Catalan Picada Seasonings

Picades

Appears in
The Food of Northern Spain
The Food of Northern Spain

By Jenny Chandler

Published 2005

  • About

The picada is a ground blend of herbs, nuts, garlic, spices and bread or biscuit (cookie) that is added to a dish a few minutes before it is served. It has a triple role: seasoning, enriching and thickening a sauce. It’s an absolute revelation to most cooks. A rather watery, bland dish can be transformed into something rich and delicious in a second. I love to add a picada in all sorts of non-Spanish stews and casseroles too.

The ingredients are traditionally pounded together in a large mortar with a pestle, a very satisfying business. You could, of course, purée everything in a small blender or food processor instead.