Katie Metz de Martínez's Blog (48)

Soaring temperatures offer an excuse to bring mealtime out of the kitchen and into the backyard. With summer in full swing, decks and patios across the country fill with family and friends as well as the smoke, sizzle and aroma of grilled steaks, burgers, hotdogs and more. Take note of…

Created by an elaborate process of folding and turning dough that contains copious amounts of fat (usually butter), puff pastry produces flaky, delicate results that work well with both sweet and savory dishes. Since puff pastry dough requires a significant amount of patience…

Fish and visitors stink after three days. – Benjamin Franklin

Selecting fresh fish and shellfish at the market can be a daunting proposition;…

We’re at the height of mango season! The sweetness of fresh, ripe mango adds a counterpoint to savory dishes and a bit of tropical flair to your cooking. Here are a few tips for selecting a luscious mango for use in salads, salsas, smoothies and more.…

Choosing a tasty, fresh pineapple can be a challenge. Unlike many fruits that become sweeter and riper over time, pineapples do not improve with age. They’re picked at the peak of ripeness, and once they’re harvested, the quality begins to decline. To select the perfect…

Do the secrets of beautifully cooked, fluffy white rice elude you? Follow these tips for a perfect pot of rice every time.



1. Rinse the rice in cool running water to get rid of excess starch. This step helps prevent the rice from turning out too…

Plantains, a starchy variety of banana, play an important role in the cuisine of Latin Caribbean nations. Although plantains look more or less like a regular banana, they’re more of a challenge to peel. Try these tricks for easier peeling.…

Fresh chile peppers add heat and flavor to many of our favorite Latin dishes. The tongue-tingling fieriness we associate with chiles comes from a compound known as capsaicin, which unfortunately can also irritate the skin and create an unpleasant burning sensation. Follow…

For the most part, unless a creature’s got four legs, Argentines aren’t terribly interested in consuming it. So with relatively tasty options such as chicken and fish getting short shrift in Argentine cuisine, you can imagine where that leaves vegetables. Nonetheless,…

While empanadas filled with quinoa and goat cheese may sound trendy or gourmet, the truth is that these ingredients have long formed part of the culinary heritage of Northwest Argentina. Although quinoa first gained popularity in the U.S. in the 1990s as an…

The star of the show at any Argentine asado or barbecue is, of course, the beef; however, vegetable matter does make the occasional appearance in the form of various salads to accompany the meat. The classic lettuce, tomato and onion salad never fails to grace the…

Canastitas (“little baskets” in Spanish) make a great alternative to traditional empanadas. They’re a bit quicker to put together, and they appeal to those who eat first with their eyes because they can see the filling. The classic combination of tomato, basil and…

Second only, perhaps, to Argentina’s passion for red meat, pasta easily makes the grade as one of the nation’s favorite foods. Whether long strands of tallerines or delicate stuffed agnolotti, menus all over the country feature a variety of pasta dishes imported from…

When Italian immigrants poured into the River Plate region of Argentina and Uruguay, they brought with them numerous recipes from the “old country,” among them the formula for a simple yet tasty flatbread made from chickpea flour. Although known as farinata in standard…

“An Argentine is an Italian who speaks Spanish, thinks he’s French, and would secretly like to be British.”– Author unknown

It’s impossible to deny the influence that Italian immigrants have had on Argentine culture.…

An Argentine dish traditionally served at Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve dinners as part of a cold buffet, the torre de panqueques (also known as fiambre alemán or torre primavera) always proves to be a crowd-pleaser. At its most basic, the torre de…

Late-night dinners filled with family, presents under the Christmas tree and inside children’s shoes, sweltering heat and...fireworks? Yes, it’s all part of traditional Argentine holiday celebrations.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Día de la Virgen)

Celebrated on…

When it comes to fast food, one of the most classic Argentine sandwiches on offer at the equivalent of an American “greasy spoon” is the lomito completo, a filet mignon steak sandwich piled high with toppings. A basic lomito generally includes lettuce and tomato,…

Argentines worship meat. Argentines adore pizza. And so, they figured out a way to unite these two great loves.…

Bifes a la criolla —thinly-sliced steaks stewed with onions, peppers, and potatoes— is a classic Argentine meal, one of those honest, unfussy, flavorful dishes that best characterizes Argentine cuisine. This isn’t the sort of meal you’ll generally tuck into in a restaurant. Instead,…