Click here to read the Spanish version.
Chef José Andrés is a walking recipe book, especially for traditional Spanish gastronomy. He has just published in his blog Longer Tables one of the most original Spanish recipes and it is not surprising that he has chosen a typical Galician dish. It is octopus Galician style, one of the gastronomic emblems of this region. Although, although it is true, the Asturian chef emphasizes that its origin is actually in the town of Melide, located inland about 70 km from the coast.
The recipe arose because in Melide merchants from different parts of Spain gathered in some gastronomic fairs and decided to put together the ingredients they had (octopus, paprika de la Vera, olive oil…). And so arose the dish of octopus a la gallega, also known as pulpo a feira, in reference to those events.
In this way, such a traditional dish took root and became an icon of the cuisine, which has crossed borders. For José Andrés, in fact, it is a clear example of the power of food to create an experience at the table through customs and cultures. “This is how some of the most incredible dishes are created, naturally, through the rhythms of life, traditions and celebrations that bring people together,” he specifies in his blog.
As not everyone likes octopus, the Asturian chef also proposes an alternative without fish. It is lacón with potatoes, which is a cured meat that comes from the foreleg of the pig and is also served with potatoes and paprika and is another typical dish of Galician gastronomy.