Local Food Heroes

Up here in Villa Andalucía Cómpeta, we are all about embracing the culture of the area we live in, the Axarquía!

Part of that culture is of course the world-renowned Mediterranean diet.

Full of golden olive oil, spicy garlic, juicy tomatoes, locally grown nuts, and fruit; the Mediterranean diet is proven to ensure healthy hair, skin, nails, and a long life. All of that under the sunny skies of Málaga province. What could be better? This is the first in our foodie series and we hope that you enjoy picking up our tips and tricks to get the best gastronomic experience while visiting us.

Spain is a vast country with many regions and gastronomic cultures. Málaga Province, as a rule, has always relied heavily on fishing as a source of local food which again is high in healthy fats and the flavours of the coast. However, more mountainous regions like Cómpeta, where we live also have a tradition of meats.

Spain and the Spanish are still very much seasonal eaters, and most bars and restaurants will have seasonal dishes to choose from. Some of our favourite dishes that we consider heroes of the Mediterranean diet that you should expect to find in Málaga and the areas surrounding Villa Andalucía here in Cómpeta are below. Try them out and be sure to let us know where you found the best offerings!

Fritura Malaguena

Fritura malagueña is a variety of fish fried in olive oil and served with a wedge of lemon or homemade ali-oli if you´re lucky.

One of the best things about the ‘fritura malagueña’ is that it was created to be shared, it usually includes, calamares, boquerones, white fish and baby squid.

Accompany with “tomate aliñeado” fresh chopped tomatoes, with chopped garlic, parsley and olive oil and of course a crisp glass of Albariño for a maximum wow factor.

Gambas Pil Pil

I love to hear this sizzling sound Gambas Pil -Pil

Fresh prawns are a Málaga speciality and they are cooked in many ways making them a treat every time. 

Gambas Pil Pil is a classic and when it is done well it is often a firm favourite, and it is definitely my favourite!

The prawns are flash fried with garlic, paprika, chillies and olive oil, ensuring a spicy yet fresh flavour. We can promise you won’t want to leave a drop behind. Make sure you don´t eat all your bread before you´ve received your prawns, you’ll be dying to mop up the spicy olive oil left behind. A true Mediterranean hero!

Albóndigas en Salsa de Almendros

Albóndigas (meatballs) are a Spanish classic and served all over the country, but the sauce is the key that will always give away the region you are in. Málaga’s version is a sauce made with ground almonds, which gives the dish a soft, sweet taste with a slightly rough texture that complements the meatballs perfectly. You will see these meatballs sitting in the tapas cabinet of almost any bar in the Málaga area and you should never pass up a tapa to try! What is Cómpeta’s let me know!

Rabo de Toro

Another one of my favourites and one of the most flavourful Andalusian dishes is bull’s tail or ‘Rabo de Toro’. It abounds on Málaga’s menus and is likely to be one of the foodie experiences of your visit. The tail is diced into thick chunks and is gently stewed for hours in a sauce of red wine, stock to the point that the meat is so tender it simply falls off the bone. It is this slow-cooking that also gives the meat a beautifully tender texture and infuses the sauce with its rich, noble flavours.

Here at Villa Andalucía, we will always be able to recommend our firm favourites in the area, but we’d love your feedback on where you have enjoyed while visiting or what is at the top of the list for this year!

We hope you enjoyed our guide to the local food heroes. Go and have a look at some of my favourite RESTAURANTS

Happy Eating