If you like to try the local cuisine of the places that you travel to, don’t hesitate to savor pericana during your next visit to the Costa Blanca. Below, we explain everything you need to know about this recipe and where you can try it.
What is Pericana?
It is a traditional Spanish “tapa” from the Province of Alicante (it is especially popular in Alcoy and its surrounding area) which is prepared with the blue whiting, dried peppers, and olive oil. It is a dish that was created by shepherds. It is often used as a starter, as it stimulates the taste buds and provides an interesting balance of flavors.
The Recipe for this Jewel of Local Cuisine from Alicante
If you are interested in knowing how it is prepared, be sure to read the following recipe. Do you dare to try making it at home?
· Pour a little olive oil into a frying pan and add the blue whiting. Brown it on either side and then set it aside.
· Brown the peppers slightly. Remember that they burn easily as they don’t have much flesh to them. Let them cool.
· Peel a clove of garlic, slice it, and pass it through the oil until it is lightly browned.
· Remove the seeds from the peppers and cut them into very small pieces.
· Break up the blue whiting.
· Pour all of the above into one container. Cover with quality olive oil and let marinade.
· Upon serving, you can add a little salt.
As you may have noticed, this dish is a perfect balance between the flavor of the garden and that of the sea. It is surprising because it is easy to digest, and it is often served together with other dishes such as green beans or a tapa consisting of canned or marinaded fish. It is an ideal option that will not make you too full and which allows you to try a new flavor with a nod to the classic cuisine of the area.
Where to Taste Pericana
This jewel of Alicante’s cuisine is the perfect excuse to eat in Alcoy. In the following list, we recommend the most suitable bars and restaurants for you to try the traditional recipe and even some special innovations that enhance its flavor.
L’Escaleta Restaurant (Cocentaina)
You will find this prestigious restaurant run by Kiko Moya and Alberto Redrado just seven kilometers from Alcoy. Its two Michelin stars do not prevent the owners from offering a magnificent pericana dish made with peppers that are dried on the premises and featuring a perfect blue whiting and an unforgettable olive oil. Visiting this restaurant to try this traditional Spanish tapa is a must.
Serafines Restaurant (Ibi)
In the middle of the San Pascual-Torretes Municipal Natural Area, on the road to Alcoy, you will find this restaurant where traditional dishes are served – but with a touch of modernity. They use different varieties of peppers for drying and follow an age-old recipe that will surprise you with each and every bite. It’s a “must.”
La Pericana Restaurant (Alcoy)
The dish that gives this restaurant its name is also the most ordered dish on the menu. It is served in a recipient that looks like generously sized pepper, and it is accompanied by thin, crunchy bread. The combination of textures is highly recommended. The rest of the menu is also highly recommended, as there is no lack of nods to the traditional cuisine of Alicante served up in a modern environment that has been adapted to the present times.
Sant Francesc 52 Restaurant (Alcoy)
David Sandín and Cuqui (her real name is Maria Carmen) run this restaurant in which they cook traditional cuisine with modern presentations, but without forgetting the essential taste. Their unique version of pericana cannot be described with words. It is much better to go to the restaurant, try it, and let yourself get carried away by the rest of the menu. You will not regret it.
Masía La Mota Restaurant (Alcoy)
At the Font Roja Natural Park, you will find this oasis that will quench your thirst for classic and innovative cuisine. The establishment has its own garden and pericana is never missing from their menu, although they are constantly changing the dishes depending on the season of the year. Because of its environment and the excellent flavors that it serves up, this is another of the restaurants that you should not miss.
L’Amagatall de Tota Restaurant (Alcoy)
This is one of the few restaurants that offers the classic recipe that was explained above anda chambi (term used to for an ice cream sandwich featuring cookies). In the latter case, the cookie is made with cod gelatin and includes pepper powder and the ice cream is roasted garlic in flavor. The combination is magical and quite recommended to put your taste buds to the test in a surprising way.
Eating in Alcoy: A Luxury within your Reach
As you have seen, the quintessential starter of Alcoy will never cease to surprise you. Learn to savor pericana: come to Alicante on vacation, visit Alcoy, and try this fabulous dish at any of these restaurants. It won’t take long for you to discover why such a humble dish continues to be one of the most recognizable symbols of the province’s cuisine. Don’t forget to try it during your next vacation.
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