Three dishes of Catalan summer cuisine: the gastronomic series begins

☀️ 🏡 Introduction: Catalan cuisine for sunny days

With summer at its peak, Catalan cuisine transforms into a festival of fresh flavors, seafood, and recipes that comfort without overwhelming. In this new editorial series, we are going to explore Catalan gastronomy through complete menus composed of starter, main course and dessert, designed to share, learn and savor.

Each article will include three traditional dishes, explained step by step, with tips for buying the ingredients in Barcelona or from anywhere in the world. We will also recommend local restaurants where to try them and we will offer two international alternatives for those who want to change things up without losing the summer spirit.

🛒 Where to buy the ingredients?

If you are in Barcelona, the ideal markets are the neighborhood ones, among which the following stand out:

• Liberty Market – Plaça de la Llibertat, 27
• Market of Sant Antoni – Carrer del Comte d'Urgell, 1
• Mercat de la boqueria – La Rambla, 91

There, as in any other market in Barcelona and neighborhood shops you trust, or in any other part of the world where you live, where it's impossible for us to know every single one of them and they'll surely serve you "a 10", you'll find desalted cod, seasonal tomatoes, sweet onions, fresh fish, artisanal mató, local honey, and extra virgin olive oil.

If you're outside Catalonia, look for gourmet shops, Mediterranean markets, or supermarkets with an international section. Cod can be found dried or desalted, and the mató can be substituted with fresh cottage cheese.

🥗 Starter: Esqueixada de bacallà

🧾 Ingredients for 4 people

• 400 g of desalted cod
• 2 ripe tomatoes
• 1 sweet onion
• black olives
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Sherry vinager
• Salt, oregano

👨‍🍳 Preparation

1. Crumble the cod with your hands (esqueixar), in thin strips.
2. Cut the tomatoes and onion into small cubes.
3. Mix everything in a bowl with the olives.
4. Dress with oil, vinegar, salt and oregano.
5. Serve cold, ideally after 30 minutes of rest.

🥄 Tip: Add green pepper or hard-boiled egg for a more complete version.

🐟 Main dish: Suquet de peix

🧾 Ingredients for 4 people

• 800 g of white fish (monkfish, hake, sea bream)
• 8 prawns or prawns
• 2 medium potatoes
• 2 ripe tomatoes
• 1 cebolla
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 glass of white wine
• Fish soup
• Olive oil, salt, pepper

🌰 For the snack

• 10 roasted almonds
• 1 garlic clove
• Parsley
• Toasted bread

👨‍🍳 Preparation

1. Sauté onion, garlic, and grated tomato. Add the wine and let it reduce.
2. Add the sliced potatoes and cover with broth. Cook for 10 minutes.
3. Add the fish and shrimp. Cook for 10 more minutes.
4. Add the picada and let it cook for an additional 5 minutes.
5. Adjust salt and serve hot with bread.

🍷 Tip: Suquet can be varied with mussels, cuttlefish, or squid.

🍯 Dessert: Mel i mató

🧾 Ingredients for 4 people

• 400 g of mató (or fresh cottage cheese)
• 4 tablespoons honey
• Walnuts (optional)

👨‍🍳 Preparation

1. Divide the mate into individual bowls.
2. Drizzle generously with honey.
3. Add chopped walnuts if desired.
4. Serve cold.

🍮 Tip: You can flavor it with lemon zest or accompany it with seasonal fruits, although nuts such as walnuts, cashews, or even pistachios are ideal if you want to be more original and innovate a little.

📍 Recommended restaurants in Barcelona

For those visiting the city and wanting to try these dishes in a professional version, although it's always best to ask them directly if they'll have these dishes available that day (if not, you'll still eat wonderfully well, of course), we recommend:

• Foz Restaurant – Diputació 174 – 08011 Barcelona
• The Lola of Las Arenas – Calle Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 373-385 Loc R 3, Barcelona, 08015
• The Pebrot and the Petit Cargol – C/ Alcolea 18, Barcelona, 08014
• The 3 Oaks  – Avinguda Roma, 153 LOC. 08011. Barcelona
• Restaurant Atenea Barcelona – C/ Joan Güell 207-211, Barcelona, 08028

🌍 Two alternative options for a change

If you want to change up your menu without losing the summer spirit, here are two international cuisine suggestions:

• Greek salad: with feta, cucumber, tomato, olives and oregano.
• Peruvian white fish tiradito: with lime, yellow chili and cilantro.

And, of course, we always recommend a good Serrano ham to accompany any meal, as a starter or snack, or as an alternative for any mealtime.

🍷 Catalan drinks to accompany the summer menu

A good meal needs its pairing, and in Catalonia, summer is always served with a well-chosen glass. Here are some traditional and refreshing options to elevate the experience:

To accompany a good suquet de peix, nothing beats a crisp, dry white wine that enhances the seafood flavors without overpowering them. An excellent choice is Blanc de Blancs by Conde de Caralt, with Designation of Origin Catalonia. This young wine offers notes of pear and pineapple, light acidity, and a balanced finish that pairs perfectly with the fish and sofrito sauce of the suquet.

Its freshness and fruity profile make it the ideal companion for this traditional Catalan dish, providing a vibrant touch that elevates the experience without overwhelming the palate.

🧊 Catalan vermouth

Perfect as an aperitif. Serve chilled, with ice, olives, and orange peel. Look for vermouth from Reus or Tarragona for a more herbal and local flavor.

🥂 Cava del Penedès

The ultimate toasting drink. Ideal with suquet and also as an accompaniment to honey and killedRosé cava works very well in warmer months.

🍯 Muscat or Malvasia de Sitges

Sweet, fruity, and light. They go wonderfully with desserts, especially honey and fresh cheese.

🌿 Ratafia

A traditional digestive liqueur based on green walnuts, herbs, and spices. A small glass after dessert provides the perfect finishing touch.

🍋 Alcohol-free alternative

Sparkling water with ice, squeezed lemon, and mint leaves. Refreshing and very Catalan.

📌 Next delivery

In the following article we will talk about the “Seafood menu from the Catalan coast”, with:

• Incoming: Soup and stewed meat
• Main: Fricandó with moixernons
• Dessert: Catalan cream

Three recipes that encapsulate the essence of traditional cuisine: humble ingredients, patient technique, and profound flavor. Keep visiting other Vamos.Barcelona articles and when that pop-up window appears asking if you want to follow us, say yes, and you'll receive the latest articles with it, along with several other pieces we hope you'll love. Like Catalan food. "Let's go for the taste and find the next dishes."

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