Escalivada facts for kids
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| Alternative names | Escalibada |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Spain |
| Region or state | Catalonia |
| Main ingredients | Eggplants, bell peppers, olive oil, onions, tomatoes, |
Escalivada (say it: es-kah-lee-VAH-dah) is a yummy traditional dish from parts of Spain, like Catalonia, Valencia, Murcia, and Aragón. It's made from vegetables that are cooked until they are soft and have a smoky flavor.
The main veggies in Escalivada are usually roasted eggplant and bell peppers. It also often includes olive oil, and sometimes onions, tomatoes, a little bit of garlic, and salt.
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What is Escalivada?
Escalivada is a simple yet delicious dish. It's known for its smoky taste, which comes from how the vegetables are cooked. The word "Escalivada" comes from the Catalan language. It means "to cook in ashes," which tells us how this dish was traditionally made.
Where Does Escalivada Come From?
This dish is a classic from the eastern regions of Spain. It's especially popular in Catalonia, which is a region with its own language and culture. People in Valencia, Murcia, and Aragón also enjoy this tasty vegetable dish.
How is Escalivada Made?
The secret to Escalivada's great taste is in how the vegetables are cooked. They are roasted until their skins are a bit charred and smoky, and the inside becomes very soft.
Traditional Cooking Methods
In the past, and even today in some places, Escalivada was cooked over a wood fire. The vegetables would be placed directly on the glowing coals or on a grill over the fire. This gives them a unique smoky flavor. Once they are cooked, the charred skins are peeled off, and the soft insides are used.
Modern Cooking Methods
You can also make Escalivada indoors! For example, you can char the eggplant over a gas burner on a stove. Other vegetables can be roasted in an oven under the broiler. This way, you still get that lovely smoky taste without needing an outdoor fire.
How to Enjoy Escalivada
Escalivada is a very flexible dish, meaning you can eat it in many ways!
- As a snack: It can be served as tapas, which are small Spanish appetizers.
- With other foods: It's great as a side dish with grilled meats or fish, like tuna.
- In a salad: You can add it to a salad, sometimes with anchovies or olives.
- On bread: It's also often used as a topping for coca. Coca is a type of flatbread from Catalonia, a bit like a pizza.
