Paella

Gastronomy in the Rio Mula region


Gastronomy in the Mula River region is a combination of traditional food and culinary innovation. In its composition, it contains products from the garden, meat, fish, and snails.

The Mula River region is made up of the municipalities of Albudeite, Pliego, Mula, and Campos del Rio. It is located in the centre of the province of Murcia.

In its culinary offerings, we find baked octopus, seafood paella, fish casserole, and different types of boiled and fried fish and snails, the latter as members of the typical rice dish with rabbit and snails.

Rice with rabbit and snails

The rabbit, after being seasoned with salt and pepper, slowly browns in olive oil. Subsequently, peppers that have been previously baked are placed, as are cut tomatoes. Then the rice and water are added so that it softens and takes on the flavour of the rabbit and other ingredients.

Later, the snails are added to complement the dish with an exquisite flavour. It is customary to add, near the end of the cooking period, lemon juice, thyme leaves, parsley, and saffron.

Great variety of dishes

Another typical dish in the gastronomy of the Mula River region is “Zarangollo”. It is a combination of vegetables and eggs with a mild flavour and easy digestion. Garnish the garlic and onion in olive oil in small squares. Afterward, browning potatoes are added, also in small squares, and covered to soften.

Then zucchini is added, of the same shape and size. It is seasoned with salt and pepper. Finally, eggs are beaten and added to the vegetables. This dish is usually accompanied by a fresh tomato salad.
 
Fresh vegetables 
Fresh vegetables are featured in the gastronomy of the Mula River region. Another typical dish with a mild flavour is “Pipirrana”. It is a salad prepared with tomato, onion, pepper, and cucumber. It is prepared with some variations, such as with cooked egg. Sometimes meat or fish are added; in some regions, even sausages are added.

In different restaurants, it is prepared by adding cod or sardines, tomato, lettuce, black olives, olive oil, lemon, and salt. Without a doubt, it is a complete salad-type dish, but very rich in ingredients and flavours.
In addition, an exquisite and somewhat more succulent dish is “Puchero de Hinojos”, which, although it might seem soft by name, is prepared with white beans and fennel that gives the dish its aroma. It integrates a larger dish, as it is usually served with pork.

In the gastronomy of the Mula River Region, the traditional “artesa” bread cannot be left out. It owes its name to the fact that the flour is kneaded in a wooden container, which becomes hollow and rectangular in shape. It is used, even today, to knead the bread.

Christmas sweets are in high demand among the sweets made in the region. Among them, the “tortas de pascua”, the “suspiros”, the different nougats, the chocolates, and the “buñuelos” stand out in the gastronomy of the Mula River region.

The rice pudding is a typical dessert. It is prepared with milk and sugar and is taken both cold and hot. It is usual to prepare it with cinnamon and/or lemon peel.