Page 213 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Northern Spain

where t o ea t and drink  211

producing rich, oaky reds
and whites. The cuisine of
La Rioja borrows from the
neighbouring Basque Country
and Navarra, with lamb a big
feature, along with seafood
and top­quality vegetables.

Central and Eastern
Pyrenees
Hearty dishes with mountain­
fresh ingredients typify
Pyrenean cuisine, with a
Array of pintxos laid out in a bar in the Basque Country great variety of pork and
Basque Country poultry dishes such as pollo
vegetables such as asparagus, al chilindrón – chicken with
The Basque Country is a para­ artichokes, cherries, chestnuts onion, tomato, pepper and
dise for gourmets, renowned and peppers. In the Navarrese ham. For those who prefer
throughout Spain for the mountains, lamb is the most fish, a good option is baca lao
excellence of its produce and popular meat, as well as richly al ajoarriero, cod with potatoes
the creative brilliance of its flavoured game in season, such and onions.
chefs. Basque cuisine leans as partridge and hare. Trucha a
towards seafood, of which there la navarra is the region’s On the Menu
is a dazzling variety: humble famous fish dish.
salted cod and hake (elevated Tiny La Rioja is Spain’s most Trucha a la Navarra Trout,
to new heights with delicious famous wine region, stuffed with ham and quickly
sauces) are most common, but grilled or fried.
sought­after delicacies include Lacón con grelos Smoked pork
elvers (baby eels) and spider shoulder joint with turnip leaves
crab. Basque wines, drunk and potatoes.
young and tart, offer the perfect Filloas queimadas Pancakes
balance. Bar counters groan flambéed with aguardiente,
with platters of pintxos – the cognac or whisky.
Basque variant of tapas, and the Sobaos, carajitos, casadielles
Basques also make wonderful Sponge cakes filled with nuts.
cheeses, including delicate, Angulas a la Bilbaína Baby
smoky Idiazábal. eels cooked in olive oil with
garlic, a seasonal Basque treat.
Navarra and La Rioja Pimientos rellenos Peppers
stuffed with meat or fish.
The fertile farmland of land­
locked Navarra produces a Red peppers – a speciality of La Rioja and Vieiras Baked scallops.
spectacular array of fruit and popular in many dishes

Empanada Gallega These Chilindrón de Cordero Made Leche Frita “Fried milk” is a
golden pastries are stuffed with succulent lamb, this is delicious, custardy dessert
with tuna and a wide a rich, hearty stew from the from Cantabria. Simple but
choice of other fillings. mountains of Navarra. utterly delicious.

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