The best part of a school trip is the moment of wandering, strolling without a fixed plan, browsing the shops, doing a little shopping and, of course, sampling the local gastronomy. In Asturias, the typical dishes are so numerous and varied that trying them will be a compulsory activity on your programme. In this guide we tell you what to eat and where on your trip to Asturias.
Getting to know the gastronomy, the local ingredients and the traditional recipes is another form of tourism, one in which you can discover a culture in depth and learn more about its traditions and ways of life.
Typical products of Asturian gastronomy
Like every region of Spain, the Principality of Asturias has certain traditional dishes that make up its gastronomy and reflect the lifestyle of its people: the fish of the south, the meats of Castile, the pulses of the north… In this article we tell you what to eat and where on your trip to Asturias. We begin with the most popular products of the region:
Pote Asturiano
The pote asturiano is a hearty dish, traditionally cooked over a home fire in a “pote” (pot), which is where it gets its name. This dish can take around 6–8 hours owing to its slow cooking. It is a stew made with fabes (large white beans), greens, potatoes and a meat accompaniment that includes chorizo, black pudding and bacon. Some people also add pig’s ear, cheek or tail.
Cider
Cider is the most traditional drink in Asturias and a perfect accompaniment to all these classic recipes. Asturian cider must be poured in “culines” (small measures), and it is traditional for all members of the group to drink from the same glass. The main ingredient of cider is apple, which is fermented for two or three months to produce a natural cider that can be enjoyed in countless cider houses, alongside a good cachopo, a cheese board, and so on.
Cachopo
Cachopo consists of two veal fillets between which a filling is placed — typically ham and cheese, or even mushrooms and pepper in more elaborate versions. The whole thing is then breaded with egg and breadcrumbs and fried. It is a filling dish, always best accompanied by a good cider.
Fabada
Fabada is, without a doubt, the quintessential Asturian dish. It is a stew made with “fabes”, a variety of large white beans, to which other ingredients are added such as chorizo, pork and Asturian black pudding. It would be a cardinal sin to leave Asturias without having tried it.
Cheeses
If you like cheese and consider yourself a true connoisseur, you cannot miss the wide variety of Asturian cheeses. Make a point of trying them all — seriously, you will not regret it. Asturian cheeses began gaining international prestige and renown from the 1970s onwards, although their quality has always been excellent. They can be found made from cow’s milk, sheep’s milk, goat’s milk or even blends in different proportions of two or three types. Examples include Cabrales, Gamonedo, La Peral, Los Beyos, Oscos and Afuega’l Pitu.
The best restaurants to eat at on your trip to Asturias
In this article we list some of the most renowned restaurants in the Asturian region, so you can see for yourself that the gastronomy of this area is among the finest you will find anywhere in Spain:
- Blanco Restaurante (Navia)
- Restaurante Especia (Cangas de Narcea)
- Sidrería Narcea (Cangas de Narcea)
- Casa Consuelo (Otur)
- Mesón El Centro (Puerto de Vega)
- El Pañol Gastrobar (Avilés)
- Casa Tataguyo (Avilés)
- Mesón Sancho (Gijón)
- Zascandil (Gijón)
- El Barrigón de Bertín (Lastres)
- El Molín de la Pedrera (Cangas de Onís)
- El Chibiski del Chilito (Llanes)
Guide to school trips to Asturias
We know that teachers bear the greatest burden when it comes to planning and organising the whole trip. Let us help you! Plan your school trip with Natuaventura and you will not regret it. Over 15 years and hundreds of trips and schools right across the country vouch for us.
Do not miss the guide we have put together for you:
- Organise your school trip to Asturias
- Multi-adventure activities for groups in Asturias
- 5 natural sites you cannot miss in Asturias
- The 5 most beautiful villages to visit in Asturias
- Where to eat in Asturias: local gastronomy
For more information about the possibilities for your school trip to Asturias, you can contact us at info@natuaventura.com or by calling 91 714 06 36.
