Depending on who you ask, pintxo translates to ‘spike' (hence the use of toothpicks through foods), small plates, or the one we subscribe to an excuse to socialise.
The Basque country and Navarre's take on finger food hails from the north of Spain, with the stunning coastal town of San Sebastian arguably its HQ.
For the transient tourist, pintxos (pronounced peen-tchos) could easily be mistaken for tapas, but the bite-size, flavour-jammed morsels vary slightly from their southern counterparts. The town’s strong fishing history means seafood is a star contender, with salt cod (bacalao), octopus, mussels, anchovies, lobster and hake all abounding.
In San Sebastian particularly, Spanish chefs have applied French nouvelle cuisine techniques to their tapa creations, lending more time to presentation.
The Basque country is dotted with bars where jocular locals and tourists elbow it out to swipe small plates off the counter. The floor is a sea of crumbs and napkins; beer and wine is swilled with loud conviviality. Pintxos is not a meal to be savoured – diners usually move onto the next bar after a few plates for the next round: it’s the ultimate progressive meal.
While we save for our next trip to the land of siestas and sangria, we do so without abstaining from this laidback fete par excellence. Here’s everything you need to know to throw your own pintxos party - sans the view. Sorry.
You don’t eat pintxos alone
Squeeze in as many people as you can to really recreate that stuffy, sweaty San Sebastian pintxos bar vibe. If you’re feeling game, add a few neighbours or folks you’re not so acquainted with to the fold – pintxos bars are always teeming with people just off work, hungry and keen to chat. You’re almost certain to walk away with new acquaintances at best; this is not a romantic meal for two.
First, get rid of the furniture
This is also not a sit-down dinner. Bar tables are the order of the day and if you don’t have those, make use of any counters or bench tops, which will house all your lovely, overcrowded raciones (plates to share). Put the dining chairs away, too; your home will never look so spacious.
There are no set rules
The only limit is your imagination! Go with piquant flavour pairings, plenty of seafood, and food on sticks. A gilda (a skewered, oily, olive, anchovy and pickled chilli combo) is one such Bilbao hit, as is the bacon and sausage fry-up, the cazuelitas. Slider-like buns also appear on many pintxos menus, so don’t be afraid to give yours a Spanish flavour injection with help from pimiento and paprika. We love and in Sydney for stocking up our Spanish spice and smallgoods rack.
A Banderillas is a must
Spain’s answer to the grazing board is crammed with marinated artichoke hearts, Piquillo peppers, white tuna and anchovies, pickled herring, jamón, food skewered onto toothpicks and bread with garlicky, tomatoey smears. Banderillas encourage mingling faster than any icebreaker - what’s more communal than dropping squid juice on someone you barely know?
Finally, the menu!
As we mentioned above, there are no hard and fasts, but should you need a little pintxos inspo, look no further:
Spiced pork skewers (pintxos morunos)
This speedy, skewered barbecue pork is the ultimate no-fuss party food. The zingy roast capsicum mayo () on top will have guests lifting their elbowing game..
Catalan flatbread
Spiced pork skewers (pintxos morunos) Source: SBS Food
While seafood is usually the star of pintxos, prices can quickly add up. Frank Camorra’s leavened flatbreads are the Catalan answer to pizza. Don’t stick to the toppings in this recipe – be guided by the season. .
Squid croquettes with green sauce (croquetas de calamares con salsa verde)
catalan-flatbread_1781678846 Source: Frank Camorra and Richard Cornish
Croquettes are always great party grub as they can be shaped ahead of time and fried at the last minute. This one uses squid rather than the more traditional cod, which is cheaper and easier to work with. .
Gazpacho
Squid croquettes with green sauce Source: SBS Food
Serve the chilled soup in little shooter glasses on a tray, topped with your choice of garnish (hardboiled eggs, Jamon Serrano, or diced cucumber are all crowd-pleasers). .
Salt cod with cabbage and piquillo pepper vinaigrette
gazpacho_1592975934 Source: SBS Food
Crunchy, bready little morsels are a pintxos bar mainstay – everyone has their own version. This one features flake bacalao, or salt cod, which you can buy in many forms, but the easiest to handle are the pre-sealed packets from your fishmonger. .
Lead image by .
Salt cod with cabbage and piquillo pepper vinaigrette (bacalao con repollo y vinagreta de pimientos del piquillo)( Source: SBS Food
