Basic Spanish menestra

This is the recipe most Spaniards will use when cooking a menestra at home.

Basic menestra recipe

This is the most traditional way to prepare a menestra. To prevent the sauce from sticking to the bottom of the pan once simmering, just shake the it.

Ingredients

2 cup    peas   1 cup    broad beans, shelled   1 cup    cut green beans   2   medium carrots   1 cup    artichoke hearts, halved   2 cup    cauliflower   3   eggs, hard boiled   1/2 cup    chopped ham (optional)

1 tbs    flour   1   medium onion, minced   1/4 cup    olive oil   1/2 tsp    paprika   1/2 cup    white wine     salt and pepper   6   white thick asparagus spears, already boiled or from a jar

Procedure

1. Wash, cut or dice all the hard vegetables. Shell the peas and broad beans.
2. Set the oil in a deep pan over a medium low heat. Add onion and ham, if used, when hot. Fry both gently until the onion is soft and translucent, 5 to 6 minutes. Add vegetables and cook until the vegetables start to soften, 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Add paprika and flour. Cook 2 to 3 minutes more. Add the wine, stirring softly to mix well. Cover with water, lower the heat and simmer 30 to 40 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. Season, add the asparagus; simmer for 5 minutes more.
4. Transfer to a warm serving dish, garnish with hard boil eggs quartered, and serve.

Servings: 6 Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 25 minutes Ready in: 60 minutes Serving size: 1 serving Percent daily values based on a 2000 calorie diet. Nutrition information calculated from recipe ingredients.

Amount Per Serving       Calories   252.22   Calories From Fat (49%)   124.19       % Daily Value Total Fat 13.89g   21%   Saturated Fat 2.72g   14%   Cholesterol 125.47mg   42%   Sodium 618.93mg   26%   Potassium 562.08mg   16%   Carbohydrates 20.58g   7%   Dietary Fiber 6.98g   28%   Sugar 6.41g       Sugar Alcohols 0.00g       Net Carbohydrates 13.60g       Protein 10.52g   21%

Cooking Tips

• Remember, ham or bacon can be used; just saute before the onion. Two slices of Serrano cut into stripes add a nice touch. Another nice touch is garnishing with hard boiled egg quarters.
• Make it speed cooking by using frozen cut green beans and artichoke hearts, baby carrots (cut them in half for faster cooking) and frozen peas. It is OK to use a mix of forzen and fresh vegetables.