According to legend, a great chef in Punta del Este, Uruguay, Antonio Carbonada, had an Argentine lady as a regular customer. One day she asked for her favorite sandwich made with goat (chivito in Spanish). There was no goat to be had, so the chef threw together what was on hand—steak, ham, cheese, lettuce, and mayonnaise—and the chivito was born. It is now found everywhere in Uruguay.

　　As with most traditional comfort food, everybody makes their chivito just a little differently. Here's mine.

　　

Ingredients

Serves 4

　　1 boneless rib steak, 1 pound, sliced horizontally into 4 thin steaks (you can ask the butcher to do this)

　　Coarse salt

　　4 sandwich rolls

　　1/2 cup aioli

　　Four 1/8-inch-thick slices pancetta

　　2 tablespoons olive oil

　　4 large eggs

　　4 slices boiled ham (about 4 ounces)

　　4 ounces queso blanco or Monterey Jack, sliced 1/4 inch thick

　　4 Boston lettuce leaves

　　2 tomatoes, sliced

　　2 Roasted Peppers

　　

Step 1

Pound the steaks lightly with a meat mallet until they are evenly about 1/4 inch thick. Sprinkle with salt to taste.

　　

Step 2

Split the rolls and spread aioli on both halves; set aside.

　　

Step 3

Heat a chapa or a two-burner cast-iron griddle over medium-high heat. As it is heating, crisp the pancetta on it, turning once; set aside. When the chapa is hot enough that a drop of water sizzles on the surface, add the steaks and cook, without moving, for 2 minutes. Turn and cook for another minute, or until done to taste.

　　

Step 4

Meanwhile heat the olive oil until it shimmers, then fry the eggs until the whites are cooked but the yolks are still runny.

　　

Step 5

Place a steak on the bottom half of each of the rolls and top with a slice each of ham, cheese, and crisp pancetta and a fried egg. Cover the other halves with the lettuce, tomatoes, and roasted pepper, and close the sandwiches. Slice in half and serve.

　　From Seven Fires: Grilling the Argentine Way by Francis Mallmann. Copyright © 2009 by Francis Mallmann; photography © 2009 by Santiago Solo Monllor. Published by Artisan, a division of Workman Publishing Company.