Alecocina Now Serves Choripan: Explore the History of This Argentinian Culinary Staple.
How can something as simplistically hearty and delicious as the choripan represent Argentinian culture so completely? First, you have to look to where and how Argentines enjoy choripán! These savory sandwiches are often enjoyed at family reunions, neighborhood gatherings and soccer matches. It’s very common in Argentina to prepare an open fire for cooking some chorizos to combine with bread for handmade choripán sandwiches. From an emotional perspective, the choripán evokes the same “celebratory” vibes as grilling up some burgers or hot dogs during a summertime cookout.
The Story of the Choripán
Are you ready to take a culinary adventure that’s beloved from Buenos Aires to the Andes? Choripáns are sandwiches made with grilled sausage chorizo and a crusty, baguette-style bread. This food’s name comes from the combination of the words chorizo and pan (Spanish for bread). It is believed that choripáns originated in the Río de la Plata region that opens Argentina to the Atlantic Ocean. From what we know, the origins of the choripán date back to the middle of the 19th century. During this time period, South American “cowboys” called gauchos in Argentina’s rural areas commonly made asados (grilled foods, mostly meat) when celebrating! This eventually led to the practice of placing chorizo inside bread. This practice eventually spread out to cities to become a cultural culinary norm! While this delight was invented in Argentina, it is now considered a culinary staple throughout Chile, Peru, Uruguay and El Salvador. Authentic Argentina choripáns are typically seasoned with mustard and chimichurri sauces. Alternatively, you can add tomatoes, onion and lettuce. The flavors are enhanced by the beautiful hardness of the bread combined with the delectable juiciness of the meat in this sandwich.
Choripáns are extremely versatile. They are eaten for both breakfast and dinner in Argentina. In addition to being cookout favorites, these sandwiches are also found at food carts, bars, restaurants and deli counters all throughout parts of South America. This makes them very similar to the hot dogs that people love to try when visiting different American cities that are famed for their food carts. It’s not uncommon for people in Argentina to load up on hot, carefully wrapped choripáns to bring along on excursions to the beach or countryside on the weekends. There is a distinct “social” aspect to enjoying this treasured and enduring piece of Argentina’s culinary culture.
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