A gastronomic experience with Tucuman DNA: the panchuque!

It is often said that getting to know a country, a city or even a small town lost on the map goes far beyond visiting its famous tourist sites and taking photos in museums. It is about having an immersive experience of the idiosyncrasy of its people, their customs and, of course, their most characteristic flavors.

Tucumán is no exception to the rule and, just by walking a little through downtown it is easy to realize this. Between the unmistakable bustle of the people and the colorful shop windows that invite passersby to buy, a particular and, above all, very tempting aroma stands out. Hidden among the famous empanadas and the tasty Milanesa sandwiches is a diamond in the rough of Tucuman gastronomy: the panchuque (a sausage wrapped in a seasoned dough), a popular dish young and old enjoy.

Trying the panchuque in Tucumán is part of the tradition, and you can savor it at any time. The numerous stands and kiosks that sell it already make up the downtown landscape, and the panchuque itself carries with it our identity and competes with the praline as a morning or afternoon snack.

 A perfect cross between a hotdog and a pancake, buying it to eat on the go in the middle of the hustle and bustle or while taking a walk is quite an experience in which we become VIP spectators of its preparation. Its ingredients are self-rising flour, milk, eggs, salt and pepper with which a mixture similar to that of the waffle is obtained. To this preparation all that remains is to add the sausage and, once cooked in the panchuque maker, top it with the inevitable dressings: mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup and golf sauce. Some brave ones also dare to shower it with French fries and the most extravagant sauces.

Despite being imitated by other provinces, the panchuque has 100% Tucuman DNA and it is here where you can taste the “authentic” one. Neither haute cuisine nor gourmet, it is extremely cheap and in minutes we have in our hands this delicacy that is both soft and crunchy and provokes an immediate pleasure to continue the day.

Without a doubt, to know Tucumán is to travel through its valleys and hills, enjoy its nightlife and, why not? always want to return to taste its panchuque again and again.