The beer of Barcelona Estrella Damm teams up with Spanish chef José Pizarro to give ‘Boring BBQs’ a Mediterranean style makeover

Move over burnt bangers and soggy buns, this season, Estrella Damm, has joined forces with Brand Ambassador José Pizarro, master of easy, yet delicious traditional Mediterranean cooking, to bring you some top tips to infuse a little bit of Barcelona into your backyard BBQ.

José Pizarro, esteemed chef and restaurateur, known as ‘the Godfather of Spanish cuisine in the UK’ shares his secrets for a traditional taste of the Mediterranean: “Spring, aka, La Primavera is a celebration of new life and beginnings. One of my favourite traditional La Primavera celebrations is the infamous Calçotada, where hoards of Catalan’s flock to friends’ rooftops and family gardens to grill the delicious,

seasonal Calçot onion.

“The Calçotada is the perfect excuse to gather loved ones, enjoy great food and great beers, so here’s how you can change up your BBQ style to bring a taste of the Mediterranean to your back garden this Spring. For me, a BBQ is not complete without a delicious chilled bottle of Estrella Damm… it’s the perfect accompaniment to your Catalan feast.”

José believes in utilising fresh, seasonal, quality ingredients, just like Estrella Damm, and keeping dishes simple. He believes that home cooks shouldn’t be afraid of cooking several smaller dishes, as with the right prep and keeping it simple, you can enjoy a delicious Mediterranean feast, José-style in the comfort of your own home.

Estrella Damm & José Pizarro’s top tips for hosting your own Catalan style Fire Cooked BBQ:

1. Plant based cooking: It’s the season of the Calçot onion, and in homage to the vibrant Calçotada festival, taste delicious when charred, the

traditional way, on an open fire, wrapped in newspaper, before being peeled and served with lashings of Romesco sauce

2. Mix up your sides: Replace your usual Cumberlands with Catalan Butifarra pork sausages, served with a rich, indulgent white beans for an

impressive twist on your classic summertime bangers 3. Up your salad game: Try sprucing up your salads with freshly chopped onions and plump juicy tomatoes drizzled in lemon for a salad bowl that packs a punch!

4. Sharing is caring: Serve everything in large sharing bowls and plates - and eat with your hands and get stuck in, the traditional Mediterranean way. The more mess, the more fun!

5. Cold beers for the win: And to wash it all down, don’t forget an ice cold Estrella Damm beer - the perfect Barcelona pairing for your Catalan

feast, fill a bucket with ice and add your bottles of Estrella Damm to chill just in time for you to dish up your delicious feast!

José has also shared some of his favourite recipes to impress your guests when hosting this S/S, all to be perfectly paired with a bottle of Estrella Damm.

José Pizarro’s S/S ‘24 recipes:

Estrella Damm is the perfect accompaniment to the below dishes; light and refreshingly drinkable, with a perfect balance between fresh grainy malt and subtle fruit, rounded off with a peppery bitterness and a clean finish, salud!

1. Calçots & Romesco:

Ingredients:

Serves 4-6

● 12 Calçots

● Olive Oil

Romesco Sauce:

● 4 Florina Pepper, soaked in boiling water for 1 hour

● 50g (2oz) blanched almonds

● 50g (2oz) hazelnuts

● 1 large fresh tomato, peeled

● 2 garlic cloves

● 1 slice sourdough

● 1 tbsp sherry vinegar

● 2 piquillo peppers, drained

● 75-100ml (2 ½ - 3 ½ floz) extra virgin olive oil

Method:

1. Blitz all the ingredients for the romesco sauce together in a blender until you

have a chunky sauce

2. Clean the calçots and rub all over with olive oil

3. Light a charcoal barbecue and add some kindling to get it nice and hot and full

of flames, or heat a heavy based pan or griddle pan over as high a heat as

you can

4. Sear the calçots all over until browned and tender

5. Serve with romesco sauce

CALCOTS & ROMESCO - Credit: Laura Edwards & Catalonia: Recipes from

Barcelona and Beyond by José Pizarro

2 .Pan Con Tomate:

Ingredients:

Serves 2

● 4 slices white bread, cut from a loaf

● 1 garlic clove, peeled

● 4 ripe tomatoes, halved

● Extra virgin olive oil, to drizzle

● Flaky sea salt

Method:

1. Lightly toast the bread then rub each slice with the garlic clove

2. Put two tomato halves, cut side down, on each slice and press down with your

fingers, squeezing the insides over the bread (discarding the outside)

3. To serve, drizzle with oil and sprinkle with sea salt

PAN CON TOMATE - Credit: Laura Edwards & Catalonia: Recipes from Barcelona

and Beyond by José Pizarro

3. Fresh Butifarra with Beans:

Ingredients:

Serves 4

● Olive oil, for frying

● 1 large onion, finely chopped

● 1 carrot, finely chopped

● 1 celery stalk, finely chopped

● 2 garlic cloves, finely sliced

● 200ml (7 floz) fresh vegetable stock

● Sea salt & freshly ground black pepper