Eat Play Stay Spain - A Story of Tapas Part 5 - Pimientos de Padrón...

Pimientos de Padrón or Padrón peppers are named after the municipality of Padrón where they are grown. Padrón is in in the province of A Coruña, in Galicia, northwestern Spain and these small green peppers are mild in taste but a small amount will be quite spicy which is what makes these peppers so unusual. It is said to be down to not only how much water and sunlight they receive but strangely how they are watered. It is believed that if just the roots are watered then mild pimientos will grow but if the whole plant is watered then they will end up being spicy. However there is no actual knowing as to whether what you are about to taste will be spicy or mild, it is literally a Russian roulette of tasting...

There are around 15,000 kg of Padrón peppers cultivated each year in the region and there is even a Fiesta in their honour, the Festa do Pemento de Padrón. Thousands attend the event and eat the tapas of Pimientos de Padrón in celebration of these emerald green gems. It is said that the risk is in their own hands with every bite with the saying "Os pementos de Padrón, uns pican e outros non" translated to "Padrón peppers, some are hot, some are not".

Eaten on their own as a tapa or as an added ingredient in a recipe they are quite simply delicious...

Pimientos de Padrón...

Ingredients

• Pimientos de Padrón
• Olive Oil
• Sea or Rock Salt

1. Wash and pat dry the peppers
2. Heat the oil over a medium heat
3. Fry the peppers whole until they blister and begin to turn brown. Whilst the stems are not eaten they are left on.
4. Remove the Pimientos de Padrón from the pan draining well of oil and sprinkle with salt. Serve immediately

It is a simple as that!!! All you need to do is taste to discover the heat of your Pimientos de Padrón...

Here's how the Story of Tapas is looking so far with this welcomed addition to the table...

Don't forget to read the other articles in the Eat Play Stay Spain series 'A Story of Tapas' to find out some interesting facts along the way for great conversation as you recreate 'Eat Spain' at home for your friends and family... After all Tapas is a wonderful way to dine and perfect for a very sociable evening...