When I think about Madrid the first thing that comes to my head is a salty flavour, the flavour of Serrano Ham and Manchego cured cheese. Next is the smell of the Cocido, bubbling in someone’s kitchen and aromatizing the whole street. A smell that makes you want to sit at the table and enjoy the warmth and richness of this soup.
That is Madrid for me, tapas bars where you can sit and enjoy a caña (beer) and a dish of thinly sliced ham and cheese. Madrid is also hot thick chocolate taken with churros (long sticks of fried dough) for breakfast after dancing the whole night in a disco. But during the day, when the time for serious eating comes, nothing beats a Cocido. This is perhaps the most representative dish of Madrid. It is between a soup and a stew prepared mainly of chickpeas. According to the household or availability, the vegetables and meats in the soup can vary. It is a dish perfect for winter.
Like with most recipes, there is no ONE Cocido. But several versions. My favourite is Carmen Balcells Cocido for orgies, from the book Afrodita. I go with her recipe as she assures us that this aphrodisiac soup can bring back desire even to the most tired soul! And that is exactly what you need after dancing the night away if you want to continue touring around this cosmopolitan city.
If you are in Madrid, don’t be shy and ask the locals where is the best place to go for a Cocido. And in the early morning just follow the crowds of youngsters to the “churreria”, they know where to get the best churros and chocolate to recover from a hangover! If you are in Madrid visiting friends, be bold, and ask the Doña to prepare a Cocido for you. The preparation is long but Spanish Doñas take pride on their cooking and they all claim that their recipe is the best of the region. They will be more than happy to treat you to one of their specialities.
Once you have tried the cocido, please do not try to replicate this aphrodisiac soup at home for a “special night” of unleash passion. More than likely you will collapse exhausted in your lover’s arms after the two days preparation. If you want a Spanish night, back at home, better take a bottle of Rioja with you as a souvenir for that special date. After all, no one can deny the aphrodisiac effects of wine. I especially like one called Sangre de Toro. Just the name which means Bull’s blood seems to have an invigorating effect on men! It is a wine that goes superb with traditional Spanish meat dishes. Back at home, just the scent of its exuberant aroma and the sensual flavour of fine spices will bring you back to Spain. When in Spain, remember that food is more than just sitting and finishing your meal in 5 minutes. Here, eating is a way of socializing. From stopping for a coffee in the morning before you go to work to going out in the evening for some beer and tapas just for the sake of seeing your friends, relax and plan the long night ahead which undoubtedly will finish with chocolates and churros!