How to make
Spanish cuisine is as rich and varied, as well as the eating habits.
La Picada is part of the patterns of arranging and combining various favorite Spanish appetizers - hot or cold, but always accompanied by toasted slices of baguette, grated tomato and Aioli .
Appetizers/Tapas are arranged on the table and shared by everyone.
Picada can be served simply as an appetizer with a nice drink or directly in this form for a hearty lunch or dinner. Everything depends on the platters themselves, prepared for the purpose, as well as their quantity.
To make a nice Picada, the possibilities are practically unlimited, but almost necessarily, in addition to the toasted bread, the undisputed favorite Jamon is present. It is usually served finely chopped and in the same plate it is placed on the Manchego cheese. The fried almonds can be added to the jamon platter or in a separate bowl.
The patatas bravas are also one of the must-haves in a Picada. They are cut into cubes and fried until golden. They can also be semi-cooked in advance and then fried, so that they do not remain raw inside, since they are larger.
They are sprinkled with salt, salsa brava, which is spicy and aioli or mayonnaise.
Olives are the other protagonists in Picada - they can be of various types and are usually combined with chips. Marinated anchovies (boquerones en vinagre) are also present in this tandem, but mostly pitted olives are added with an anchovy filling.
Often at more refined tables, the picada is served with goose liver - baked, or as a pate, served with blueberry or other jam.
Platters with shrimp or other seafood, fish pastrami, cuttlefish, all kinds of Salchichón and Chorizo-type sausages, various croquettes, breaded calamari and even tortilla pieces.
You can see for yourself how diverse a Picada can be.
After all the platters are arranged on the table, the bread slices are toasted, so that they are warm. Serve with a bowl of grated tomatoes mixed with a clove of garlic and olive oil and a separate bowl of Aioli.
An empty plate is placed in front of each person on the table, so that they can take as much as they want from the Picada.
Try to make your own combination for a wonderful picada, keeping in mind the ideas I have given.
Eat with pleasure and enjoy the good mood!
