We opted not to do a side dish with this — other than some store-bought, kettle-cooked potato chips — not because it was labor intensive, but because it covered all the food groups. A decadent weekend brunch or an easy dinner, this sandwich is better than the sum of its parts. No wonder it is Uruguay's national dish!
Chivito, aka King of Sandwiches
4 sturdy sandwich rolls (we used bulkies and GF rolls)
6 slices bacon (optional)
2 small filet mignons*
1-2 teaspoons olive oil
4 slices ham
4 large eggs
4 large pieces butter or Romain lettuce
1 large beefsteak tomato, cut so there are 4, thick slices from the middle
8 thin slices deli mozzarella cheese or 4 thick slices buffalo mozzarella
thinly sliced black or green olives (optional)
ketchup, mayo, salt and pepper, to taste
*You can use any cut of beef you'd like. In Uruguay, they typically use churrasco. Whatever you choose, you want to cut it and/or pound it thin.
Place filets in freezer for 15 minutes. Remove and cut them in half horizontally — the same direction you'd cut a roll for a sandwich. Using the flat side of a tenderizing mallet, pound each piece of filet it until it's about 1/4-inch thick. If grilling the steak (you can also pan sear it) turn on the grill to preheat.
In a large, nonstick skillet, cook the bacon until just cooked. Remove to a paper towel lined plate.
Using same skillet, either drain off excess bacon grease or add 1 teaspoon olive oil.
At this point you can either pan sear or grill the steak. Salt and pepper both sides of the steak, and either grill or pan sear about 2 minutes per side, until cooked to your liking. Once cooked, remove to a plate and cover with foil.
Add all 4 slices of ham to the skillet, flat. (Depending on ham and skillet size, you might need to do this in 2 batches). Fry ham for about 1 minute on each side, until edges just start to brown. Remove from skillet and set aside.
Add remaining teaspoon of olive oil to skillet. Crack 4 eggs into the skillet, and then sprinkle with salt and pepper.
While eggs are cooking, start building the sandwiches. On the bottom bun, spread a layer of ketchup and the cooked beef. On the top bun, spread a layer of mayonnaise, sliced olives (if using), 1 piece lettuce, 1 slice tomato, and 3 half pieces of bacon (if using).
When eggs are cooked to your liking, slide them on top of the beef on the bottom bun. Fold ham slices in half (or to bun sized) and place back in skillet, topping with cheese. When cheese starts to melt, slide the ham/cheese slices onto the egg.
Cover with dressed top buns and serve.
FUN FACTS:
Uruguay has the world’s longest national anthem. When sung, it lasts longer than 5 minutes.
Uruguay was the first country in the world to implement a One Laptop Per Child program. Through a non-profit initiative, every student from 1st through 6th grade was given their own laptop.
In Uruguay, the 29th day of each month is officially called Gnocchi Day (Dia de Ñoquis), and most families cook this potato-based pasta on that day each month.
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