Ep 10. Uruguay

Cooking The Continent Season 1 episode 10 revolves around the small but vibrant country of Uruguay, which may not be on everyone's list of must-visit destinations. But the episode makes sure to showcase the region's unexplored culinary gems, with skilled chefs cooking up a storm of traditional Uruguayan dishes that visitors will love.

The episode starts with the host, Chef Christine Tizzard, making a stop at a bustling local market in Montevideo, Uruguay's capital city. Here she discovers a range of unique foods and cooking ingredients, like fresh seafood, locally grown fruits, and vegetables, and delicious Argentinian beef. Uruguay is known for its meat dishes made from grass-fed cattle that often roam the country’s expansive prairies. The meat is cooked in a variety of ways, from grilling to roasting and is incredibly tender and flavorsome.

During her tour of the city, Christine also visits a family-owned restaurant housed in a historic building, where she tries some classic Uruguayan dishes like Milanesa (a meat dish similar to schnitzel) and the popular Chivito sandwich. The Chivito, a big and hearty sandwich stuffed with steak, ham, cheese, bacon, and egg, is being featured as one of the top 10 sandwiches in the world. The blending of beef, pork, cheese, and bread all in one dish certainly will satisfy any cravings you have.

Next, the host heads to a small farm churning out artisanal cheeses, handed down through generations of families. Uruguay has deep connection to the European continent, and their cheese making traditions were brought over by Italian, Spanish, and French immigrants. Today, a group of innovative cheese-makers is taking those traditions and developing their unique styles of cheese, using milk from a specific cow breed called Jersey. These are available to snap up and make into tangy snacks with crackers.

The episode concludes with a closer look at one of Uruguay's notable culinary traditions called "asados". Asados refer to a popular method of cooking meat over an open flame or grill, often accompanied by a fine glass of Uruguayan wine. Chef Victor Albisu, an expert in the traditional method, explains the importance of slow-cooking the meat to balance the flavors. He also shares some tips on how to make an authentic asado for anyone looking to recreate the experience back at home.

Cooking The Continent Season 1 episode 10 is an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable culinary tour of Uruguay. With its mouthwatering dishes, beautiful scenery, and rich cultural heritage, Uruguay is well worth a visit, and this episode gives a glimpse of it all.