Cantabrian Anchovy and Lamb Pintxo with Pumpkin-Seed Picada and Charred Asparagus
A Cantabrian-style pintxo plate built around seared lamb shoulder, salt-cured Cantabrian anchovies, and a pumpkin-seed picada — the kind of zinc-dense small plate you'd find tucked into a San Sebastian bar. A handful of charred asparagus and a shaving of Manchego round out a meal that eats rich but stays clean.
- Prep
- 12 min
- Cook
- 18 min
- Total
- 30 min
- Servings
- 1
Ingredients
- 100g (raw, cooks to ~75g)lamb shoulder, cubed
- 4fillets (~20g)Cantabrian anchovies in olive oil, drained
- 2tbsp (16g)pumpkin seeds, toasted
- 6spears (~90g)asparagus, trimmed
- 1.5tbsp (21g)extra virgin olive oil
- 2cloves (6g)garlic, minced
- 1tsp (3g)smoked paprika (sweet)
- 10gaged Manchego cheese, shaved
- 1tbsp (4g)parsley, chopped
- 1/2(~25g juice)lemon, juiced
- 1/4tsp (1.5g)sea salt
- 1/8tspblack pepper
Instructions
- 01
Toast the pumpkin seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat 2-3 minutes, shaking often, until they pop and turn golden. Transfer to a board and chop coarsely.
- 02
Make the picada: combine the chopped pumpkin seeds, half the minced garlic, parsley, smoked paprika, and 1 tbsp olive oil in a small bowl. Stir to a chunky paste; season with a pinch of salt.
- 03
Pat the lamb cubes dry and season with salt and pepper.
- 04
Heat the remaining 1/2 tbsp olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high. Sear the lamb 2 minutes per side until browned and rosy at the centre. Transfer to a plate to rest.
- 05
In the same pan, add the asparagus and remaining garlic. Toss 4-5 minutes over high heat until charred at the edges and tender-crisp.
- 06
Plate the asparagus, top with the seared lamb, and drape the anchovy fillets across the top.
- 07
Spoon the pumpkin-seed picada over everything, scatter the Manchego shavings, and finish with the lemon juice and a crack of pepper.
Nutrition (per serving)
- Calories
- 538kcal
- Protein
- 33g
- Carbs
- 18g
- Fat
- 36g
- Fiber
- 5g
- Selenium
- 28mcg
- Zinc
- 5.8mg
- Iron
- 4mg
- B12
- 3.6mcg
- Iodine
- 22mcg
- Sodium
- 720mg