Chivito (the
diminutive
A diminutive is a root word that has been modified to convey a slighter degree of its root meaning, either to convey the smallness of the object or quality named, or to convey a sense of intimacy or endearment. A ( abbreviated ) is a word-form ...
of ''chivo'', "goat") is, in Argentina, a type of goat dish.
Argentinian grilled meat
In Argentina, ''chivito'' is the grilled meat of a young
goat
The goat or domestic goat (''Capra hircus'') is a domesticated species of goat-antelope typically kept as livestock. It was domesticated from the wild goat (''C. aegagrus'') of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of ...
eaten in
Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, t ...
, sometimes as part of an ''
asado
' () is the technique and the social event of having or attending a barbecue in various South American countries, especially Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay where it is also a traditional event. An ''asado'' usually consists of bee ...
''. ''Chivito'' differs from ''cabrito'' in that ''chivito'' is a slightly older animal with whose meat is less tender. A ''chivito'' has already begun to eat solid foods, whereas the ''cabrito'' is still a
suckling
Breastfeeding, or nursing, is the process by which human breast milk is fed to a child. Breast milk may be from the breast, or may be expressed by hand or pumped and fed to the infant. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that brea ...
.
The ''chivito'' is less gamey and has a more delicate flavour than the adult goat. It can be cooked ''a la parrilla'' (
grilled
Grilling is a form of cooking that involves dry heat applied to the surface of food, commonly from above, below or from the side. Grilling usually involves a significant amount of direct, radiant heat, and tends to be used for cooking meat a ...
) or ''a la cruz''. In the ''chivito a la cruz'', the ''chivito'' is affixed vertically to a cross which is driven into the ground near the fire, giving it a special flavour.
Every summer, a ''chivito'' festival is held in the town of
Malargüe
Malargüe () is a city in the southwest part of province of Mendoza, Argentina, about 370 km south of the provincial capital Mendoza. It is the head town of the Malargüe Department, and it has about 27,000 inhabitants as per the .
Overview ...
in the
province of Mendoza
Mendoza, officially Province of Mendoza, is a province of Argentina, in the western central part of the country in the Cuyo region. It borders San Juan to the north, La Pampa and Neuquén to the south, San Luis to the east, and the republic o ...
, Argentina.
See also
*
List of goat dishes
This is a list of notable goat dishes, which use goat meat as a primary ingredient. Goat meat is the meat of the domestic goat ''(Capra aegagrus hircus)''. It is often called chevon or mutton when the meat comes from adults, and cabrito, capret ...
References
Goat dishes
Barbecue
Argentine cuisine
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