Calentita is supposed to be the National dish of the people of Gibraltar. This particular recipe has the roots from Genoa and Ligurian. The lip smacking delicacy of Calentita is made from chick flour. The name of
Calentita is derived from the Spanish word which means warm.
The particular Gibraltar dish is usually served hot just after it is taken out of the oven. In the olden days this dish was sold in the streets by the vendors. This dish can be easily prepared at home who have ovens. In the streets of Genoa still this dish is sold in the winter season. The vendors selling have either perambulating barrows of portable ovens. In the country of Argentina Calentita is known by the name of Faina.
The dish has gained so much popularity that it has spread in many parts of the globe. In Nice, France too the equivalent of this dish is prepared. The ingredients of Calentita are:
- ½ pound or 220g chick pea flour
- Olive Oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Cold Water
Method of preparation of Calentita:
- First empty the flour in a bowl or any other container and add water slowly and stir the mixture simultaneously till it gets mixed well. The mixture has to be left to be at one side to get soaked for about 2 to 3 hours and it should be stirred occasionally.
- The oven has to pre heated at the temperature of about 350º F.
- Now the oil has to be poured into a shallow oven proof dish and the mixture of the flour and water has to be added carefully in the container.
- Now the mixture has to be seasoned with pepper and salt.
- Then the mixture has to be placed in the oven and for 1 hour it has to b cooked.
- The dish would be ready to be served when a golden crust is formed.
