Table of Contents

Basque Cuisine

Pintxos

Pintxos are Basque-style tapas, typically served on small pieces of bread and secured with toothpicks. They come in a variety of flavors and combinations, from traditional options like jamón serrano and Manchego cheese to more creative offerings like anchovies with peppers and aioli. 1)

Bacalao Pil Pil

Bacalao pil pil is a traditional Basque dish made with salted cod cooked in olive oil with garlic and chili peppers. The result is a rich and flavorful sauce that emulsifies with the oil, creating a creamy texture. 2)

Marmitako

Marmitako is a hearty fisherman's stew made with tuna, potatoes, onions, and peppers, simmered together in a flavorful broth seasoned with paprika and garlic. It's a comforting and nourishing dish, perfect for cold weather. 3)

Txangurro

Txangurro is a Basque dish made with spider crab, typically cooked with onions, tomatoes, garlic, and white wine, then stuffed back into the crab shell and baked until golden brown. It's a luxurious seafood delicacy. 4)

Txipirones en su Tinta

Txipirones en su tinta is a dish made with small squid cooked in their own ink, resulting in a dark and flavorful sauce. The squid are typically stuffed with a mixture of their tentacles, onions, garlic, and breadcrumbs before cooking. 5)

Txuleta

Txuleta is a type of Basque steak made from high-quality beef, typically aged for several weeks to enhance its flavor and tenderness. It's cooked over a wood-fired grill and served rare or medium-rare, often with a side of roasted peppers or potatoes. 6)

Porrusalda

Porrusalda is a traditional Basque soup made with leeks, potatoes, carrots, and sometimes other vegetables like cabbage or peas, simmered together in a flavorful broth until tender. It's a simple yet satisfying dish, often enjoyed in the winter months. 7)

Bacalao al Pil Pil

Bacalao al pil pil is a classic Basque dish made with salted cod cooked in olive oil with garlic and chili peppers until the fish flakes apart and creates a creamy sauce. It's typically served with crusty bread for soaking up the flavorful sauce. 8)

Gâteau Basque

Gâteau Basque is a traditional Basque cake made with a buttery pastry crust filled with either pastry cream or black cherry jam. It's often decorated with a lattice pattern on top and served as a dessert or snack. 9)

Taloa

Taloa is a type of Basque cornbread made with cornmeal, water, and salt, cooked on a hot griddle until crispy and golden brown. It's often served with savory toppings like chorizo, cheese, or scrambled eggs. 10)

Chipirones Rellenos

Chipirones rellenos are stuffed baby squid, typically filled with a mixture of their tentacles, breadcrumbs, garlic, parsley, and sometimes ham or cheese. They're cooked in a tomato-based sauce until tender and served as a flavorful appetizer or main course. 11)

Piperade

Piperade is a traditional Basque dish made with sautéed onions, peppers, tomatoes, and sometimes ham or eggs, seasoned with Espelette pepper for a touch of spice. It's often served as a side dish or used as a filling for omelettes or sandwiches. 12)

Idiazabal Cheese

Idiazabal cheese is a famous Basque cheese made from unpasteurized sheep's milk, aged for several months to develop its distinctive flavor and texture. It's often served as part of a cheese board or used in cooking. 13)

Kalimotxo

Kalimotxo is a popular Basque drink made by mixing red wine with cola, creating a refreshing and slightly sweet beverage that's perfect for warm summer days or casual gatherings. 14)

Txakoli

Txakoli is a crisp and slightly effervescent white wine produced in the Basque Country, typically made from the local Hondarrabi Zuri grape variety. It's often served chilled and pairs well with seafood and pintxos. 15)