The gastronomy of Uruguay is as rich and diverse as the culture of the country, which is why many of its typical dishes could easily be confused with Mexican, Peruvian, and even Argentine food. Therefore, below, we present 5 Uruguayan dishes that will surprise you.

Alfajores

What do you mean alfajores are not from Argentina? Although it may surprise you, alfajores also exist in Uruguay and are one of its typical sweets. Originally, these delights were brought from the Arab countries during the Spanish conquest in America and have become an irresistible Uruguayan dessert.



Panchos

Panchos could be mistaken for an American hot dog or even a choripán, but in reality, it is an extremely delicious Uruguayan dish. It consists of a boiled sausage or one cooked on the grill inside an elongated bread that can be accompanied with ham, cheese, ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise.

Uruguayan Empanadas

Empanadas, better known for being from Argentina, can also be found as a typical dish of Uruguay and are finger-licking good. Uruguayan empanadas are made with wheat dough, fried or baked, and can be sweet, filled with quince, dulce de leche, and ricotta cheese with raisins, while the savory ones come with ham and cheese, cheese and onion, and beef.

Gnocchi

As we know, gnocchi is a type of pasta originating from Italy, but it is also very popular in Uruguay, so much so that the 29th of each month is considered gnocchi day, and people gather to share this delicious stuffed pasta, in addition to performing a ritual to attract money and good luck with a coin under the plate.

Pizza and Fainá

Incredibly, pizza, which is of course of Italian influence, is also a widely consumed food in Uruguay. There are various styles of Uruguayan pizza such as pizza pala or stone pizza, and fainá, a dish made from chickpea flour, water, olive oil, salt, and pepper that is very similar to pizza.

How many of these typical dishes did you not know were from Uruguay?