- Every Thursday: market day at Plaza del Mercat, La Pau street, Paseo Reina Sofia and Plaza Antic Regne de València. Especially tasty are the coques escaldades (maize or wheat pancakes with hard-boiled egg, tuna or prawns) and the coques de llanda (the small pizza-like savoury topped flat breads, with different ingredients such as peas, onion and peppers) that are on sale in the local bread and cake shops.

 

- Throughout the year rice is the basic ingredient of Pego cuisine: arròs amb fesols i penques rice with kidney beans and Swiss chard), arròs caldós (rice stew) and paella. The typical dish is La Crosta (a rice dish cooked in the oven with an egg crust). On the eve of Ash Wednesday, the town prepares for the arrival of Lent with this dish. Other noteworthy specialties are: l'espencat (a delicious cold dish of baked peppers, aubergines and tomatoes, seasoned with olive oil and a touch of crushed garlic) and els figatells (grilled flat meatballs).

 

- Easter: There is also a large variety of sweets and pastries such as la mona (bun with hard-boiled egg) and St Vicente sponge cake.

 

- Christmas: sweet potato pastries and fritters.

 

L'ATZÚBIA-FORNA

The most popular dishes are: arroz con costra, paella, puchero valenciano (stew), “cocas escaldadas”...

 

LA VALL DE GALLINERA

There is a large variety of products that have been cultivated and cropped there for years (almonds, olives, vegetables, carobs, etc.) among which the most outstanding are the cherries which occupy the Geographical protected territory.

 

The most traditional cured sausages are the “butifarra” (Catalan sausage), “longaniza” (long, spicy pork sausage, with or without sweet paprika) and the sobrassada.

 

LA VALL D'ALCALÀ

Typical dishes are “minxos”, (flatbead freshly baked in a pan that allow all sorts of fillings), the “blat picat” (a stew with grains of ground wheat that resemble couscous) and rice with lentils.

 

As far as sweets are concerned try the fritters, baked pumpkin, honey cake, “mostaxuts”, “rosegons” and aniseed rings.

 

LA VALL D'EBO

The best known dishes of this valley are the stew and rice with beans.

This cereal was introduced to Spain by the Arabs.

 

The rice is planted in April, it flowers at the beginning of August and the grain gradually forms until the end of this month. The mowing takes place during the first half of September. The grain is separated from the chaff and sun dried.

 

Eating rice regularly helps prevent, and can improve, some illnesses such as high blood pressure and hypercholesterolemia, since one of its characteristics is its low sodium content.

 

Rice, along with corn, millet and sorghum, is the only gluten-free cereal and so these are tolerated by people suffering from celiac disease. 

The orange, of Asian origin, is one of the most popular fruits all over the world and is widely grown in warm, humid climates.

 

Eating oranges is important, given the valuable contribution of vitamins, fibre and minerals of this fruit, which helps us to strengthen our immune system, protecting us against anaemia, colds…

 

We should not forget its importance in Mediterranean cuisine, in salads, accompanying starters and main courses and in desserts and pastries. Its delicious taste and Valencian essence, present in its scent, favour and colour, are also characteristics worth remembering. 

Montaña de Alicante cherries are grown in the north of Alicante province and the south of Valencia province, on an area of more than 1,000 hectares.

 

The cherry tree blossoms in March and harvesting starts in April. Low in calories and with a high content of vitamins A and C, carbohydrates, calcium, potassium and magnesium, this is a unique, delicious and quality fruit.

 

It is especially recommended to prevent heart disease and cancer, since its fibre has a laxative, purifying effect on the organism.

 

Much more than a dessert.