Written by Norman Kuhlmann
This skewer combination of delicious jamon, fresh figs and green olives is a quick and easy to prepare dish. The sweetness of the figs interacting with dry olives and a touch of jamon is simply a feast for the taste buds. This combo made it a popular aperitivo amongst the Spanish nobility already in the Middle Ages.
Today, any last minute announcement of friends stopping by can be easily complemented with the help of the Little Mermaid skewer - a true life saver coming from the Tapas bars and Chiringuitos of Barcelona.
For History Buffs...! Brochetas de la Sirenita traces its origins back to the Middle Ages. Some sources already mention the plate in medieval cook books during the reign of Philipp II (1556-1598). This is history coming alive
and the Little Mermaid Skewer is undoubtedly one of the most classic and iconic "pintxos" in the northern Spanish cuisine. It wasn't until the 1960s when Spain started to experience its unprecedented tourist boom when the world became aware of the Little Mermaid Skwewers.
Offering tourists a delicious meal which they can equally enjoy as the former Spanish nobility our Little Mermaid Skewers are highly popular in the Chriringuitos of Barcelona...
How To Make Sirenitas in your own Kitchen:
Ingredients:
Jamon (Smoked Duroc from Center /
Centro De Jamon Duroc) ............... 80gr
Mini figs ........................................... 2
Green olives ................................... 6-10
Sea salt .........................................1 pinch
Good quality extra virgin olive oil
Difficulty: Easy
Total time to assemble ..... 10 m
Prepare ingredients ........... 5 m
- 1 sharp knife
- 1 cutting board
- 1 set of wooden skewers
- 1 small plate
- 1 small cup
- 1 medium sized tapas bowl
Arrange all the ingredients around a table to work quickly and assemble skewers without any complications. Prepare some skewers or appetizer sticks, a small plate and a tray on which you plan to serve your skewers.
Wash the mini figs, then gently cut the neck off (this part can be sour) and slice them from top to bottom. Cut the mini figs into quarter pieces and put the slices on a small kitchen plate.
Cut the Jamon (ham) into pieces (approx. 4x3 cm) and roll each into a little blanket. Add these on the small kitchen plate as well.
Drain and wash the olives, place them into a little bowl next to your small kitchen plate containing the mini figs and the Jamon blankets.
Assemble each skewer starting with a mini fig slice first. Continue to stick a small Jamon blanket on the skewer and add the olive at the end (see picture below).
Place each finished skewer carefully into a small bowl or directly on the kitchen board you will be serving the dish.
Repeat this until the skewers are finished and season accordingly with good extra virgin olive oil and a little bit of sea salt.
Add one or two decorative items like a sea shell or starfish on your board.
Recommendation! Try a glass of Cava to sparkle it down... !
¡Buen provecho!
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Norman Kuhlmann
"Life is too short to speak one language and stay in one place." In 2020, this philosophy took him from familiar London to sunny Barcelona. As an ardent supporter of the "Barcelona Spirit Movement" he is enjoying trips to great places & beaches, cooking Mediterranean food or attempting to dance salsa. For more insights about Living in Barcelona and tasty recipes follow his blog
Barcelona-expat.com