There’s nothing quite like a great sandwich. This
is a re-creation of one I had in the tiny town of Tilcara,
in the province
of Jujuy. It features the
Argentine staple Milanesa, which is a piece of protein (usually meat) pounded
very thin, then breaded and fried. This milanesa, instead of the usual steak
or veal, is made of textured soy protein.
Here are a few photos from my trip:
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| Tilcara, Jujuy, Argentina |
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| La Cascada in Tilcara, Jujuy, Argentina |
After hiking all day, my traveling companions and I were
completely famished. We were thrilled to find an adorable vegetarian open air sandwich shop. The sandwiches
were very tasty and the price was right: These loaded sandwiches cost us
about $4 each. They were incredibly delicious, with each ingredient adding to
the overall effect. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but somehow they reminded
me a little of the Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwiches I eat whenever I’m in Houston,
TX, and have been craving. I added pickled vegetables to my version in honor of
my beloved Banh Mi sandwiches.
Did I mention they were good? So good I had to go back for a second one. So good that that
still wasn’t enough, I had to recreate it at home.
Highlights: Hearty whole wheat bread, soy milanesa with its unctuous
flavor, crunchy exterior and soft slightly chewy interior, fried egg, fresh
green lettuce, beautiful sliced tomato, melty cheese, and crunchy slightly-sour
pickled vegetables.
