Caldereta de langosta
February 2, 2016
We venture to the fishing village of Fornells in the Balearic Islands to indulge in a regional dish which has nourished the inhabitants, traders and travellers of the region east of the Spanish mainland.
The stunning islands of Majorca, Menorca, Eivissa·Ibiza and Formentera which comprise the Balearic Archipelago have birthed a regional taste unique to the world. Culinary blog Spain Recipes remarks that Balearic cuisine reflects the passing visits and occupations of the Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, French and the English.
Caldereta de langosta (spiny lobster stew) is testament to these influences, marrying the flavours of tomato, capsicum, garlic, parsley local olive oil and hearty fish stock. The clay pot it is cooked in, a caldera, inspired the dish's name and is a common cooking mode used throughout the mainland. Calderata is plated up with aesthetics and taste in mind; a slice of bread coated in Alioli is placed at the bottom of a bowl and the broken lobster pieces and reduction is ladled on top.
Orignally a dish for fishermen, Niamh Shield observes how it is now regarded as a luxury meal served on special occasions, especially given the brief lobster season from March to August. Calderata is also reportedly King Juan Carlos' favourite dish.
Despite a common culinary identity across the Archipelago, Caldereta de langosta reveals the slight differences inherent to each of the islands. The disagreement between Minorcans and Majorcans over the most suitable lobster for the dish highlights the complexity and diversity of regional culture. Caldereta shares similarities with the French fish stew Bouillabaisse, revealing the extent to which crusaders and traders have influenced regional cuisine across Europe.
My difficulty in finding Caldereta somewhat resembling an 'authentic' recipe in Australian restaurants is illustrative of its localised place in Balearic cuisine, rather than Spain's national culinary exports. Nevertheless, SBS has translated a recipe to meet the Australian palate and available ingredients.
Buen provecho!
