Pisto Manchego

👉🏻Ingredients list⚠️

• 1 eggplant

• 1/2 zucchini

• 1/2 red bell pepper

• 1/2 green bell pepper

• 1-2 tomatoes

• 1 onion

• 4-5 garlic cloves

• 4-5 tablespoons olive oil

• Salt, to taste

• 2-3 teaspoons smoked paprika (or chili powder)

Today, I'm sharing a special Spanish dish, Pisto Manchego, which can be thought of as a hearty vegetable stew. This dish originates from La Mancha, the hometown of Don Quixote! Typically made with eggplant, onion, zucchini, tomato, bell peppers, and more, all diced and stir-fried together, the rich blend of flavors from all these vegetables is incredibly delicious. It pairs perfectly with bread or rice.

You can also find frozen versions of this dish in Spanish supermarkets, but nothing beats the taste of homemade!

👉🏻✨STEPS

1. Wash all the vegetables and dice them into small pieces. It's best to peel the tomatoes. Finely mince the garlic.

2. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Once the oil is slightly warm, add the onion and fry slowly until it turns golden brown, adding a pinch of salt during the process. You can adjust the heat to lower if needed. Take your time and fry it slowly!

3. After the onion turns golden, add the garlic, green, and red bell peppers. Stir-fry for a while to release their aroma. Then add the eggplant and zucchini, along with a suitable amount of salt. Stir-fry briefly to ensure every piece is coated with oil. Fry slowly for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. (If it gets too dry, add a little water or vegetable broth.)

4. Next, add the tomatoes and smoked paprika. Stir-fry evenly and continue to fry for 5-8 minutes until all the ingredients are cooked through and tender.