What is a “calçot”?

Calçots”, that's what so many people talk about at this time of year, and you, probably, do not know what they're talking about. Don´’t worry, they are nothing more than a variety of onion, namely, chive, white and with a rather sweet taste. They are cultivated in the interior of Catalonia, but mainly in the western part, in the Alto Campo area and in the Ebro lands, in the latter they have Protected Geographical Indication; and if you want to try them, you will have to hurry, because the season of these chives ends at the end of March.

And if you've heard of “calçots”, you've also had to listen to the word "calçotada" which is just the excuse to meet and eat calçots in the company of your family, friends or colleagues in your student residence in Barcelona.
They are made to fire, the flame calcine the outer part, but the interior of maintains tender; it is advisable to eat them hot and that is why they are served wrapped in newsprint, in a true calçotada, are usually accompanied by lamb, Catalan sausages, cava, wine and the traditional sauce in which you must sprinkle them before tasting them.
The sauce is delicious! And is made with tomatoes, a kind of "flat" pepper of Murcia region (with which is usually the paprika made), garlic, almonds and olive oil.

The calçotadas are very funny and lively, because eating a calçot without leaving, is almost impossible, and it is quite funny when you try. The way to eat these chives is something different from the usual because you use neither the knife nor the fork, only the hands. The process is as follows: you remove a calçot from the newsprint and hold it by the top of the green stem, press down from top to bottom and remove the outer part burned by the flame (your fingers are already black at this point ), you will see the white and tender part of the interior that you must sprinkle or soak in the sauce, and with your head back and mouth wide open, you eat it bites!
As we have warned you before, the sauce is so rich that you cannot avoid wanting to anoint your “calçot” again and again in it, and that makes your shirt run the risk of staining, so there are large bibs of paper that you should put on all calçotada, but, do not panic !, you do not have to go and buy a bib, they give it is all the restaurants where they organize them.

Encourage your classmates from your student residence in Barcelona and taste this Catalan celebration. Laughter is assured!