Behind the Scenes of Argentinean Cuisine: Mbeyú Mestizo

The area in northeastern Argentina in the province of Misiones has major influences from its closest neighbors. It shares many social and culinary traditions with the south of Brazil—particularly Paraguay and Guaraní culture.

One clear example is mbeyú, an original Guaraní dish. The recipe for this is given by María Engelberta, a Paraguayan housewife in Posadas, Misiones. She prepares the mestiza version of mbeyú, mixing cassava starch with corn flour.

It is cooked in a similar way to pancakes: pan fried and flipped over. Recipes such as these are typical for Misiones families as, thanks to their simple steps and delicious flavors, they become very practical preparations for breakfasts and snacks.

The mbeyú is prepared with a base of yuca, one of the most characteristic ingredients in the region, to be consumed alongside the mate, another typical product of the province of Misiones and one of the most traditional pairings one can find in the coast.

At 78 years of age, María Engelberta keeps the traditions she grew up with alive, having fun while cooking for her friends and loved ones and using the recipes she inherited from her mother.