Paraguay For The Gourmet Traveler

Popular Foods & National Cuisine

Asado, Mandioca - Manioc, Surubi

Popular Beverages & National Drinks

Yerba Mate

Best Dining Destinations

Asuncion

Foods

Asado

As with their neighbors to the south in Argentina and Uruguay, asado is a popular food choice in Paraguay. Asado is basically a selection of meats grilled on a parrilla, or bbq grill, and served on platters.This is largely due to the fact that like their neighbors including Brazil as well, Paraguay has large quantities of cattle. Asado is usually cooked on open fires that are stoked primarily by natural wood charcoals which gives the meat a great smoky flavor. Meats are generally seasoned only with coarse salt and only when the meat is served at the table is chimichurri served in a dish along the side. Parrilla restaurants come a dime a dozen so you will have no problem finding a great establishment to enjoy this wonderful bbq.

Mandioca - Manioc

Mandioca, or manioc, is a root vegetable that is high in starch. This vegetable plays a large role in the diet of Paraguayans. Usually mandioca is served as a ground flour, fried, or boiled. When peeled and cooked it slightly resembles a potato, yet this root is much more starchy and therefore has a thicker texture.

Surubí

Surubi is a fish native to the Amazon and other rivers in central part of South America. This river fish is quite popular in Paraguay and quite tasty as well. Surubi has no fins and has a thick leathery skin that gives it an odd look compared to other fish.

Drinks

Yerba Mate

A lot of the yerba mate that many enjoy in Uruguay and Argentina is produced in Paraguay. This native root is claimed to have wonderful medicinal capabilities and is also loaded with caffeine. To enjoy mate as it is intended to be enjoyed, you need: yerba, a mate, and a bombilla. Yerba is the herb tea leaves that make up this strong beverage. A mate is the container, usually a gourd or wooden cup, where the yerba is placed. The bombilla is a metal straw used to ingest the tea. Yerba mate can either be enjoyed alone or with a group of friends, with the same mate being passed around for all to share. Newcomers might find this tea extremely strong and bitter, but after a few attempts it becomes quite addicting. The yerba leaves are known for their high-caffeine and medicinal values, and is claimed to be the best remedy for digestive problems.

Destinations

Asuncion

Asuncion is the capital and largest city in Paraguay. This is the best location to sample what Paraguay and its people have to offer when dining out in Asuncion. Parrilla, bbq, restaurants are abundant so if you are a true meat lover be sure to make one or more stops at different places on your journey. You may never enjoy such low prices for large quantities of beef anywhere else unless you are stopping by Argentina or Uruguay. Many of these and other restaurants offer great seafood that comes fresh out of the rivers in the surrounding areas. With all this being said, you should not tire of the local cuisine but if you do, there are plenty of other international restaurants around town that offer cuisines from other parts of the world.