Hello foodie friends!
I don't know if you've heard the term “comfort food”, that food that not only fills us up and comforts us, but also transports us to another bygone time with each bite, usually childhood. Because there are smells that evoke moments lived, and there are flavors that do that too.
How many dishes remind us in an instant of a moment that we have already lived? Flavors that permeate our memory, our happiest childhood memories, the figure of a grandmother, a family recipe, a table full of food and people we love.
Yesterday I traveled with a spoon to the past. To the family. Because yesterday was a holiday here, January 6, as well as being Epiphany Day in Spain is "Three Kings Day". Who also come at night and leave us more gifts when we wake up in the morning. And between moments of illusion and opening gifts we also cook to eat with the family, we all enjoy together and it seems that we are in another era. And what do we eat?
This time a typical dish that is unknown outside of here. Because everyone knows the most famous dish of Spanish gastronomy, "paella". It's not the "sangria" (that's a drink). But in the same area of Spain, in the area of Valencia (that's why it's called "Valencian paella") there are more rice dishes, it's a land that grows rice, so it's normal, and despite the fact that world fame has brought paella, because it is true that it is a delicious dish, however there is another candidate to be "the best rice dish", because for many of us who live here our favorite is "Arroz al horno" (or Oven baked rice).
Yes, it is a dish that is always prepared in a clay pot and cooked in the oven. Normally it was made with the remains of the "cocido" (stew), various meats, chickpeas, potatoes... and always its unmistakable head of garlic in the center.
This time there have been a couple of mistakes! I confess, a couple of tomato slices on top have been missing, which are also toasted, and well, in terms of meat, pieces of ribs and bacon are usually also added (which is very similar to bacon). But the philosophy is that it is made with leftover meat...
The essential ingredients are: rice (bomba type), meat (always blood sausage, some other traditional sausage, pieces of veal if pork ribs are not added, and the bacon that we mentioned), chickpeas (many), potato pieces, the head garlic of course. And it can be done with cooked broth. Then the usual, some crushed tomato, a little more garlic, salt and extra virgin olive oil.
And the color yellow? For a long time people have used food coloring, it is still done, but it does not seem very natural to me, if you read the label it is one more additive. So there are those who leave it uncolored, leaving something less yellow and more white, and there are those who add saffron, it is a good option, although you have to add a lot so that it has the color you want. So there are others that we add turmeric. Yes, it sounds strange, it looks like some weird exotic fusion, but it doesn't affect the taste of the recipe much as there are so many tasty ingredients and it gives it a great color, not to mention has many health benefits as well. So we came out winning.
Yesterday we all won with a recipe that we hadn't made at home for a long time. There are dishes that are not for every day, but it is better to make them in good company and enjoying the time. Because the best dishes are the tastiest, it is true, but also those that we enjoy in good company and with all the time in the world. Another concept, "slow food" with comfort and creating new good moments that we will remember in the future, in another delicious and "comfort food".
Tasty food and good health to all of you in this new year!
Thanks for reading! Have a comfortable and delicious day.
The text is totally mine and the photos too by ©Duvinca