Gastronomy is one of the Costa Blanca’s main attractions; enjoying the famous Mediterranean diet, which is so rich and varied when it comes to rice, meat, fish, seafood, vegetables, and fruit is a big attraction not only for tourists but also for residents of the area, including those in Cumbre del Sol Residential Resort! Join us on a tour of Benitatxell’s typical dishes.
One of the most common dishes in Benitatxell is puchero. This is a type of stew with meat and different vegetables, typically presented in three courses. The first is the broth of the stew, accompanied by rice or noodles. Second, the meat and vegetables used to make the stew. Lastly, you will be served a sweet “ball” made from sugar, almond, sweet potato, cinnamon, and lemon. Although puchero is a typical dish in the area, this sweet dessert gives the dish its local touch, as it is only made in Benitatxell. This dish is normally enjoyed with family on Sundays or bank holidays and is very common at Christmas time.
Coca is typical in Mediterranean cuisine, also found in the region of Marina Alta. Its creation begins with flour, water, oil, and salt, and this dough is then accompanied by different ingredients. The most typical in the area are anchovies, pepper, onion, and aubergine.
Fish is a must in this coastal region and if there is one typical dish from Benitatxell’s fishing traditions, it’s cruet. This is made with rock fish, a typical fish in the area which adds a distinct and intense flavour, accompanied by potatoes and tomato. Other seafood dishes to sample in Benitatxell are arroz a banda, rice with cuttlefish, and octopus puchero, though these are not exclusive to the municipality and can be enjoyed throughout the entire Mediterranean area.
A typical product of the area is broad beans, known more often in the region as faves thanks to the influence of the Valencian language. The beans are used to make dishes such as rice with broad beans or the famous faves sacsades in which the beans are accompanied by sautéed vegetables with poached eggs, cold meat, and rice. A good way to discover some of the area’s typical dishes made with broad beans is by attending the Wine and Broad Beans Festival, held every year in April, in which these beans take centre stage. There are talks and a tapas fair to tell people about this local product and the different ways in which it is used.
As with all types of cuisine, sweet treats are a must! One of the most well known in the area are pasteles de boniato (sweet potato cakes), which have a similar shape to empanadillas but a very sweet flavour. It’s very common to see these around Christmas time.
Buñuelos (doughnuts) are another of the area’s typical sweet dishes. They are made with pumpkin mixed with flour and have a distinctive ring shape. They are normally served with sugar or chocolate sauce and can be found at fairs and markets such as the Christmas Market on the 16th December.
Caspell is another sweet dish which is typical in the area, made with flour, oil, muscatel raisins, and almond sugar.
If your taste buds are tingling and you would like to taste the typical dishes in Benitatxell for yourself, visit the restaurants in the area. For example, at Restaurant La Cumbre in Cumbre del Sol Residential Resort, you will always find high quality, local products. And, if you don’t want to miss out on the news and latest events in the area, follow our blog and our social media channels!
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