A land of contrast, fishers and farmers, in La Janda there have been many cultures that have left their mark and part of their culinary essence in this region. You will walk through the streets that were built during the caliphate, relive important historical events such as the Battle of Trafalgar. You will be able to enjoy both the sea and inland and, above all, you will be able to delight in a cuisine marked by tradition, by the mix of cultures and flavours, and by products of its land.
Eating in La Janda means enjoying with all five senses.
The most coastal gastronomy
Vejer, Conil and Barbate make up this area of the La Janda cuisine where fish and seafood are the real protagonists. You will be able to try all kinds of fried, grilled or baked fish such as sole, red mullet or dogfish. Potatoes with fried cuttlefish or dogfish with tomato are famous.
You will also find lots of seafood such as Scarlet shrimp, prawns, clam, wedge clam, crabs or razor shell. You will be able to try them in various recipes like the sea rice or the rice with Scarlet shrimp. Although, without a doubt, the best-known fish in this land is the almadraba tuna, which has practically worldwide recognition. Try it with cooked onions, stuffed or grilled. And do not forget to try all the products and dishes that come from this fish, such as the salted tuna, tuna jerky, cured tuna roe or the ahijá tuna in oil. Eating in La Janda means to eat real food.
The inland cuisine
In bars, ventas and restaurants you will be able to try the exquisite meats of the inland of La Janda. In Medina Sidonia, Alcalá de los Gazules, Benalup-Casas Viejas and Paterna de Rivera, the retinto bovine breeds, the pig and hunt meats such as deer, rabbit, wild boar and partridge are the basis of the gastronomy of these La Janda areas. There are such exquisite dishes as the partridge stuffed with ham or the rabbit with rice. The pig slaughter is also very famous in this part of the region. Various products are made from the pig such as spicy pork sausage, large blood sausage, pork rinds or pork loin in butter.
A common cuisine
Each municipality has products and recipes according to its geographical situation. But, the truth is that all municipalities in the province of Cadiz have a series of dishes in common. So you will be able to try cold dishes like gazpacho, patatas aliñás (potatoes with dressing) or the Russian salad, stews like the collard green stew or artichokes with peas or tomato soup. Besides, in bars, ventas, restaurants and beach bars of La Janda you will be able to eat tapas and have lunch on their terraces thanks to the good temperatures in the area. The only thing you have to worry about is choosing whether you want to eat in La Janda overlooking the sea or the mountain.
Delicious pastries
Without a doubt, the sweets of Medina Sidonia are one of the great attractions of La Janda region. Their bakeries have worked for centuries maintaining the artisan tradition. They produce all kinds of sweets: tortas pardas filled with angel’s hair jam, almond amarguillos, piñonantes, sweet egg yolks, pastas, and the crowning glory: the alfajores. This sweet of Arab heritage tastes of honey, hazelnuts, almonds and spices. A delight to the palate that you cannot miss. The gastronomy of La Janda will surprise you and the wide variety of recipes and raw materials available to them when cooking their dishes will take your “hungry” away. Get to know the most delicious La Janda!