Escudella

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Escudella i carn d'olla
Alternative namesEscudella
TypeSoup
Place of originSpain
Region or state
Main ingredientsPilota (large spiced meatball), vegetables
VariationsEscudella de pagès
A bowl of escudella with pasta

Escudella i carn d'olla, or shorter escudella (Eastern Calatan: [əskuˈðeʎə]; lit.'bowl'), is a traditional Catalan and Valencian soup made with meat and vegetables.[1] Francesc Eiximenis wrote in the 14th century that it was eaten every day by Catalan people.[2]

It is characterized by the use of a pilota, a very big meatball spiced with garlic and parsley; it also contains vegetables as celery, cabbage, carrots, etc.[3] depending on the season. Additionally, bones, sausages called botifarra, and other types of meat, can be used. In historical times, a type called escudella de pagès, which had pasta and rice, was traditionally made on Thursdays and Sundays.

Service

Escudella is typically served in two parts:

  • The escudella proper is a soup consisting of a broth with pasta, rice or both.
  • The carn d'olla is all the meat used in the broth, served afterwards in a tray along with the vegetables used.[4]

When both parts are served mixed together, it is called escudella barrejada.

Escudella de Nadal

There is a particular version of this soup that can be called "escudella de Nadal" (Christmas soup) or either "sopa de galets" (galets' soup), and is very typical on Christmas Day.[2][5] It includes meat from four different animals, a pilota, several vegetables and the traditional special type of pasta, known as galets, which are snail-shaped and notable for their considerable size.

See also

References