If you go into any Spanish kitchen, you’ll be sure to find the following condiment: Pimentón de La Vera (with two versions pimentón dulce and pimentón picante – sweet or spicy paprika). It is one of the essential spices used in Spanish cooking together with many other ingredients, for meat dishes to vegetables, as well as sauces and sprinkled on top of octopus and fried eggs, adding a lovely aroma and flavour. It basically makes everything taste better!
Its origin dates back to the sixteenth century, when it was cultivated by monks in the valley of La Vera in the province of Caceres, and is still cultivated and elaborated in this area today. It has its very own recognised label, a protected designation of origin (con denominación de origen), and is strictly controlled in order to provide the best quality product.
Now that the cold is beginning to set in here in San Pedro, we would like to recommend this hearty stew dish, which is perfect to keep you warm—and as its main ingredient is Pimentón! See ingredients below:
Ingredients
4 potatoes
1 onion
Pimentón de la Vera
1 chorizo sausage
1/2 green pepper
1/2 red pepper
2 garlic cloves
1 bay leave
Salt and pepper
1 stock cube
Olive oil
Red wine
Water
Chop the onion and peppers, and gently fry in a cooking pot for a couple of minutes with a drizzle of olive oil.
Then cut up the chorizo and add, simmering with the vegetables for another couple of minutes.
Next include a dash of red wine in the casserole, while you peel and cut potatoes in chunks or cubes.
Cut the garlic cloves in slices and add together with the bay leaf and potatoes.
Add a small spoon of Pimentón dulce – sweet paprika, or if you want it a bit spicy, half a small spoon of each paprika flavour. This is best done very quickly, stirring constantly, or even with the pot off the heat so as not to burn the pimentón, as it will give a sour flavour and spoil the whole recipe.
Cover all the ingredients with water and add a stock cube, or if you have homemade broth all the better. Season with a little salt and pepper and leave to cook on a medium heat for around 15 to 20 minutes, checking when the potatoes are soft but not crumbly.
Tip: stir fry bread in garlic, or make croutons and add into the casserole once ready. This gives the dish an extra twist of flavour.
Enjoy and keep warm!