Asturias: “The Faba Asturiana Bean, a Culinary Marvel” GUIDE of the Best Fruits and Vegetables

Asturias Asturias: “the faba asturiana bean, a culinary marvel” GUIDE of the Best Fruits and Vegetables

64 www.frutas-hortalizas.com Asturias

Fruit and vegetable growing in the Principality of Asturias has made major pro- gress in recent years, shifting from traditional outdoor cropping for household con- sumption to market gardens operating on a commercial scale and introducing modern cultivation techniques, while preserving the family-oriented and rural character of the region. The major individual products are the faba bean and the potato, both being staples of the regional cuisine and playing the central role in recipes such as fabada bean stew, fabas and game, fabas and fish, etc. They also make a great garnish for gourmet de- licacies such as Chosco de Tineo Asturian beef. All these dishes pair wonderfully with the excellent local Vino de la Tierra de Cangas and traditional Pan de Escanda bread, followed by any of the wide range of the region’s cheeses. Another key Asturian crop is apple, used almost exclusively for making cider; the region also produces kiwi and cranberry, and a whole range of organic farming pro- ducts. GUIDE of the Best Fruits and Vegetables

65 www.frutas-hortalizas.com www.frutas-hortalizas.com 66 GUIDE of the Best Fruits and Vegetables Asturias in the world for its Asturias is known known is Asturias mountains, for its mines, for fabada fabada for mines, best-known dish. stew and cider. coal and iron the region’s the Fabada is is Fabada del ParaísoNatural. Alimentos label quality own Asturias’ of Principality geographical indication. protected a obtaining by encouraged further be to 55,000 at stands tion ding flavour and culinary properties. Current produc- outstan- of potato a to home also is region The nes. area of 160 aches 4,879 hectolitres. traditional cider-apple varieties; annual output appro- with only made Asturias, de Sidra origin of nation cooked. sacks, vacuum-packed with pork products, or ready- re isexpectedtoriseinupcomingyears. under a PGI, with an output of 220,000 the 2007 grown tosuchfinenessandflavour. it is only in the Principality that the faba bean can be because surprise, cider.’no and is stew This fabada for mines, iron and coal its for mountains, its for rias,’ wrote Mario Vargas Llosa, ‘is known in the world Many of these products are certified by the by certified are products these of Many Asturias produces excellent kiwis on a cultivated The region is also home to the protected desig- The authentic Asturian faba is packed in cotton Faba beanthrivesallacrossthePrincipality. In ‘Astu- region’sdish. the best-known is Fabada

marketing year, 116 ha, with annual output reaching 2500 tonnes, and the product is set is product the and tonnes, ha of Asturian faba came kg. The figu- ton- 67 www.frutas-hortalizas.com GUIDE of the Best Fruits and Vegetables