Tag Archive for: Local Recipes

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La Vina’s famous Cheesecake – Recipe

A small bar in the Spanish city of San Sebastian may just be home to the World’s Best Cheesecake!!!

We all know that the Basque Country is a gastronomic paradise and San Sebastian is a foodie mecca. Therefore, it’s no surprise that we hear our guests “oooh” and “ahhh” over devilish pintxos and delicious desserts as their journeys take them to the North of Spain.

If you’ve been to San Sebastian, or are dreaming of going, why not try this spectacular, yet simple, cheesecake recipe at home to excite your taste-buds.

 la-vina-cheescake

Ingredients for La Vina’s Famous Cheesecake Recipe

  • Butter, softened, for greasing tin
  • 7 whole eggs
  • 1kg Philadelphia cream cheese
  • 400g castor sugar
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 500ml cream

 

Method for La Vina’s Famous Cheesecake Recipe

  • Preheat the oven to 220C.
  • Lightly grease a 25cm springform tin with butter.
  • Line the bottom and sides of tin with baking paper; allow the paper to come 2-3cm above the edge of the sides.
  • Using a pastry brush, grease the paper with softened butter.
  • Crack the eggs into a bowl and mix well.
  • Using an electric mixer, work cream cheese until smooth.
  • Add the beaten eggs slowly; making sure each egg is incorporated into the cheese before adding more.
  • Pour in sugar, flour and cream.
  • Blend well until smooth.
  • Pour mixture into the lined cake tin.
  • Bake for 50 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and allow to cool completely in the tin before taking out of the tin.

 

Taste the famous Cheesecake of the Authentic La Viña of San Sebastian on one of our Private Food, Wine and Cultural Tours. Contact us for your personalised itinerary, to include San Sebastian, and you too could be exciting your taste-buds with this creamy delight!

GAZPACHO ANDALUS, a traditional Spanish recipe

As temperatures are souring this summer,  cool down with a delicious chilled Gazpacho soup. This quick and easy traditional Gazpacho recipe is not only refreshing it’s packed full of vitamins too! Olé!!

Gazpacho

INGREDIENTS for Traditional Gazpacho recipe:

75 g stale bread (Spanish loaf, not packaged bread), crusts removed

1 kg ripe tomatoes (see note below ABOUT TOMATOES), peeled and seeded

3 cloves garlic

2 tsp salt and pepper

6 tbsp olive oil

5 tbsp vinegar

about 300 ml water

 

GARNISH for Traditional Gazpacho recipe:

100 g green peppers, finely chopped

100 g cucumber, peeled and finely chopped

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 small tomato, finely chopped

2 slices bread, toasted and diced like croutons

 

METHOD for Traditional Gazpacho recipe:

Put the bread to soak in enough water to cover it for around 10 minutes.

Squeeze out the excess water and put the bread in a blender or processor.

Cut the peeled tomatoes into chunks and add to the blender with the garlic, salt and pepper.

Blend until puréed and with the motor running add the oil in a slow stream, followed by the vinegar.  The mixture will thicken and change color as the oil blends in.

Add a little water and transfer to a serving bowl or pitcher. Stir in the water to the desired consistency and chill until serving time.

 

For the garnish:

Place the chopped peppers, cucumbers, onion, tomato and croutons in individual small bowls or in a divided dish and serve them as accompaniments.

Gazpacho may also be served in glasses or mugs for sipping but without the garnishes.

 

Note ABOUT TOMATOES: vine-ripened tomatoes are one of Spain’s treats.  If possible, buy the big, beefy ones.  Even if they are slightly green, they will ripen in a few days. Avoid the all-of-a-size and color long-life tomatoes. They’re bred for shipping long distances and don’t have the flavor of the local varieties. Tomatoes can be skinned before making the gazpacho by dipping them in boiling water or try running the blunt edge of a knife across the skin, then pulling it off.  Otherwise, crush the tomatoes, and then sieve them to remove the skin and seeds.

 

Gazpacho Ingredients

Learn to cook tasty local Spanish dishes with an excellent in situ chef as part of your Private Luxury Food, Wine and Cultural Tour in Spain.  Our  wonderful Spanish Cooking and Wine Tour takes you into the world of Spanish Cuisine, and Spanish Wine, the best way to learn about Spain!

Gambas al Pil Pil – A Traditional Spanish Tapa Recipe

GAMBAS AL PIL PIL – Prawns sizzled with Garlic and Chili – is an authentic pintxo or tapas dish that you will find throughout Spain, normally prepared to order and served in small individual dishes.  Here’s a Traditional Spanish Pintxo / Tapa recipe for Gambas al Pil-Pil to try at home. This ridiculously quick and easy pintxo/ tapas recipe will have you WOWing your family and friends,  but make sure to use fresh raw prawns (pre-cooked ones will go rubbery).  Oh! and don’t forget to serve with fresh bread, as you are sure to be mopping up the delicious pepper and garlic flavored olive oil afterwards!  More about Pintxos and Tapas

Sizzling Spanish Prawns

Ingredients for Gambas al Pil Pil recipe : Makes around 4 tapas servings.

  • 1 cup or 200 grams of shrimp (size is entirely up to you)
  • 2 small pieces (1/4 teaspoon) of dried red hot chili pepper
  • 1 clove of garlic, chopped
  • Olive oil
  • Bread, to serve

 

Method for Gambas al Pil Pil recipe:

Heat the olive oil to gently fry the chopped garlic and the chili peppers.

Add the shrimp and fry for one more minute.

Remove from the heat and serve sizzling hot.

Don’t forget the bread for dipping and try not to burn your tongue!

 Gambas al Pil Pil Pintxo/Tapa

Learn to cook some great typical Spanish dishes on our Cookery Tour in Northern Spain.  A fantastic private tour providing an insight into Spanish Food and Drink with some interesting visits to artisan producers and medieval villages, cooking lessons, authentic lunches, gourmet tastings and a guided tour of probably the best market in the World – La Boqueria, Barcelona.

All our Culinary Tours are exclusively private and can be adapted to suit your preferences.  Contact us for your personalized quote.

Home Cooking with Ferran Adria

How many people we wonder would love to cook like famed Spanish Chef Ferran Adria, but really wouldn’t dare.   Now comes your opportunity with a new Cookery Book just published, The Family Meal: Home Cooking with Ferran Adria. Read more