Legend has it that in the mountain lived a shepherd and in the sea a mermaid. As the mermaid begged the shepherd to join her palace of emerald and coral, he invited her to see the sun from his mountains. One day, both succumbed to love and with their union created the region of l’Empordá. A spectacular corner of the world just a few minutes from Barcelona where the cliffs break over the Mediterranean, the bodies of water slip through the landscape, and the long beaches call for tranquility.
Costa Brava – Michael Cadieux
It is well known that geography has a strong influence on local cuisine. This beautiful legend also changed Catalan cuisine forever, creating the “Mar i Muntanya” dishes. It is not surprising to find dishes in this area that combine seafood with meat, testifying to the love between these two worlds. Chicken with prawns, snails with seafood, chicken with cod or the most traditional of them all; cuttlefish with meatballs. (Sèpia amb mandonguilles, in Catalan). Today let’s cook this recipe together.
Ingredients:
- 500 gr cuttlefish
- 1 onion
- Whole milk
- 150 ml de fresh chopped tomatoes
- 1 glass of white wine
- 100 gr of frozen peas
- 600 gr of minced beef and pork
- 1 egg
- 2 garlic cloves
- Salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs
To make the seasoning:
- 3 garlic cloves
- 12 roasted almonds
- 4 strands of saffron
- Fresh parsley
This traditional dish is very easy to make.
1. Make the meatballs.
To do this, mix the minced meat with the egg, add a dash of milk and mix well. Add the breadcrumbs and mix again. Create the shape of the meatballs with your hands, pass them through flour and fry them. It is recommended not to cook them all the way through yet.
2. Make the sauce
Use some of the oil you are frying the meatballs in to add to another pan. In this frying pan, fry the chopped onion. Add the fresh chopped tomatoes and cook until the sauce has reduced.
3. Make the seasoning
Use a mortar to grind the almonds, garlic, saffron and fresh parsley until you get this delicious seasoning.
4. Finish the dish
Add the cuttlefish to the sautéed ingredients and sauté for one minute. Then, add the wine and peas, stir and allow to reduce. Now it is time to add the meatballs. Cover them with water, add the seasoning and leave to cook for 10 minutes.
This is just one of the delicious traditional recipes that you can cook in the private kitchen of your Casagrand apartment. Visit our website to book your apartment now and enjoy an authentic local experience.
