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The cuisine of Castellon

[[Archive:Paella rice.jpg|thumb|Paella on display. The display of paella in the Castellones kitchen dominates among the rice dishes. paella rice.]] [[Archive:Arrossejat.JPG|thumb|Rossejat (o tostao) of rice.]] thumb|Curing fish are habitual. [[Archive:OllaPueblo Aín.jpg|thumb|Preparación de una olla de pueblo en el municipio de Ahín.]] [[Archive:Flaons de morella1.JPG|thumb|Flaons de Morella.]]

The cuisine of Castellon includes dishes and various culinary practices that are found in the province of Castellon (Valencian Community, Spain). The cuisine in the north of Castellon, which borders Catalonia, includes influences from both Valencia and Catalonia (Tarragona). The historical and natural region of Maestrazgo is influenced by the cuisine of Aragon. Similar to various cuisines in the east, rice is the main ingredient in many of the dishes. Castellon is also an olive-growing region.

History

The territory of the Iberian Peninsula was under Muslim rule during the Middle Ages (711 – 1492). Therefore, the cuisine of Al-Andalus (Muslim Spain) left a certain influence on the cuisine of eastern Spain. Irrigation systems were improved and thus the cultivation of rice began. After the Reconquest of Spain, some small areas of the southern inland part of the province were repopulated, mainly by the Aragonese. The botanist Antonio José de Cavanilles, outlines the vast flora of Castellon, in his work Observations on Natural History, Geography, Agriculture, community and fruits of the kingdom of Valencia.

Ingredients

The ingredients of the province of Castellon uncover a land of livestock, hence, its dairy produce should be noted. They produce a cheese which is little-known outside the region. Its dairy products are well known; among them is the tradition of serving curd as a dessert cuallà during the celebrations of Corpus Christi, as well as during the Assumption of Mary in August. Its milk produce is included in some of Spain’s best kitchens, as part of region’s best dairy produce. Due to its proximity to the province of Teruel, the cured goats cheese known as el queso de Tronchón, is very popular in the Castellon. Similar to the cuisine of neighbouring provinces, Castellon combines seafood and land-farmed ingredients in many of its dishes. The cuisine includes ingredients from La Huerta (an area which receives greater rainfall) e.g. rice, and ingredients from the dry lands e.g. almonds.

Fruit and Vegetables

Various rice dishes are typically found in the towns of Castellon, all of which also serve Paella. Other rice dishes include arroz con espardeñas (seafood rice), arroz negro (black rice), arrosejat (rice noodle dish), navideño arroz con albóndigas (rice with raisins, olives and meatballs), la paella de monataña de Esplida (duck and rabbit paella). Arroz con pato (rice with duck) is a typical dish of the festivals of San Roque where people of Nules eat it on the beach. Beans are used in various stews found in the town Catí. In relation to arrosejat, there is an alternative dish (fideos arrosejat) that uses noodles instead of rice. Produce made from grains are common in Castellon, for this reason there are many dishes similar to porridge, made using wheat flour and maize. Guixassos (similar to porridge) is made using wheat flour and chickpeas. There are also some pasta dishes such as manjovenes from Vall de Uxo and fideos arrosejat.

Similarly they infuse cereal products in Castellón, and for this reason you see many varieties of porridge (that are used mixing wheat, flour and maize). The guixassos (a type of porridge) similar to tarinetas are made mixing wheat flour and chickpeas. There are various pasta dishes also such as Manjovenes (from Vall de Uxo) and arrosejat noodles. The cakes (pastries) are prepared with different ingredients, with the most popular being tomato, vegetable and barley coke, salt (simply covered with a crust of salt), onion, spinach etc. Other typical dishes from Castellón include the walnut sauce which consists of a stew of potatoes and walnuts (potato and walnut stew), also a cake known as flaon (which is filled with cottage cheese (in Valencian it is called brull)). Another dish called pataques en pell which is mostly roast potatoes. The people from Castellón enjoy produce from all over the region including melons from Chilches and Moncofar, apples from Ortells), artichokes from Benicarlo (where the annual festival of the artichokes is celebrated), the cherries from Lower Maestrazgo and more specifically from Salsadella (all of which are towns located in the province of Castellón). However, the Saffron milk cap and red pine mushrooms are the most valued, known as the boletus edulis which are typical from the historical and natural region of Maestrago. There is also a moderate production of olive oil in the region. Of course, the big culture of oranges and mandarins stand out here also.

Meat and Fish

The slaughter of the pig gives rise to various products including ham and cured ham. Other dishes prepared are Catalan sausages and a pork dish known as fritá del matapuerco (which are fried pork chops). The wild boar is very abundant in the forests of the Natural Park of Sierra de Espadán and with its meat they prepare a pot of stew which includes the bacon and there are two types of this stew: thistle or lumpy (cabbage). Castellón de la Plana is known as the olleta de la Plana, because according to the ingredients used it can be turned into a Colleta (cabbage pot) or turned into a pot of fasting also known as “pot of people” etc. In the region of Maestrazgo, there is a very abundant livestock of sheep. Some typical dishes from the Castellón region are prepared with cured bull meat, for example la carne de toro en salsa which is bull meat served in a sauce. El tombet is among the meat stews associated with the region. It is a stew based dish which contains meat and snails. Suckling lamb is a common dish in some towns due to the influence of the Aragonese (a region in north eastern Spain) cuisine with one of its signature dishes being barbequed meat served with garlic mayonnaise. In many towns on Christmas Eve it is tradition to serve barbequed chops with alioli (garlic mayonnaise). One of the various preserved meats is the so called frito, (meat preserved in olive oil).There are various ways to prepare the hunting meat such as rabbit which can be baked served with garlic mayonnaise. It is also quite common to add so called heifer snails (which are a type of white snail).One of the famous poultry dishes is truffle-stuffed chicken, (preserved meat prepared with pork, chicken, breadcrumbs with milk, wine and truffles). A cod dish which originated from the “La Mancha” (a region in Spain) can also be found in the province. It contains cod and potatoes from the Alto Palancia district in Castellón. In relation to seafood, the shrimp of Vinaroz is very famous. There is a festival that is celebrated in August which is called “Fiestas del Langostino” which literally means “The party of the shrimp”. There are many different ways of preparing seafood such as mantis shrimp and sardines which are prepared with small octopus and octopus. Other seafood include cuttlefish, sea cucumber, red mullet, sole, and sea bream. Some of these seafood’s are prepared in a fish stock while others are diced eel from Nules (a town in eastern Spain), salted fish etc.

Confectionary

One of the typical pastries from the province of Castellon is pá-nolí, a cake that contains pumpkin or sweet potato jam on the inside (considered the sweet soul). In the capital they have malfeta coca (a sponge cake made with potato instead of flour that is made throughout the year, in regions of La Plana). Oropesina is a dessert from Oropesa del Mar (located in the province of Castellon) that contains almonds. At family celebrations, such as weddings or baptisms, macaroons, las cocas de pansas i nous (a bread containing raisins and sultanas) and los rollets d'anis (donut shaped pastries) are very popular. The ‘arrop I tallaetes’ (cranberry jams) are very popular in some communities (as well as another variant of it called ‘mudarra’). In Caudiel, they are famous for the cherries in honey.

A curd cuallá is prepared with a herb called coll (the pistil of a wild artichoke). The curds are called curdled Morella. Other typical desserts are fig rolls, buns and donuts, usually enjoyed with a glass of sherry or Moscatel (dessert wine).

References

1  ↑ Sordo, Enrique (1980). Argos Vergara, ed. How to know Spanish cuisine. Barcelona. P. 170. 2  ↑ aDionisio Pérez Gutiérrez , (1929), "Guide of the good eating Spanish" , National Patronage of the Tourism, Madrid, pp: 162-163 3  ↑ Aguilar, José (2007). PECSA, ed. Cuisine of Castellón. Pablo Aguilar. 4  ↑ Institut Catalá de la Mediterranía, ed. (nineteen ninety-six). Mediterranean food: history, culture, nutrition. Barcelona. 5  ↑ Wilhelm Giese (1962), The Romanic peoples and popular culture, Instituto Caro y Cuervo, p. 259 ↑Antonio Jose de Cavanilles, (1795-1797), Observations on Natural History, Geography, Agriculture, population and fruits of the kingdom of Valencia, Madrid