The Argentine supermarket, translated into recipe English
Some American recipes get stuck in the Argentine supermarket, not in the pan. This guide is not a recipe: it is a pantry map, built from what I learned while adapting dishes for the recipe tools on this site.
Get the next recipe
When I publish another American recipe adapted to ingredients you can find in Argentina, I will send it to you. The same list carries the guides to Thanksgiving, chili, and cookies.
Sin spam. Te podés dar de baja cuando quieras.
Cheddar
The sharp cheddar that U.S. recipes call for almost never appears in an everyday supermarket. In the recipe notes themselves I suggest looking in the imported-cheese section of large chains, or in a dietética, and if there is none, using grated pategrás or tybo, sometimes with a little blue cheese or Parmesan for character. "Queso cheddar Jumbo" is also a typical search when someone is building a shopping list: I am not going to invent prices or stock, which change every week.
Marshmallows
Marshmallows (malvaviscos) go into s'mores, into the sweet-potato casserole, and into more than one campfire dessert. Local brands, such as Mogul, toast well in the oven. If the package says "malvaviscos" or "bombones de gelatina," you have the right ingredient: it is not meringue.
Panko, maple syrup, and brown sugar
Panko shows up in dietéticas and in some supermarkets; if there is none, a coarser breadcrumb comes close. Maple syrup (jarabe de arce) appears in dietéticas and on imported-goods shelves: it is not the same as honey, although in a pinch honey will cover a pancake. Brown sugar (azúcar mascabo) is easier to find and goes into cookies and brownies.
Squash and "pumpkin puree"
You do not need a can with an English label. In the pumpkin pie recipe I explain how to roast zapallo anco or calabaza, puree it, and, if it is watery, dry it a little in the saucepan. That cultural and pantry note is in pumpkin pie in Argentina; the recipe is in the interactive guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find cheddar in Argentina?
Sharp cheddar almost never shows up in an everyday supermarket. It is usually found in the imported-cheese section of large chains or in a health-food shop (dietética). If there is none, grated pategrás or tybo works; a little blue cheese or Parmesan adds character. I do not publish prices or stock, which change every week.
Can I make pumpkin pie without a can of puree?
Yes. In the pumpkin pie note and in the interactive recipe I explain how to roast zapallo anco or calabaza, puree it, and, if it is watery, dry it a little in the saucepan.