Basic Menestra

Summary

Yield
Servings
Source

All Foods Natural

Prep time45 minutes
RecipesAppetizers Main meal Spain Vegetables Side dish Simmer Moderate Europe Western cuisine

Description

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

2Cuppeas (shelled)
1Cupbroad beans (shelled)
1Cupgreen beans (cut)
2 carrots (medium sized, sliced)
1Cupartichoke hearts (halved)
2Cupcauliflower (florets)
3 eggs (hard boiled and shelled)
1⁄2Cupham (roughly chopped, optional)
1Tablespoonflour
1⁄2 onion (medium sized, minced)
1Cupolive oil
1Teaspoonpaprika
1⁄2Cupwhite wine
1Teaspoonsalt
1⁄2Teaspoonpepper
6 asparagus (cooked asparagus spears or from a jar)

Instructions

Wash, cut or dice all the hard vegetables. Shell the peas and broad beans.

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.

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.

Transfer to a warm serving dish, garnish with hard boil eggs quartered, and serve.

Nutrition facts

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%  

Notes

  • Remember, ham or bacon can be used; just sauté 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 frozen and fresh vegetables.

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

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