June 14, 2011

Empedrat - Beans and Cod Salad


This is a traditional Catalan dish. Its literal translation would be: Stoned; meaning done with stones. Maybe paved would be a closer translation. A funny name for a dish!
The recipe is really easy, with no cooking involved, perfect for a starter and a suitable choice for the summer. If you really feel like wasting no time in the kitchen and you want to offer your guests a different flavour... go for this one!


You can prepare this in advance, have it in the fridge and serve the plates fresh... there's no better salad on earth! My advise is to use your own cooked beans (follow this link to get some tips and advise) but if you feel lazy and not in the mood, then a high quality can would do the job.


Ingredients for 4 servings: 500 grs of white tender cooked beans, 400 grs of desalted cod, 100 grs of black olives, 250 grs of green onions, 350 grs of savory ripe tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, some parsley, salt and black ground pepper.

  • Prepare the tomatoes, olives, onion and parsley. Cut, take off the seeds and bones and reserve in separate plates.
  • In a big bowl, mix the tomatoes, beans and onion, dress with some olive oil, salt and pepper.
  • Get a mould and pour the mixture inside pressing a bit so that it doesn't fall apart.
  • Put the olives on top (either cut or in units), sprinkle with the parsley. Cut the cod in small pieces and decorate on top and circling the plate.
  • Dress with some more olive oil, salt and black pepper.
  • Place in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
  • Enjoy!


Have fun and be healthy :D

June 01, 2011

Rolled Cucumber salad


Finally the German authorities agreed and confessed that Spanish Cucumbers were not causing the deaths for E. Coli infection. How could they blame on our Cucumbers the E. Coli deaths so easily? How come they didn't make sure first with some analytics?


Well, the harm is done and now not only cucumbers but also fruits and other vegetables are having difficulties when being exported from our country. Trust is damaged and people probably think: well, let's wait a bit and see what happens. Meanwhile, tones of cucumbers and other fruits/veggies are thrown away.

I hope they find out soon the source of the problem.


I made this delicious salad to let the world know that our Spanish cucumbers are in perfect shape and health. Please, if you were a consumer, keep on buying and asking for them and if you were not, give them a chance and have a healthy vegetable in your diet now.


Maybe you can add some poppy seeds on top to make it look better?

Ingredients for 4 servings: 2 boiled eggs, 2 medium kumatos, 1 green onion, 1/2 package of smoked salmon, 1 green pepper, 2 Spanish Cucumbers, some poppy seeds, extra virgin olive oil, modena vinegar and sea salt.


  • Prepare the veggies cut in dices and marinate for a while with the vinegar and olive oil. Cut the cucumber with a mandolin, make the rolls and leave in the fridge until you serve them.



See what the New York Times says about it.
See what BBC says about it.
See what La Vanguardia says about it.

I hope you enjoy the dish.

Related Posts with Thumbnails