Uruguay

The extent to which Uruguay's cuisine stems from such European countries as Italy, Spain, Portugal, France and even Germany is surprising. While the food in most South American countries has some Spanish influence, in Uruguay one can find many popular Italian dishes including pizza, sausage and all varieties of pasta.

One dish of Italian influence is gnocchi, a type of pasta in the form of small, heavy dumplings made from semolina and potato. Because gnocchi is hearty but inexpensive to make, it was traditionally eaten on the 29th day of the month (the day before payday). In Uruguay, it is customary to leave a coin under your plate of gnocchi for prosperity.

If you’re traveling in Uruguay, be sure to try the traditional asado. Similar to the American barbeque, asado is a method of cooking meat over a grill or fire. Asado refers to both the custom of grilling and the grilled food itself. Uruguayan asado is outstanding and has earned fame around the world.

Another traditional dish, the chivito, a sandwich filled with steak, bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, olives and mayonnaise, is often served with french fries. The empanada, a small pie or turnover stuffed with meat and cheese is also popular. The pancho is a Uruguayan hot dog or frankfurter that can be topped with salsa golf, a sauce that is a combination of ketchup and mayonnaise.

Finally, the most common ingredient in Uruguayan dessert is dulce de leche, a sweet caramel paste used to fill pastries, cookies, cakes and pancakes.—Jennifer Capalbo