, with strong ties to the United Kingdom, France, and Italy, Uruguay developed throughout much of the 20th century as one of Latin America’s more progressive societies, notable for its political stability, advanced social legislation, and a relatively large middle class. A period of repressive military rule (1973–85) has cast a long shadow over national life, and, like other countries in the region, Uruguay has been troubled by economic decline and factional struggles in the decades since civilian democratic rule was restored. Uruguayans are of predominantly European origin, mostly descendants of 19th- and 20th-century immigrants from Spain and Italy and, to a much lesser degree, from France and Britain. Earlier settlers had migrated from Argentina and Paraguay. Few direct descendants of Uruguay’s indigenous peoples remain, and mestizos (of mixed European and Indian ancestry) account for less than one-tenth of the population. Blacks and mulattos make up an even smaller proportion of the total. Spanish is spoken throughout Uruguay, although in Rivera and other borderland towns close to Brazil an admixture of Portuguese and Spanish can be heard, often in a slang called portuñol, from the words português and español. Nearly half of the people are at least nominally Roman Catholic. About one-third of the population adhere to other Christian faiths or are nondenominational Christians. About one-sixth of Uruguayans are agnostics or atheists. Source: www.britannica.com
country located on the southeastern coast of South America. The second smallest country on the continent, Uruguay has long been overshadowed politically and economically by the adjacent republics of Brazil and Argentina, with both of which it shares many cultural and historical similarities. An independent country since 1828, with strong ties to the United Kingdom, France, and Italy, Uruguay developed throughout much of the 20th century as one of Latin America’s more progressive societies, notable for its political stability, advanced social legislation, and a relatively large middle class. A period of repressive military rule (1973–85) has cast a long shadow over national life, and, like other countries in the region, Uruguay has been troubled by economic decline and factional struggles in the decades since civilian democratic rule was restored. Uruguayans are of predominantly European origin, mostly descendants of 19th- and 20th-century immigrants from Spain and Italy and, to a much lesser degree, from France and Britain. Earlier settlers had migrated from Argentina and Paraguay. Few direct descendants of Uruguay’s indigenous peoples remain, and mestizos (of mixed European and Indian ancestry) account for less than one-tenth of the population. Blacks and mulattos make up an even smaller proportion of the total. Spanish is spoken throughout Uruguay, although in Rivera and other borderland towns close to Brazil an admixture of Portuguese and Spanish can be heard, often in a slang called portuñol, from the words português and español. Nearly half of the people are at least nominally Roman Catholic. About one-third of the population adhere to other Christian faiths or are nondenominational Christians. About one-sixth of Uruguayans are agnostics or atheists. Source: www.britannica.com
Uruguayan cuisine
has a lot of European influence, especially from Italy and Spain, though expect to find a lot more meat due to the country’s abundant production of beef (and milk). Traditional Dishes and Meals
Asado - One of the most popular meals in Uruguay is the Asado or Barbecue. Note, this will most likely not be like the bbq that you see back home. Here you will be offered a much larger assortment of meat (all types of cuts) and often organ parts are grilled too. The asado is prepared on a special (large) grill called a parrilla and charcoal is used more than wood or gas. The uruguayan asado is truly heaven for all you carnivores out there.
Chivito - a traditional Uruguayan sandwich with sliced steak, ham, cheese, eggs and mayonnaise. Some chivitos also have bacon added to it.
Choripán - grilled chorizo (a gourmet sausage) wedged inside a small baguette-style bread. Choripán is often eaten at the beginning of an asado.
Empanada - a type of pie/turnover which is commonly filled with ground beef (mince) or cheese.
Empanadas Gallegas - Is a fish pie filled with tuna, onions and bell peppers. Its name comes from the Galician immigrants who brought this food with them to Uruguay.
Fainá - a thin chickpea flour bread, often served with fugazza and “pizza by the meter”.
Milenesa - beef (or chicken) that is crumbed and fried. It’s similar to a wiener schnitzel.
Milanesa Rellena - same as a normal milanesa though filled with cheese and ham.
Morcilla Dulce - a blood sausage with a slightly sweet taste due to raisins or walnuts being added to it.
Ñoquis - the pasta known as Gnocchi. There is a tradition of eating this dish on the 29th of each month and also to leave a coin or a bill underneath the plate to attract abundance and prosperity.
Pancho - The Uruguayan “hot dog” of a frankfurter (sausage) in a bun (called Pan de Viena) which is then covered in ketchup, mayonnaise or sometimes mustard.
Pascualina - a type of pie filled with spinach and egg and sometimes a combination of other vegetables.
Pastel de Carne – just like a shepherd’s pie, ground beef (mince), green peppers and eggs covered in mashed potatoes.
Pizza por metro - literally “pizza by the metre” is a traditional Uruguayan Pizza, similar to a typical pizza though instead of being round it’s rectangular. It is cooked in big clay ovens with a variety of toppings and is sold by the metre.
Torta Frita - literally “fried cake” it is simply round flattened fried dough eaten by itself of with dulce de leche.
Source: www.southamerica.cl
has a lot of European influence, especially from Italy and Spain, though expect to find a lot more meat due to the country’s abundant production of beef (and milk). Traditional Dishes and Meals
Asado - One of the most popular meals in Uruguay is the Asado or Barbecue. Note, this will most likely not be like the bbq that you see back home. Here you will be offered a much larger assortment of meat (all types of cuts) and often organ parts are grilled too. The asado is prepared on a special (large) grill called a parrilla and charcoal is used more than wood or gas. The uruguayan asado is truly heaven for all you carnivores out there.
Chivito - a traditional Uruguayan sandwich with sliced steak, ham, cheese, eggs and mayonnaise. Some chivitos also have bacon added to it.
Choripán - grilled chorizo (a gourmet sausage) wedged inside a small baguette-style bread. Choripán is often eaten at the beginning of an asado.
Empanada - a type of pie/turnover which is commonly filled with ground beef (mince) or cheese.
Empanadas Gallegas - Is a fish pie filled with tuna, onions and bell peppers. Its name comes from the Galician immigrants who brought this food with them to Uruguay.
Fainá - a thin chickpea flour bread, often served with fugazza and “pizza by the meter”.
Milenesa - beef (or chicken) that is crumbed and fried. It’s similar to a wiener schnitzel.
Milanesa Rellena - same as a normal milanesa though filled with cheese and ham.
Morcilla Dulce - a blood sausage with a slightly sweet taste due to raisins or walnuts being added to it.
Ñoquis - the pasta known as Gnocchi. There is a tradition of eating this dish on the 29th of each month and also to leave a coin or a bill underneath the plate to attract abundance and prosperity.
Pancho - The Uruguayan “hot dog” of a frankfurter (sausage) in a bun (called Pan de Viena) which is then covered in ketchup, mayonnaise or sometimes mustard.
Pascualina - a type of pie filled with spinach and egg and sometimes a combination of other vegetables.
Pastel de Carne – just like a shepherd’s pie, ground beef (mince), green peppers and eggs covered in mashed potatoes.
Pizza por metro - literally “pizza by the metre” is a traditional Uruguayan Pizza, similar to a typical pizza though instead of being round it’s rectangular. It is cooked in big clay ovens with a variety of toppings and is sold by the metre.
Torta Frita - literally “fried cake” it is simply round flattened fried dough eaten by itself of with dulce de leche.
Source: www.southamerica.cl