Chivito is the national dish of Uruguay. It is a sandwich of sliced beefsteak (churrasco), mozzarella, ham, tomatoes, mayonnaise and black or green olives. A chivito commonly also includes bacon and fried or hard-boiled eggs. It is served in a bun, often accompanied by French-fried potatoes. Other ingredients, such as red beets, peas, grilled or pan-fried red peppers, and slices of cucumber, may be added. In Argentine cuisine a similar sandwich is called lomito.

History

Chivito is the diminutive of chivo, goat, and means kid (young goat). In neighboring Argentina, chivito, barbecued kid, is a popular asado dish; it is reported that the Uruguayan chivito arose in Punta del Este, Uruguay, at a restaurant called "El Mejillón Bar" in 1946, when a woman from northern Argentina or Chile ordered a sandwich of chivito for a hurried meal, expecting kid. The restaurant owner, Antonio Carbonaro, did not have this meat and used beef fillet steak instead.

Variations

The Canadian Chivito (in Spanish chivito canadiense) is a variation of the sandwich, with the addition of panceta. The chivito can be served, as a platter rather than a sandwich (chivito al plato). It is usually served with Russian salad or French fries.