artichokes

A good way to serve the artichoke hearts I have written about under the "How To" section of this site, is to deep fry them and serve as a tapas.

This is a meal that is far from exclusive to Spain. In some countries, including America, they are served as a takeaway, a bit like fish and chips.

Yes, it is a little time consuming to prepare, but both your and your visitors will appreciate the effort when you bite into these chunks of alcachofa.

So now, via our "How To" section, you know how to prepare artichokes (alcachofas). It is time to enjoy them in a sumptuous meal.

And here is your opportunity to do just that. A smashing recipe combining lamb knuckles with those artichokes.

A recipe that comes from Aragon, a region famed for quality lamb.

So what other Spanish meals does the island of Majorca specialise in?

We've had the debate over the origins of Sobrasada sausage (see earlier recipe). But there are many fine ingredients grown and produced on the Balearic Islands and if you are holiday in Majorca for example, the menus you see will offer many delightful meals.

On a recent stroll through the countryside of Andalucia I saw fields full of artichokes or, as they call them in Spain, Alcachofas.

I also walked over lots of Lemons. So many oranges and lemons grow near me that hundreds just lay on the floor going rotten or being driven over by cars.

The artichoke is one of those foods I would never have eaten when living in northern Europe and one that has surprised me since living in Spain. I am now a fan.

I'm pretty sure that i had never knowingly eaten artichokes (alcachofa) prior to living in Spain. Then i went into a posh tapas bars in Granada and, boom!; what a delight. So simple to prepare with a variety of fillings or sauces. I am now a member of the artichoke fan club. Here's a simple recipe for some tasty toast using artichokes. 

I've grown to like meals that include a vinaigrette. And i have dining out in Spain to thank for that. By definition a vinaigrette is a mixture of oil and vinegar, often accompanied by herbs and spices, and often used as a salad dressing. But, in Spain, vinaigrette is employed in far more dishes. Here is a recipe for just one, artichokes in oregano vinaigrette.

Artichokes are an acquired taste but, in Spain, artichokes (Alcachofas) are a delight and you must try them. Do remember when preparing them that the artichoke is a member of the daisy family and that it is a flower head.  You can find them for sale at many a Spanish market. This dish is very popular in Granada as both ingredients have grown in what remains of the fertile valley known as the vega (as pictured here).