The mantecados Felipe II have earned their fame throughout Spain, although their history and renown awaken more than one controversy. This does not stop them from being one of the best-rated Christmas sweets, so much so that the same Jose Andres He declared himself an absolute follower. Yes indeed, He didn’t call them the best.being unable to choose between his three favorites. Those who first stood out then took us to the cradle of this sweet, Andalusia, with The Pearl of Cádizbut in navarran lands There is another name that the chef puts on the same level, also with a long history.
We are heading to Pamplona to find the headquarters of the Salinas Mantecadasbecause that is what the traditional ones are called in this land mantecados Christmas celebrations that almost all of us associate with Andalusia in the most popular format. We already know that there are variations of mantecados and polka dots in half of Spain, which both sweets, although similar, are not the sameand we even find versions that do without butter to use olive oil. But in Navarra, the shortbreadthey carry the pork fat.
Salinas House is the name under which the current company, Hacienda Salinas, continues to make the famous sweets following the original recipe that is now over 150 years old. A recipe that was born in Tudelawhen the creator of this gem and founder of the brand, Paulino Salinassettled in looking for a future thanks to the recently inaugurated railway that commercially connected Pamplona, Zaragoza and Logroño.
In the basement of his first home he began to make mantecadas for sale, with the workshop in sight, achieving such popularity that the business would not stop prospering until it became a first-class company today established in the Navarrese capital. Their mantecadas are still made today with the same original recipe from 1870with the same type of machinery and techniques updated to new times and demands, but without having taken the product to industrialization, maintaining the artisanal spirit.
@chefjoseandres
The mantecadas are prepared with very few but carefully selected ingredients, using the hazelnut as the main dried fruit instead of the almond, more typical of the south, to which they have added the chocolate shortbreads. The firm, with its registered trademark, is registered in the registry of Artesanos de Navarra under its quality brands “Artesanos de Navarra” and “Reyno Gourmet”.
Wheat flour, butter, sugar and nuts It is the only thing that is needed to make an exquisite sweet that does not know about trends and has nothing to envy other brands with more ambitious marketing campaigns. José Andrés couldn’t choose between his three favorite brands, and surely there are many more unknown bakeries that also make pollorones and mantecados that are just as tasty or tastier.
Although Casa Salinas produces other parallel products and has a physical location in Pamplona that offers a cafeteria and ice cream parlor service, Cafeteria-Heladeria ElizaldeMantecadas Salinas have hardly changed at all since their founder began making them by hand in those basements of Tudela.
Images | Salinas House
In DAP | Christmas sweets