Ciudad Real Gastronomy
Ciudad Real's cuisine was originally what is known as survival food. However, today that tradition has transformed into a fare that is a true pleasure for the senses, full of flavour.
That should not be surprising,
since this region was the setting for the best-read book ever
after the Bible: Cervante's Don Quixote.
Ciudad Real's cuisine does not take a lot of work, a characteristic
it shares with other towns that are devoted to grazing and agriculture
as their main industry. Rabbit stew, atascaburras (cod and potato
stew), hartatunos (fried potatoes and peppers), fried eggs with
ham and sausage, andrajos (cod and clam) and fried breadcrumbs
are some of the best dishes, as well as eggs a la porreta (scrambled)
and alboronía (vegetable stew), made with the excellent
aubergine from Almagro. These are quick, rich, delicious specialities.
Game meats are also plentiful and good, like venison, wild boar,
rabbit, hare and specially red-legged partridge. They are prepared
using traditional recipes like rabbit with tomatoes, hare with
rice and partridge hotpot.
Ciudad Real guide