Spanish Recipe: Mojete manchego

“Mojote Manchego” is an old fashioned Spanish meal, typically eaten by the shepherds and country people of the plains of La Mancha in Spain. Castilla-La Mancha is a vast province that used to be full of sheep. These sheep, of course, had their shepherds who followed along to protect them. Because they would not return home for days at a time, shepherds carried a shallow pan called a “Gazpachera” in their packs to prepare their dinner. So, many traditional Spanish dishes in this region originated with the shepherds and hunters, even the famous “Queso Manchego” (Manchego Cheese). “Mojote Manchego” is a simple and nutritious meal that is heavy on the staple Spanish ingredients of garlic, onion and olive oil.

“Mojete manchego”

Ingredients for 4 people:

1 kg of red peppers
1 kg of scallions
3 garlic cloves
1 lemon
½ a glass of olive oil
2 tablespoons of vinegar
50 grams of black olives
1 teaspoon of cumin
Parsley
Salt

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 180ºC
Wash, peal and cut the peppers in half.
Peal the scallions and the garlic.
Wrap all of these vegetables separately in foil and put in the oven on 180ºC.
After 10 mins take out the garlic, after 30 mins take out the peppers and finally the scallions after 45 mins.
Cut the peppers and the scallions into thin slices and put in a clay pan.
Crush the salt, garlic and cumin in a mortar.
Slowly add the olive oil, vinegar and the juice of one lemon whilst continuing to crush.
When everything is properly crushed, blend it.
Put the sauce on the peppers and scallions and mix well.
Add some black olives and sprinkle with a bit of parsley.