From the River and the Land: the Surprising Flavors of Chaco Cuisine

Located in north-east Argentina, the province of the Chaco is distinctive for its geographical diversity. The rivers determine the marked influence of fish in its gastronomy, although there are also other important territories, such as hills and farms. 

To the east of the Chaco is the River Paraguay, which separates the province from that country’s border. The Guaraní influence on Chaco gastronomy is evident in dishes that make river fish the protagonists. A good example is this delicious fish and potato stew made with surubí (catfish).

Pacu is one of the most popular fish in local gastronomy. Its meat is delicious, which is why it is often called the pig of the river. It is usually cooked on the grill, but it can also be battered and fried. Other popular fish are the surubí and dorado.

Their distinguishing feature is their filling of beef, or typical fish of the coast: the dorado. The filling is mixed with sugar, olives, raisins, and condiments. Cassava is also used; a crop inherited from the indigenous Guaraní culture of the region.

The diversity of the food in the Chaco can be explained in part by the combination of its indigenous people (wichi, qom, and moqoit) with the migrations of Guaraní and European influence. That is why the province has dishes such as chipa, a small baked roll of Guaraní origin, made from cassava and cheese.

Cold cuts are typical in the central region of the Chaco, where there are small farms established by European colonizers from the late 20th century. Among the products found there are different kinds of salami.

With four million hectares, the native Chaco mountain is an important natural environment where indigenous populations live alongside traditional farmers and immigrants from northern and central Europe. Crops such as sweet potato, corn, and cassava are typical of the region.

The gastronomy of the mountain and forest of the Chaco celebrates meats, such as goat or lamb, which are usually roasted and accompanied by other locally produced ingredients such as honey. Certain game meat is also common.

Pumpkin and squash are other crops that can be found in the mountains of the Chaco. One of the dishes in which they are used is the tart, consisting of a circle of pastry filled with pumpkin or squash, goat’s cheese, and other condiments.