Marmitako (Ragoût de thon)

Marmitako is fish stew from the Basque country – both French and Spanish.  It traditionally consists of tuna, onions, peppers, chillies and potatoes.  It is often the subject of competitions where families set up make-shift kitchens in the open air to see who can produce the best Marmitako.

It is an easy dish to prepare and is delicious with flavours of the sun.

Preparation Time: 20 Mins

Cooking Time: 45 Mins

Total Time: 65 Mins

Ingredients

For 3 portions

400 gms          Tuna  - cut into bite size bits    

5                    Peppers  - green, sweet - roughly chopped

5                    Peppers  - red, sweet - roughly chopped  

1                    Onion  - large, roughly chopped

2 cloves           Garlic  - chopped     

2½ tbs            Olive oil    

2                    Tomatoes  - chopped roughly   

3                    Potatoes  - cut into bite size bits

½ bottle          Wine  - dry white     

1 wine glass      Water       

                     Pepper      

                     Salt          

2                    Chillies  - red, hot, dried - chopped        

2                    Bay leaves

Method

In a large heavy pan, cook the tuna, peppers, onion and garlic in the olive oil until the onion goes transparent.  Add the tomatoes and continue cooking until they go soft.  Then add the potatoes, the wine and water.  Mix well and adjust the seasoning with the salt, pepper, chillies and bay leaves.  Simmer gently for at least half an hour, when the potatoes should be soft.  Serve.

Wine recommendations

Conventional

     Jurançon sec

Interesting

     Côtes de Gascogne blanc or rosé

Adventurous

     Beaujolais Villages