Roasted Tomato Soup with Paprika

Tomato soup is a firm winter favourite for lunch or as a starter (or take it to work like we do). The key to flavour is roasting the tomatoes and red bell peppers which really does make all the difference, the roasting can be done in the oven or even better on the outdoor barbeque for that smokey influence.

Sticking with a red theme this rustic soup was served in hand painted ceramic bowls from the 'Bailen' range offering up a real Spanish experience, something plain white or standard just wouldn't be right!

Ingredients:

1 small onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, crushed
6 large vine tomatoes, roasted
2 large red peppers, roasted
1 tsp hot smoked paprika
1 pint chicken stock

How to make:

1. Roast the tomatoes and peppers until soft and blackened, remove from the heat and wrap in newspaper for 30 minutes then peel and chop.

2. Heat a splash of olive oil in a terracotta casserole and gently fry the garlic, add the tomatoes, peppers and smoked paprika and cook for 15 minutes over a low heat.

3. Add chicken stock, season with salt and pepper to taste then bring to the boil before turning down immediately and leaving to simmer for 30 minutes.

4. The may be strained at this point but for the rustic version use a hand blender to puree any larger pieces of tomato and pepper then serve with fresh crusty bread and a swirl of cream....

Braised Beef in Tomatoes and Paprika

This recipe for slow braised beef was cooked in a rectangular 'bandeja' or terracotta roasting tray although a good sized cazuela would do just as well.

Cooking such a dish in terracotta means that the beef can also be popped into the outdoor clay oven for a few hours such is the heat retaining properties of the terracotta itself. There is of course the satisfaction of 'cooking in clay', a natural product which once you have tried it you may be reluctant to go back to using your metal tray..!

This recipe for braised beef uses tomatoes and a hint of smoked paprika for a nice Spanish influence. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

2kg Beef (cheap cut for braising)
1 Large Onion
8 Garlic Cloves, peeled
500g Tinned Tomatoes
1/2 Teaspoon Sweet Smoked Paprika
Ground Black Pepper
Olive oil
Fresh Rosemary

How to Cook:

1. Peel and slice your onion into rings, lay the onion slices on the bottom of the terracotta roasting tray.

2. Place the beef on top of the onions.

3. Open the tinned tomatoes and chop roughly mixing in the paprika before pouring (inc the juice) around the beef.

4. Peel the garlic cloves and sprinkle around the beef.

5. Drizzle olive oil over the beef then sprinkle with the pepper.

6. Place your fresh rosemary over the top of the meat and slow cook for 3 hours at 140 degrees adding water of required.

For more Spanish terracotta cookware including grill and stove top sets click here

Ceramic Tapas Bowls

Spanish ceramics are bright, colourful and beautifully designed, Spanish tapas really do need to be served in typically Spanish Tapas Bowls so a few days ago we paid a visit to a town called Purullena about an hours drive East of Granada. To say that the selection of Spanish ceramics was extensive is an understatement!

Every shape, every size, every colour from Granada and also other regions of Spain, each with their own regional influence and design. Good job we emptied the boot of the car before leaving... The village itself is famous for its ceramics and when you drive through you are met by ceramic shops on both sides of the road, open shops displaying every colour of Spain imaginable.

The day turned out to be very productive learning about different ceramic pieces and forging a few new business relationships with some small family operations who had been in the ceramic game for decades.

Next day was the photo shoot outside on the patio, following the visit to Purullena we have introduced 18 new ceramic lines, from regions including Granada, Jaen and Navarra. With worldwide shipping these ceramics are available to all so why not pop into the Spanish and take a look HERE

Spanish Ceramics Australia

Orce Serrano Hams in Australia

Buying traditional Spanish ceramics in Australia has, until now been slightly difficult for those who perhaps only require a few pieces. The cultural tapas scene has really taken off down under and there are a surprising number of Spanish expats living in Australia. An increasing demand for Spanish themed tapas bars and eateries has led to an equally high demand of Spanish ceramics so when we were approached by managing director of “Artesano” Sarah Beard we were more than happy to help out.

Logistics to the other side of the world does take some organising but nearly 300kg of hand made ceramics later Artesano received its first pallet just in time for the Portuguese and Spanish festival. The festival is held in Sydney and attracts over 16000 visitors including the public and businesses. Part of the consignment were our ceramics from Guadix made by Juan Manuel, prior to this festival the furthest these ceramics had travelled was to Germany so you can imagine how intrigued Juan Manuel was to see his work on display in Sydney.

The festival was a huge success with all the ceramics proving popular, from simple tapas dishes to large 37cm terracotta cazuelas. Until now, ceramics from Guadix (Granada region) have been unavailable in Australia so if you are considering Spanish pieces for your establishment or would like to place an order then we highly recommend speaking to Sarah at “Artesano”

If you are tempted by what you see then keep an eye out for Artesano, an online retail store is due to go live early this summer.

Buy Spanish ceramics in Australia >>>


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The Tapas Table ~ 10 Tapas Ideas

Hosting a Spanish tapas party? Try these top 10 ideas to make it go off with a bang!

Spanish tapas, almost everyone knows what they are, where they are from, what they can be and yet not even a Spaniard would dare tell you that they knew the true origin of tapas, yes there are theories but which one is the most plausible..? The Spanish tapa has, over recent years spread from Spain to bars and restaurants all over Europe. One such country where tapas have taken gastronomic bars and eateries by storm is the United Kingdom where it seems that you cannot enough of the humble Spanish “tapa”.

Another popular way of enjoying Spain’s tapas culture is to host your own tapas party, this can involve creating a whole range of plates with small bites of food and also conjuring up some famous recipes such as “Gambas al Pil Pil”, stuffed garlic mushrooms or paella. So how do you make your Spanish tapas table truly Spanish? Well there are other things to consider and with a little imagination you can really impress the guests with both hot and cold tapas recipes as well as unique ways to serve them.

1. Jamon: If you are really going to town on your tapas party consider a ham, a Serrano ham need not break the bank and always proves to be a great centerpiece, with front legs available and including a stand for under 100 euros you are already half way there with one of Spain’s most famous exports.

2. Ceramics: Spain is a very colourful country and in certain respects rustic the further inland you travel. Spanish ceramics come in many guises from bright yellows, brown terracotta’s and the traditional blue, green and white designs from the Granada region. Ceramics are inexpensive and small tapas servers all add to that “Spanish feel” of your tapas party.

3. Embutidos: Embutidos are cured meats, we have already mentioned ham but there is a wide range of Spanish cured sausages which can grace and add real flavour to your spread of food. Try some authentic chorizo’s, salchichon (cured sausages) lomo (cured pork tenderloin).

4. Paella: As with ham carved straight from the leg paella can also be served from the pan in small tapas portions, particularly handy if your having a large number of guests. To make serving the paella even more authentic there are mini 10cm paella pans which can be purchased as paella tapas servers.

5. Gazpacho Shots: A fantastic way of serving cold gazpacho soup either indoors or out, the soup is served in hollowed out cucumber “shots glasses” see recipe here

6. Salsa’s: May seem an obvious one but get the flavours going with the famous Canary island salsa or “Mojo” sauce. Served in small colourful tapas bowls mojo sauce will have guests intrigued particularly if they haven’t tried it before, just keep a good supply of bread sticks handy!

7. Mojama: Among the many seafood tapas available mojama is the king. Popular with a cold beer in Madrid this cured tuna loin should be sliced wafer thin, a truly unique flavour.

8. Cava: Set the party off with a bang, Spanish cava is inexpensive and great for greeting the guests, also try Asturian cider or to go the whole hog buy in some Spanish beers such as Cruz Campo, Mahou, Alhambra or Estrella.

9. Cazuelas: The famous terracotta dish which has a multitude of functions. Cazuelas come in a huge range of sizes and have tremendous insulation properties so can be used in the oven, on the hob and even barbeque. Ideal for serving those sizzling chili garlic prawns.

10. Crema Catalana: No not the dessert but the liqueur… Nice over ice!

For further info on tapas and a range of authentic food take a browse around the online deli and should you have any questions don't hesitate to get in touch.


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Hand made Spanish ceramics

Hand made Spanish ceramics. There's a lot more to Spanish ceramics than one might think... Here at Orce Serrano Hams we have continually been on the lookout for an artisan supplier of traditional ceramics, you know, one of those little back street shops that unless you knew was there would walk straight past and ultimately miss a real artisan experience. Little did we know that a day visiting the depot of our courier Nacex we would both find our supplier of some very exceptional ceramics and also visit one of oldest cave museums in Andalucia.

As with many things in rural Andalucia all good plans are thrown out the window to make way for alternative arrangements. Originaly we were having a day in the office catching up on the all important paperwork and trying to reduce a bank of 60+ recipes as well as organising a trip to a ham carving feria later in the year. A relaxing day in the office - not on your nelly!

The whole Spanish "day" began three ago weeks when the boss of Nacex (one of the most reliable couriers in Spain) sent a mini brochure from a business in Guadix that produces some of the finest serrano hams in the region. Interested we rang our man at Nacex "Rodrigo" to ask if there was anyone we should ask to speak to (not what you know its who you know). Turns out the jamon supplier was at a gourmet feria in Madrid but far be it from us to turn down a free coffee and tostada from a man who knows "many people".

Tostada devoured in a hotel that is owned by another guy who supplies cheese to Orce Serrano Hams we were thinking well what now? Remember the guy who makes the ceramics said Rodrigo, yes we replied, then lets go and see him. After driving through several back streets only negotiable through local knowledge we arrived in front of a seemingly normal shop/production premises that boasted plenty of terracotta.

Upon entering through the somewhat intrigueing doors I wish I had had the camera set up, a middle age man carefully striking away at a ceramic pot over a bench, almost head to toe in clay. The concentration on his face said it all. Looking to the right revealed rows and racks of ceramics from decorative pieces to the smallest tapas servers.

Juan Manuel, the maker of such things welcomes us and the camera into his establishment as well as Rodrigo who is by now in full Spanish swing talking about what we do, what we send to the UK and how interested we are in his ceramics. Now its one thing walking into a shop and eyeing up the whole array of products on offer but to see a old workbench covered in terracotta, sponges, tools and nearly finished pieces is quite another. Little be known to Juan Manuel the decision had more or less already been made to stock his items, it simply just doesn't come any better than this.

Like Orce, the town of Guadix is famous for its cave dwellings. You get the feeling though that Guadix although a bigger town has grasped the whole tourism angle much quicker than other neighbouring towns and villages. This became immediatly apparent looking at the ceramic cave novelties lined up row after row on the shelves, well finshed and very unique, you can tell Juan Manuel knows his supply and demand.

All became even clearer when after a bombardment of questions from us he suddenly asked "would you like to see the cave museum?" Of course we said yes thinking that this would be another excursion around the town but the museum was directly across the road only a few yards away from wher we had parked. It actually looked like a bar from the outside but upon entering you soon realised that it was in fact, an old cave full of Spanish antiques and of course a ceramic shop attached...

More on the cave museum later.

Elaborate pieces, these items are again hand made, its not until you get up close that you can fully appreciate the time and work that goes into something like this. Can't for the life of me remember what they are called but these pieces are traditional items from Gaudix town.

Less than 24 hours later our order of tapas bowls, olive servers, chupitos and quite a few other items arrived with Nacex. The new range is planned to go live for the end of April.