CURLY ENDIVE WITH DUCK SWEETBREAD CONFIT AND MUSHROOMS

The three basic ingredients in this recipe are a good example of how we’ve adapted and transformed our cuisine over time using readily available products, as well as the influences of the local gastronomic environment.

Humans have been eating curly endive for centuries, and today it is highly regarded for its nutritional value: for example it’s rich in folic acid and in vitamin C. A natural antioxidant, it has diuretic properties and doesn’t cause flatulence. In short, it’s healthy, nutritious and an ideal addition to any dish.

The second ingredient, the duck sweetbread confit, come from Occitan cuisine (they’re called peirièrs or gresiers in Occitan) and traditional home cooking based on local products. This very popular food item is primarily served in salads, such as the one we’re going to give you the recipe for here. In other European countries and the Americas, they’re cooked in other ways, too: in stews, breaded, fried or roasted.

The third ingredient is the mushrooms. There are many kinds of edible wild mushrooms that have traditionally been used in our cuisine. The best known are saffron milk cap and porcini mushrooms, but there are others that are prized by gourmets as well. Mushroom hunters have endless tales to tell about chanterelles, grey knight mushrooms, fairy ring mushrooms, St George’s mushrooms and the more elusive types such as the coral tooth fungus. Despite the air of secrecy that usually surrounds mushroom hunting, there are several areas in Andorra that are well known to mushroom pickers, such as the woods of Coll d’Ordino and Pal (La Massana), Rabassa (Sant Julià de Lòria) and around Sorteny (Ordino).

In any case, in our recipe, you’ll find a dish featuring a delicious mix of sautéed mushrooms that you can enjoy in different restaurants all over the Principality.