If you love everything summer entails—like spending your days at the beach, hanging by the swimming pool, evening cocktails on outdoor terraces, beach bars and more—you’ll love these summer recipes. Actually, with Costa del Sol’s mild climate all year round, pretty much every local recipe from Malaga’s cookbook can be turned into a great summer dish. From cold custards and creamy dishes, like the famous ajoblanco, to vinegar-soaked anchovies and traditional Malaga salads, here are some of our favourite summer recipes from Malaga!
Ajoblanco
This is probably the most popular local dish in Malaga. Especially typical in the Axarquía region, this cold soup mixes the sweetness of grapes with the bitter taste of almond, thus giving it an interesting and alluring flavour. On top of that, it’s easy to make!
Here’s the recipe:
Ingredients
- 200 gr almonds
- 2 cloves garlic
- ¼ c oil
- Vinegar
- Salt
- Water
- Muscat grapes, for garnish
Method:
- Peel the almonds. (You can do this by soaking them for several hours or blanching them in boiling water.)
- In a mortar, mash the peeled almonds, garlic cloves and a pinch of salt.
- While grinding the mixture, slowly add oil to form a white paste. This will take about 20 minutes, but it's worth it.
- Add cold water just when you’re about to serve the soup. (The amount varies depending on the consistency you want it to have.) Add vinegar and salt, to taste.
- Garnish with muscat grapes.
Porra antequerana:
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Porra antequerana or "cold porra" is a typical cold, creamy dish from Antequera, although you can find it in almost any restaurant in Costa del Sol. The dish was originally a Roman dish, and not surprisingly, it’s made with tomatoes, bread, oil, salt, peppers, white wine vinegar and garlic. Like ajoblanco, porra antequerana is a simple recipe and it’s always in style.
Here’s the recipe:
Ingredients
- Bread
- 4 ripe tomatoes
- 2 green peppers, cut
- 1 clove garlic
- A splash of vinegar
- Salt
- Boiled egg, oil-preserved tuna or chopped Serrano ham, for garnish
Method
- Tear the bread into pieces and soak.
- Meanwhile, peel the tomatoes. (This step is not required, but it will improve the texture of the dish.)
- Place the pre-cut peppers in a tall bowl. Drain the bread and add to the vegetable mixture. Pour in the olive oil, vinegar and salt, to taste. Whisk all the ingredients together.
- When all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed, add more vinegar and salt, to taste.
- Let cool for a few hours in the refrigerator.
- Before serving, add garnish of your choice.
NOTE: Many people say that a good porra antequerana is done when a spoon can be placed vertically into it and stand on its own.
Ensalada malagueña (Malaga salad)
This fresh dish is perfect for summer! Malaga salad is a perfect example of the famous “Mediterranean diet.” With this popular dish, you can simultaneously enjoy all of the flavours and fresh ingredients of the Mediterranean. Added bonus: it’s healthy!
Here’s the recipe:
Ingredients
- 1 kilo potatoes
- 1 kilo oranges
- ¼ kilo cod
- Chives
- Olives
- Parsley, chopped
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Salt
Method
- Start by roasting the cod and leaving it to soak. Once it’s fully soaked, drain the cod and crumble it into small pieces.
- Peel the potatoes and cut them into small pieces to help them cook quickly. When they're done, put them aside.
- Peel the oranges. Cut them into chunks, leaving a few larger wedges for garnish.
Chop chives into thin slices.
- Put all the ingredients in a container and season them. Be generous with the oil!
- Garnish with orange wedges and chopped parsley.
Boquerones en vinagre:
While this dish may have come from Costa del Sol originally, it’s appreciated all over Spain. Made with anchovies, which are incredibly common in the Mediterranean, this dish is both healthy and easy.
Here’s the recipe:
Ingredients
- 1 kilo fresh anchovies
- 2 tbsp coarse salt
- ½ liter white vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, finely-chopped
- 2 bunches fresh parsley
- Extra virgin olive oil
Method
- Clean the anchovies, washing them well and leaving only the fleshy meat. (We recommend freezing them for 48 hours before cooking to avoid anisakis.)
- In a container with a lid, pour in vinegar and dilute with salt.
- Place the anchovies in the vinegar until they are fully covered. Close the container and let them marinate in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
- Drain the anchovies and put them in a separate container.
- Add finely-chopped garlic, parsley and a little olive oil, to taste.
The Mediterranean diet is a lifestyle, one based on a balanced and varied diet of foods obtained locally and naturally. All over Costa del Sol, many local and popular dishes are based on this diet. The best part? It works! Numerous clinical studies support this diet and prove that the consumption of these kinds of foods reduces oxidative stress and prevent diseases like obesity, Alzheimer's, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and more.
If you are passionate about trying new flavours while eating healthy, you will love the typical food of Costa del Sol. These tasty Malaga recipes are often found in the province’s charming beach bars, tapas bars and restaurants. Make them for yourself and experience the flavours of our beloved Costa del Sol from your very own kitchen.
