Uruguay Food and Drink

Food

The cuisine of Uruguay has been shaped not only by the traditions of its indigenous people but also by the many European immigrants who came to the country during the 19th century. It is therefore not unusual to find Italian restaurants throughout the country that serve every kind of pasta imaginable. The quality of meat and seafood in the country is high, and Uruguayan barbecuing is popular within the country and has become famous outside of it. 

Popular dishes include:

Chivito: This dish is a traditional Uruguayan sandwich. It is made up of sliced steak as well as ham, eggs, cheese and mayonnaise. 

Empanadas Gallegas: This dish was first introduced to Uruguay by immigrants from Galicia (an autonomous community in northwest Spain). It is a fish pie with tuna, onions and bell peppers as filling.

Morcilla Dulce: This meal consists of a blood sausage that has an interesting and slightly sweet taste that comes from the raisins and walnuts that are added to it.

Asado: This is the Uruguayan barbecue, and as mentioned, it is very popular. A traditional Asado will serve an assortment of meats (known as tira de asado) that are prepared on a large grill or parrilleros, and wood is used for the fire which gives it an incredibly unique taste.

Pascualina: This pie is filled with spinach and egg but may often feature other kinds of vegetables.

Caruso Sauce: While pasta is commonplace in Uruguay, there is a distinctly Uruguayan-styled pasta sauce. This Caruso Sauce is made from double cream, meat extract, onions, ham and mushrooms.

Drink

Wine in Uruguay is quite popular and is of good quality. A favourite drink is clericó which consists of wine mixed with fruit juice. Grappamiel is another well-known drink that is made from alcohol and honey. Mate is a local tea that consists of yerba mate (a plant) brewed with hot water and sometimes sugar is added to it. It is often served at street stalls but can be harder to find in restaurants.

Things to know:

If a service charge has not been added to the bill, a tip of 10% is standard.

Drinking age:

18.

Uruguay Travel Information

At Goway we believe that a well-informed traveller is a safer traveller. With this in mind, we have compiled an easy-to-navigate travel information section dedicated to Uruguay.

Learn about the history and culture of Uruguay, the must-try food and drink, and what to pack in your suitcase. Read about Uruguay's nature and wildlife, weather and geography, along with 'Country Quickfacts' compiled by our travel experts. Our globetrotting tips, as well as our visa and health information, will help ensure you're properly prepared for a safe and enjoyable trip. The only way you could possibly learn more is by embarking on your journey and discovering Uruguay for yourself. Start exploring… book one of our Uruguay vacations today!

Extend Your Trip

After your Uruguay tours why not consider another of Goway's Latin America tours. These include a large selection of other exciting countries in Central and South America. We offer Chile vacation packages and Easter Island tours, Ecuador vacation packages which include Galapagos cruises, Peru vacation packages which include Machu Picchu tours and Brazil tours including Iguassu Falls tours among many others.

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