Mejillones en escabeche (Mussels in pickled sauce)

1.5 - 2 kg mussels 
1 glass of white wine
2 bay leaves
3 cloves garlic
100 ml virgin olive oil
100 ml white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons sweet or spicy paprika
pinch of salt (optional)









For starting clean the mussels very well and put them in a saucepan with a glass of white wine. Cover with a top lid and cook up to medium heat until all mussels are open. When ready drain (and keep the broth aside), remove the shells and reserve the cooked meat.


Low heat in a saucepan the olive oil with the garlic finely chopped. Let it cook until they get brown color. 

Then add the bay leaves chopped, along with the paprika. Stir constantly otherwise you can burn the paprika. Quickly pour the white wine vinegar and the broth from cooking the mussels, stir for couple of minutes and stop the heat.

Try and add a pinch of salt if it is need it, but usually is not necessary. Pour the marinade over the mussels. Let it cool to room temperature.

Gazpacho Rociero

1 /2 kg of hard bread
2 very ripe large tomatoes
1 tsp of sweet paprika
5 or 6 cloves of garlic
1 large cucumber
2 glass of water
diced green and red pepper

olive oil, salt and white wine vinegar to taste

Wash the tomatoes and the cucumber properly and chop into squares. Set aside. 

Peel the garlic and in a mixer glass add all the ingredients. Once it is well crushed, strain with an strainer and let it cool in the fridge for 2 hours. 

Before serving add olive oil and vinegar to taste. Add diced green and red pepper on top. 

Tips_ You can add oregano on top for extra flavour. 

Origen_ This recipe is used in El Rocio pilgrimage for hidration after long walking days. 

Piquillo peppers jam (Mermelada de pimientos de piquillo)

300 gr or 2 1/5 cups of piquillo peppers or red peppers
150 gr or 1/2 cup sugar
80 ml or 5 1/2 wine vinegar
80 ml or 5 1/2 water







Remove seeds from piquillo peppers and cut. Placed in a saucepan with the sugar, water and wine vinegar and let it do a low heat, stirring occasionally.

Let cook for 35 to 40 minutes, watching not to burn . When it has the texture of a jam, remove from heat and store in a jar.

Recommended to be used with any type of cheese. Just great with Manchego cheese. 

Canning Tips

Calçots con salsa Romesco (Big spring onions / scallion with Romesco Sauce)

a side dish for 4

12 big spring onions / scallion

a little olive oil

kosher or sea salt

Romesco Sauce

1 cup olive oil

1/2 cup toasted hazelnuts & almonds

4 small tomatoes 

6 big cloves garlic

2 dried red peppers

2 tablespoons sherry or red wine vinegar

sea salt 

Heat oven to 400F. Drizzle a little oil on a baking sheet and smear it around, lay the onions on the sheet in a single layer, and roast about 45 minutes, until the onions are very tender through and browning.See on the picture how is the tradition in Cataluña. 

Served with romesco sauce. The prep work for the sauce takes a little time just because there’s some toasting and roasting involved, but you can do that ahead of time, even the day before. 

Patatas al ajo cabañil (Cabañil garlic potatoes)

  potatoes

  garlic

  white wine vinegar

  1 bay leaf

  salt

  olive oil

  dried parsley (optional)

Wash, peel and cut the potatoes. We take oil in a pan and when hot add the potatoes, bay leaf and fry over low heat.