The other day my neighbour Mercedes (Merche) gave me a large basketful of organic vegetables she had grown on a piece of my land that I let her use as an allotment (huerto). She also regularly gives us eggs laid by her free-range chickens. She sees these "gifts" as being in lieu of monetary rent, which I don't want.
What should I do with it all?
I'm "de Rodriguez" at the moment, so there was way too much. I offered half to my friend Julia, which the Hungarian accepted gladly. She made a Hungarian stew, similar to pisto or ratatouille.
I made this simple traditional version:
Ingredients:
I had the following vegetables at my disposal:
1 huge beef tomato
5 pimientos de piquillo
1 stripy aubergine
1 sweet onion
6 garlic cloves
1 sweet potato (boniato)
1 glass beer or wine
Method:
1. Prepare the vegetables and cut into small chunks.
2, Heat three tbsps olive oil in a large saucepan.
3. Add the vegetables in this order: onions and garlic; pimientos de piquillo; red pepper; sweet potato chunks; chopped tomato.
4. Make sure not to let the vegetables burn. Adjust the heat so that the pisto mix simmers, releasing enough liquids to ensure the vegetables cook through. Cover, to stop the steam escaping, and allow to cook for around 15 minutes.
If the mix starts to dry out add a glass of beer or red wine.
5. Serve with rustic bread and a robust red wine.
© Mercedes Bravo with Paul Whitelock
Links:
... de Rodríguez? - Secret Serrania de Ronda
"de Rodriguez" again soon! - Eye on Spain
Photos:
Carmen Tia Alia, Paul Whitelock
Tags:
beer, Carmen Tia Alia, DAP, Directo al Paladar, Mercedes Bravo, Paul Whitelock, pisto, ratatouille, red wine, rustic bread