History

The Iberian black-hoof pig has roamed the dehesa oak savannahs of southwest Spain since pre-Roman times. The bellota grade requires a montanera of more than 60 days on acorns and pasture, the pigs going out between October and mid-December and gaining at least 46 kg before slaughter by the end of March; most runs last three to four months, which is what brings the fat content high and the meat depth. Catalan bars serve Iberico cut by hand from a wooden jamonero stand; the muscle slices are 1mm thin. In Barcelona, Cerveseria Catalana and Cal Pep both put a plate of Iberico on the counter. The slicer is the trick: a long thin knife is run along the bone, the slice falling onto the plate fat-side up, served at room temperature with crusty bread.

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Make it at home

Yield 4Hands-on 20 minTotal 20 minDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 200g jamon iberico de bellota, bought from a butcher who slices to order
  • Crusty country bread, sliced
  • Catalan olive oil for the bread
  • Half a ripe tomato (optional, for pa amb tomaquet)

Method

  1. Take the ham out of the fridge 30 minutes before serving; it must be at room temperature.
  2. Toast the bread, rub with garlic if desired, drizzle olive oil.
  3. Optionally rub a halved tomato into the toast for pa amb tomaquet.
  4. Arrange the Iberico slices on a flat plate, fat-side up, slightly overlapping.
  5. Serve immediately with the bread alongside. Eat with the hands; no fork.

Tip from the editors. Iberico must be served at room temperature, never cold. Acorn-fed bellota is the top grade; the lower grades are cebo de campo or cebo. Read the label.

Where to eat iberian ham (jamon iberico)

Iberian ham (Jamon Iberico) in Barcelona

Cerveseria Catalana ★ 4.3

€€ Catalan TapasEixample

Cerveseria Catalana in Barcelona's Eixample is the all-day tapas counter where every plate sits on the bar in glass cases. Order by pointing at sight.

OrderThe patatas bravas, the pulpo, the seared foie montadito.

TipNo reservations; queue forms at 13:00. Get there at 12:30 for a counter seat or skip to 16:30 service.

Directions

Cal Pep ★ 4.6

€€€ Catalan TapasBorn

Cal Pep in Barcelona's Born has run the same standing counter since 1977: tortilla del bacallà, baby clams with ham, fried gambes, all called out by Pep.

OrderThe tortilla del bacallà and the clams with ham, with a glass of cava.

TipNo reservations. Be at the door at 13:00 or 19:30 if you want a counter seat in the first turn.

Directions

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