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What is Pimentón? It is essentially a paprika. All types of paprika, like sweet paprika, derive from varieties of the plant capsicum annum, native to South America. It was Columbus who brought it to Europe and, it is said, presented it to the royal couple Ferdinand and Isabella of Aragon in a monastery in Extremadura, a Spanish region associated with Pimentón. It is said that the monks of that monastery then planted the seeds of that pepper, which is now cultivated throughout the southern part of Spain, especially in La Vera, where the Pimentón with protected designation of origin comes from.
But how is Pimentón de la Vera obtained? This spice has a lot to tell about Spanish history and tradition. In autumn, the peppers are harvested and dried over a fire of oak wood for about 10-15 days, a process that gives the spice its particular smokiness. Pimentón is therefore ahumado, smoked, and adds a very distinctive note to the dishes in which it is used.
On Terza Luna, you can find different varieties of Pimentón for sale online that depend on the plant and cultivar, with different levels of capsaicin, or spiciness:
Responsible for the aromatic flavor of chorizo and used to flavor stews, soups, and tapas, we want to share with you some simple but tasty recipes in which this paprika is able to enhance the flavor of the dish. Let's see how to use Pimentón in the best way, learning from the preparations of Spanish tradition.
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The Galician-style octopus, or polbo á feira, is one of the most traditional Spanish recipes, also known as Galician octopus. It is a dish based on octopus and potatoes, often served as a tapa, whose main ingredient is precisely pimentón, a spice widely used in local cuisine. According to Penelope Casas, food and wine writer and expert in Spanish cuisine, 'alla gallega' is anything prepared with paprika and olive oil.
In the reproduction of this dish, there is often a tendency to replace pimentón with a simple chili pepper, but those who have been in Galicia and have tasted the original recipe of Galician octopus with Pimentón de la Vera will notice the differences. The recipe we provide is the traditional one, for a soft and spicy octopus.
Difficulty: Medium
Preparation: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Ingredients:
How to prepare Galician octopus? Here is the procedure:
You can serve Galician octopus as a tapa, or in a bowl as a salad; in any case, you will be sure to enjoy a simple and tasty dish, enriched by the unique Spanish flavor of Pimentón.
Returning to Spanish tradition, specifically Valencian tradition this time, we cannot fail to appreciate the smoky taste of Pimentón in the classic paella, a cornerstone of Iberian cuisine. The paella is named after the typical pan in which it is prepared, ensuring even cooking of the rice. In this recipe, we offer a spiced version of paella with vegetables and fish. Essential in this preparation, as you can imagine, is the pan, which must be a paellera or a very large pan to ensure proper cooking.
Difficulty: Low
Preparation time: 1 hour
Procedure:
Serve your Pimenton paella with lemon slices and a sprinkle of parsley!
Although Pimentón comes from Spain, where paprika first arrived from America, we can find a strong tradition of this spice also in Hungary. Here, paprika is considered the national spice, and it is the star of its most famous dish, the goulash. Even though Hungary is much more famous for paprika, it is said that it was the Spanish king Carlos V who recommended it to his sister Maria of Austria, queen of Hungary and Bohemia.
Hungarian paprika is generally spicier than Pimentón, which can be found in the three variants sweet, bittersweet, and spicy. In this recipe, we wanted to propose a blend between two countries, offering you an 'Iberian-Hungarian' version of the famous stew.
If you love the taste of a meat and vegetable stew but find goulash too strong and pungent, we invite you to try this variant with sweet Pimenton for a deeper and smoother taste, but at the same time more delicate.
Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Serve it hot, in a clay pot, with a final sprinkle of Pimentón and a spoonful of sour cream.
On Terza Luna you will find several varieties of Pimentón de la Vera from Spain to enrich your pantry with a special spice, for true connoisseurs! Discover Pimentón for sale online and amaze your guests with a new and intense flavor. We are an online spice e-shop and we take care to search for the best and rarest products and teas from around the world for our passionate customers. Also discover our section of spices and make your purchase now!