Carneiro ao Espeto Festival

Pampas-style lamb in Morañaña

The Festa do Carneiro ao Espeto pays tribute to the recipe of returned emigrants

The carballeira of Santa Lucía hosts the Festa do Carneiro ao Espeto, which was held for the first time in 1969 and is one of the oldest in As Rías Baixas in the culinary section. In it, a group of expert roasters slow-cook more than a hundred lambs to serve them to the diners congregated in the shade of the oak trees.

Asado ao espeto made its fortune in Moraña a century ago and over the years this way of cooking lamb became a tradition. At the end of the 1960s, the Town Council, at a time when gastronomic festivals were booming, proposed that the Youth Festival should coincide with the tasting of the asado criollo. Gradually, thecarneiroao espeto became the greatest exponent of local gastronomy and the festival now attracts visitors from all over Galicia.

Sixteen lambs were served in the first edition, and the size and popularity of the event progressively increased. The cooks place around the bonfires the iron structures on which the carcasses are tied; the oak embers accentuate the special flavour of the pieces , which are simmered for seven hours without any kind of marinade.

Each lamb ao espeto is sold whole to diners, rather than in portions. The lot, priced at 300 euros, includes a lamb of 12 to 14 kilos, wheat, zorza and cod pies with sultanas, bread, local red wine, mineral water, special ajilimójilis sauce - based on herbs and condiments to enhance the flavour of the meat -, coffee, brandy and full table service.

The gastronomic event is accompanied by an extensive programme of activities. Bars and restaurants in this town in the Caldas region take part in the previous weeks in the "Espétalle un pincho" competition, and multi-adventure activities are held in the Santa Xusta park with popular games, archery and zip-lining.

Traditional music occupies an important space with the folk festival organised by the local traditional music and dance group Seixebra. The charity event Moraña Glamour - a night of fashion, beauty, spectacle and solidarity - is another of the initiatives during the Carneiro ao Espeto Festival.

The Gran Gala Carneiro ao Espeto in the carballeira precedes, on Saturday night, the great popular meal.