Gastronomy
In Quirosan gastronomy, thanks to the top quality products that are produced in its own council, the most typical dishes of the region are majestically represented, such as fabada, pote Asturiano or pote de cabbage, picadillo and tripe among other main dishes, as well as such as Afuega'l Pitu cheese, the traditional rice pudding, the casadiellas or the borrachinos, among the desserts and of course, the cider among the drinks.
- Spelled bread, made with a kind of wheat typical of Asturias.
- Bota cheese (queiso de bota), made from cow's milk, is a creamy, spicy and sour cheese named after the leather container in which it is made.
The most famous towns in terms of making these two products are Cortes, Fresnedo and Bermiego. Both boot cheese and spelled bread are also used to prepare other dishes such as spelled bread soup.
- The chestnut pot, an ancestral recipe, in which the chestnut contrasts its sweetness with the traditional Asturian pot.
- Calderetas or roast lamb and kid, with potatoes and peppers.
- Hunting products, made in different ways, with wild boar and wild boar. and the roe deer as the main protagonists.
- The garrucha cake, made with chestnuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, apples and honey.
- The emblematic hazelnut cake and rice pudding.
- Artisan liqueurs produced with the abundant fruits of the forest that can be found in the area, such as blueberries, blackberries, water thorns, etc.
The Escanda
Typical winter cereal from Asturias, traditionally cultivated in its mountain villages, and used as a substitute or in combination with wheat. Already in the castros of the Astures of the Iron Age this cereal was cultivated. The spelled is characterized by its brown color and by a much harder ear than that of white wheat, whose grain is difficult to separate from the husk, so its grinding process is more laborious.
Samples Gastronomic Days of Quirós
The main product of spelled flour is spelled bread (or pan de sucu), but they were also made with it, among others, cakes, pregnant buns with chorizo and bacon or the traditional Easter sweet bread.
One of the peculiarities of spelled bread is that it remains in a perfect state of consumption for several days after cooking.
According to various studies, the spelled grain has a high nutritional value, a magnificent fiber content and is much more digestive than white wheat.
But, undoubtedly, the best thing is its particular and pleasant flavor, which means that in recent years the demand for spelled bread has begun to increase again throughout Asturias despite its current low production.
Asturian Cheeses
Asturian cheese is a gastronomic treasure from the region of Asturias, Spain, with a long cheese-making tradition. It arose from the need to preserve the shepherds' surplus milk, and its artisanal production has been key to its worldwide recognition. Varieties such as Cabrales, Gamonéu and Afuega'l Pitu have distinctive and unique flavors. The dedication to traditional techniques has given Asturian cheese prestige and has been a source of income for the region, promoting gastronomic tourism. Although it faces challenges, the cheesemaking tradition persists, preserving the unique authenticity and flavor of Asturian cheese, sharing a piece of the essence of Asturias with the world.
Within Quiros you can find boot cheese, although it is increasingly difficult to find due to its low artisanal production. It is made in winter, when the cows do not go out to graze in the meadow, and only the first milk from recently calved cows is used, which is the strongest milk.
Samples Gastronomic Days of Quirós The boot, which gives the cheese its name, is the duly treated lamb skin. This is completely filled with the milk obtained, as well as a little rennet and salt, and it is left to ferment hanging in the heat of the firewood until it is very hard and its content has decreased by more than half. At that time, the cheese is removed and stored in wooden or clay bowls.
Boot cheese, a product of the Quirós council, has a particular smell and a bitter and spicy taste. The longer it is kept, the more it will sting.
The Traditional Quirosano Market
It is celebrated in Bárzana during the May 1 long weekend, and it brings together all kinds of craft products, both food and wood carving, iron forging, woolen fabrics, leather, ceramics, etc
The market is fully decorated in the traditional Asturian style and is usually animated by small and fun costumbrist theatrical performances at street level.
The Feast of the Lamb
(Declared of National Tourist Interest)
Samples Gastronomic Days of Quirós
The gastronomic festival par excellence of the Quirós council is "La Fiesta del Cordero",
which is held on the first Sunday of July and each year attracts thousands of visitors.
It is celebrated in the "Prau Llagüezos", in the Alto de La Cobertoria. In it, the visitor can enjoy, especially, the roast lamb on the stake and its subsequent tasting, after purchasing portions.
The Gastronomic Days of Quíros
They take place from the last weekend of February to the first weekend of March in various restaurants in the council.
Menu:
First course: Pote quirosano or pot of chestnuts.
Second course: Roe deer or wild boar.
Dessert: garrucha or borrachinos cake.
It also includes: spelled bread, Rioja wine, coffee and liqueurs.
The restaurants of the council of Quirós that participate in the gastronomic days:
Sol Horrín, in Aciera, (Tlfn: 985768386).
Generosa Houses, in Pedroveya.
Arrojo Hostel, in Arrojo.
Casa Jamallo, in Bárzana, (Tel: 985768102).
Teixo, in Bárzana, (Tel: 985768038).
Cider house Casa Juanín, "El Pantano", Las Agüeras (Tlfn: 985768037).
El Rubio Restaurant, Santa Marina (Tel: 985768481).
Handmade Products
There are also various products made by hand from Quirosa that can be purchased in the council, such as honey of special fame in Lindes and Cortes, sighs and traditional pastries or various kinds of sausages such as chorizos, mincemeat, etc.
Fresnedo oven (spelled bread, boot cheese), in Fresnedo (Tel: 985972104).
Quirós Valley Artisan Oven (traditional confectionery), in Bárzana (Tel: 985768087).
La Nueva Bakery, in Bárzana (Tel: 985768121).
Campollo sausages, in Ricabo (Tel: 985972244).
La Casona sausages, in San Salvador (Tel: 985768331).
Sausages Socastillo, in Bárzana (Tel: 985768112).
