Totalán

Description

Totalán's gastronomy still shows the rich Andalusian gastronomic heritage. Its mainstay is the traditional Mediterranean cuisine based on bread, wine, garlic and olive oil, all of which are excellent in the Axarquia area.

Among the typical dishes you can enjoy in Totalán are chanfaina, fried pumpkin, gazpacho, ajoblanco and maimones, as well as the excellent local sweet wine.
Among all the dishes, the most important is the Chanfaina, which has its own festival in the village: the Fiesta de la Chanfaina, declared a festival of provincial tourist interest, in which all residents and visitors can taste the famous dish free of charge on the last Sunday of November every year.

Totalán - 5 Key Points

- Chanfaina: this is the typical dish par excellence of the locality and has managed to be honoured every last Sunday in November, with a festival declared of provincial tourist interest since 2005, which has recognised this dish for having been the livelihood of so many farmers who replenish their strength in the laborious agricultural campaigns of the place and which still continues to be so. The ingredients of chanfaina are: potatoes, olive oil, vinegar, garlic, breadcrumbs and a variety of spices: oregano, saffron, pepper, cloves, cumin and bay leaf. If desired, it can be topped with sliced meat or black pudding. It is very simple to prepare: the potatoes are fried in olive oil. When they are ready (not too done), set them aside. The meat is fried in the same oil. Then prepare the seasoning with breadcrumbs, garlic, saffron, pepper, cloves, cumin, oregano, salt and vinegar. Finally, everything is boiled together in a saucepan and can also be supplemented with sliced black pudding.

- Maimones: this is a typical local soup. It is made with a sauce of tomato, pepper and garlic. A little salt and paprika are added. Water and a few pieces of sliced bread are added to the sauce, and finally it is simmered with a little mint.

- Fried pumpkin: cut the pumpkin into small pieces and fry them in a frying pan with olive oil and add chopped garlic. When everything is fried, you can add tomato sauce and some slices of black pudding.