Exploring the roots of Spain’s vegetarian food festivals
Spain may be famous for jamón, but it also boasts a rich tradition of vegetarian dishes. Its fertile land produces a bounty of fresh produce, from sweet onions in Catalonia’s Valls region to tangy tomatoes in Andalusia’s Huerta de Conil. The country’s love for vegetarian fare is evident in its many festivals celebrating local produce. These events often feature competitions, where the most impressive displays of vegetables are honored. Here are some highlights of Spain’s best vegetarian food festivals.
La Calçotada de Valls
The world’s most famous onion festival, La Calçotada de Valls, takes place in the small town of Valls in Catalonia. The festival celebrates the calçot, a sweet onion that is charred over open flames until its outer layers turn black. To eat a calçot, you peel away the burnt layers to reveal the tender, sweet center. The onions are then dipped in a special sauce made of almonds, garlic, olive oil, and other spices. Local farmers grow calçots using a unique technique that involves covering the onions with soil to make them longer and paler. The festival also features a calçot-eating competition, where contestants see how many onions they can eat in a set time.
La Tomatina de Buñol
La Tomatina, held in the town of Buñol near Valencia, is Spain’s most famous vegetable festival, though it’s more a celebration of the tomato’s mess-making potential than its culinary uses. The festival began in 1945 when a group of young people started a food fight in the town square. Today, it has grown into a massive event that draws thousands of participants from around the world. During the festival, trucks dump overripe tomatoes into the streets, and participants pelt each other with the fruit. The festival lasts for about an hour, after which the streets are hosed down, and the town returns to normal.
Fiesta del Pulpo in Carballiño
Galicia’s Fiesta del Pulpo in Carballiño is dedicated to the region’s famous octopus dish, pulpo a la gallega. The festival takes place on the second Sunday of August and attracts over 100,000 visitors. The dish is prepared in large copper cauldrons, where the octopus is boiled and then served with olive oil, paprika, and salt. The festival also features traditional Galician music and dance, as well as other local dishes like empanadas and tetilla cheese.
Feria de la Cebolla in Zalla
The Feria de la Cebolla, or Onion Fair, is held in the town of Zalla in the Basque Country. The festival celebrates the region’s famous white onions, which are known for their sweet flavor. The festival includes a competition to see who can grow the largest onion, as well as cooking demonstrations, live music, and traditional Basque sports. The highlight of the festival is the txosna, where visitors can taste a variety of onion-based dishes, from onion soup to pintxos with caramelized onions.
Jornadas de la Huerta de Conil
The Jornadas de la Huerta de Conil in Andalusia’s Conil de la Frontera is a celebration of the region’s rich agricultural heritage. The festival takes place in May and features a variety of dishes made with local produce, including tomatoes, peppers, and melons. The festival also includes cooking workshops, where visitors can learn how to make traditional Andalusian dishes, as well as guided tours of the local farms and orchards.
Festa do Pemento de Herbón
In Galicia, the Festa do Pemento de Herbón celebrates the famous Herbón peppers, also known as Padrón peppers. These small, green peppers are fried in olive oil and sprinkled with salt, but beware: while most are mild, some can be surprisingly spicy. The festival takes place in early August and includes a pepper-eating contest, live music, and traditional Galician dancing.
A Sweet Goodbye: Feria de la Castaña
To finish, the Feria de la Castaña, or Chestnut Fair, in the village of Aracena in Andalusia, is a celebration of the humble chestnut. The festival takes place in November, when the chestnut harvest is at its peak. Visitors can sample roasted chestnuts, as well as chestnut-based dishes like soups, stews, and desserts. The festival also includes live music, craft stalls, and a competition to see who can roast the best chestnuts.
