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Braised Pork Cheeks in Wine Sauce

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Tender Pork cheek in wine sauce

Ultra tender braised pork cheeks in wine sauce with shallots on a bed of mashed potatoes, a tasty tapa or main dish recipe coming straight from Spain. Braised pork cheeks in wine sauce is a delicate yet powerful dish. Although the meat is tender and melts on your tongue, the flavour is outstanding. I encountered this dish on a tapas night in San Sebastian, Spain. Lost in a dark corner of a little plaza, in a place called “La Cuchara de San Telmo,” a heavenly place! It’s their star dish; they no longer have to write it down on the menu board since it’s so popular. It is served as tapas, which means a small portion. It was so good that we added to order it a second time. This recipe is my take on this famous dish called Carrilleras de cerdo al vino tapa! Pork Treasure! The trick here is to cook…

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Main Meals

Chorizo Pasta al Vino

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Chorizo Pasta

A pasta dish based on a traditional Spanish tapa called ‘Chorizo al vino’ or Chorizo in wine. Merging both makes a splendid result for a main dish with extra red pepper, onions, parsley and garlic. Chorizo al vino is a tapa that cooks chorizo sausages slowly in red wine with a touch of smoked paprika, nothing else. I’ve used the idea and added extra veggies, red bell pepper, onion and garlic that go perfectly with the chorizo and served it on pasta. Chorizo Pasta sauce is thickened with cornstarch and tomato paste—a lovely Mediterranean dish for sausage lovers. Spanish Chorizo Sausage Authentic Spanish Chorizo isn’t a spicy “hot” sausage, nor a fresh type of sausage. It’s a paprika-flavoured, cured pork sausage that can be softly spicy or sweet, depending on the paprika used. If you want to reproduce the smokey effect with a sweet sausage, add some smoked paprika (Pimenton de la…

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Drinks

Authentic Sangria Española

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This authentic Sangria Española without added sugar contains apple, peach and orange pieces. Plus a little fizz in the end, to make it extra festive! The word Sangria comes from the word “Sangre” which means blood, so a traditional sangria should be the colour of blood. Nowadays, there are tons of different variations of Sangrias out there. Some are made with white wine others sparkling wines and all kinds of fruit combinations. However, the original version, the traditional Sangria Española, is and will always be the ultimate summer star! Sangria’s Origin Sangria’s origin is not clear, some say it was a way to upgrade the lowest quality wines from Southern Spain. Therefore, adding fruits (sugars) would help balance the sharpness. Others say it was an invention of British sailors, bringing along with them some Spanish wine to the Caribbeans and mixing it up with rum and fruits. Truth be told,…

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Appetizers

Saffron Risotto with Asparagus

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SAFFRON RISOTTO WITH ASPARAGUS

This Golden Saffron Risotto with Asparagus is delicate and aromatic, filled with spring veggies like green asparagus, sweet peas and a touch of parmesan. I wouldn’t dare to call this dish “Risotto alla Milanese” since it contains some asparagus and peas, but truth be told, it’s pretty similar. Also, the original Risotto alla Milanese is usually made with beef broth and is the only risotto generally not served as a “primo,” first course, but as a side dish. Usually served with Ossobuco, this risotto is the king of the North (…of Italy, not Westeros…). For this Saffron Risotto with Asparagus particular recipe, I consider it a “main meal,” but it could also be served as a Primo or side dish. Variations You can make this dish vegetarian by substituting the chicken broth for vegetable broth, replacing the butter with olive oil and omitting the parmesan. Saffron rules! Saffron is the…

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Desserts

Mulled Wine Poached Pears

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MULLED WINE POACHED PEARS

Traditional Spanish dessert “Pera’s al vino,” or Mulled Wine Poached Pears, is the best of two worlds; fruits and wine merging into an easy and tasty bite. This dessert comes from the Spanish region of Rioja, which is well known for its deep red wines. These Mulled Wine Poached Pears are easy to make and don’t need much preparation. A must-know dessert that is gluten-free, egg, lactose and nut free too. Plus, you can make them ahead to let you concentrate on the rest of the feast. Which Type of Pear? For this particular recipe, Spaniards traditionally use “Pera Conferencia,” but it will be hard to find if you are in America. So any pear type holding good, not too filled with water, nor too porous should do. So pick a firm pear of your choice at the Farmer’s Market. The Spices Most people in Spain spice it up with cinnamon,…

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Main Meals

Beef Bourguignon Pasta

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Beef Bourguignon Pasta

Beef bourguignon is French people’s favourite beef stew made from a lot of red wine, bacon bits, mushrooms, carrots, onions and aromatics. This version comes with a twist; it is Served on pasta instead of potatoes, Because why not? Beef Bourguignon pasta or spaghetti is a “mashup” dish between France’s beloved ‘Boeuf Bourguignon,’ served with potatoes and Italian Ragu pasta. I like potatoes… but my husband does not so much… so he always asks me to make his boeuf bourguignon on pasta. I agree with him; pasta and a little extra parmesan give the dish a new dimension. The pasta soaks up all the goodness from the stew better than potatoes. Boeuf Bourguignon on pasta But either way, the base of the recipe stays the same; braised beef cubes in a dutch oven simmered in a red wine sauce. So you decide which pasta or potatoes makes you salivate more.…

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