World Cup 2014 in Argentina
As a mostly non-sports enthusiast, it’s difficult for me to wrap my head around the commotion that takes place during World Cup games in Argentina. All the bars and restaurants advertise their large screen televisions; those without the game on find themselves devoid of any customers. Billboard advertisements find creative ways to incorporate Messi into their ad campaign: watching a TV, eating potato chips, or traveling to an exotic location. Then there’s all the flags, jerseys, fake jerseys, and endless amounts of blue and white noise makers that are sold on the street.
The World Cup has taken over Argentina.
I must admit, even I’ve kind of gotten into the excitement. For the first time in my life, I’ve watched all the World Cup games I could. I’ve been rooting both my teams on: USA and Argentina. I made beef empanadas for the first game Argentina played and enchiladas when the USA played (what can I say, I’m from Texas). I’ve found that I actually enjoy watching the games while cooking dinner. I’ve also found that there are others, just like me, who are finding ways to participate in the World Cup craziness from their kitchen.
FIFA Foodie Series
Kayla lives and works in San Francisco, California. I’ve followed her blog SALT AND SAVOR for a while and love it. We have a lot in common, especially our love for cooking, wine, and travel. Kayla is also not a huge sports fan, so she gave herself a fun challenge to get her through the World Cup. For each game, she chose one of the countries that was playing, then researched and made popular dishes from that country. While her husband was watching the game, she was having fun creating a wonderful World Cup meal!
Kayla posted an article from each night, sharing her World Cup menus and recipes. I enjoyed reading all of them and wanted to share her article about Argentina. She made made skirt steak with chimichurri, alfajores, and homemade dulce de leche. She definitely understands the heart (and stomach) of Argentina.
“FIFA Foodie Series, Part 5: Argentina” by Kayla from SALT AND SAVOR
Despite the fact that I haven’t made it to Argentina (yet), I’m convinced I would be very happy there. Any country that boasts beef and red wine as its primary food groups is a place for me! If I could healthily subsist on excellent cuts of well-seasoned rare steak and an occasional beef tartare prepared in the perfect French style, I would without a second thought. But it turns out I can’t, and therefore I’m forced to enjoy all the other foods, too!
Argentina was another easy World Cup menu. We marinated and grilled skirt steak, and served it with chimichurri – a traditional Argentinian condiment composed of herbs, garlic, oil, and vinegar. We washed it down with a malbec. And I made alfajores for dessert.
An alfajore is a buttery and delicate Argentinian sandwich cookie filled with dulche de leche and dusted with powdered sugar. The cookie dough isn’t very sweet and relies more on cornstarch than flour for body, so it’s smooth and crumbles easily when baked – and dulce de leche is therefore the perfect sweet and gooey counterpart in a marriage of complementary tastes and textures. Alfarjores aren’t a cookie I’d enjoy as a decadent dessert, but they’re perfect for Sunday night with a cup of hot tea!
ARGENTINA RECIPE INDEX:
Skirt Steak with Green and Red Chimichurri
Visit Kayla’s blog SALT AND SAVOR to read all her articles in her FIFA Foodie Series and more.
