Barraca open-air restaurants announce prices for the Fiestas de Primavera in the city of Murcia

The week-long fiesta in Murcia starts on Easter Sunday

The Fiestas de Primavera (Spring Fiestas) in Murcia, which include the Bando de la Huerta and the Entierro de la Sardina, are drawing ever closer and that means the return of the barracas to show off the very best of traditional cheerful local food.

The traditional wooden huts, based on the design of old peasant houses in Murcia, will be set up around the city to serve typical food and drink from the region, with large open-air eating areas around them.

The barracas will open, as usual, after the last Semana Santa procession during the morning of Easter Sunday, occupying many of the squares and gardens of the city of Murcia. Some are already under construction in the Malecón gardens on the north bank of the River Segura, and this week it has been announced that a slight increase in the standard prices has been made inevitable by the current economic climate.

The most typical dishes listed by the Federación de Peñas Huertanas include the following (and don’t forget to order bread as well!)

Chorizo spicy sausage - 1.70€ per piece

Morcilla (sweet black blood pudding with onions and pine nuts, eaten by squeezing onto bread or sucking out the contents to eat with bread) - 1.50€

Butifarra (blood sausage) - 1.50€ Best eaten with bread.

Morcón, butifarrón (cold sausage products) - 1.50€

Fried sausages (either normal “salchichas” or spicy “longaniza”) - 1.50€ each

Slice of pork loin (“lomo”) - 1.60€ generally grilled, this is thin slices of pork generally served with bread

Tocino (fatty bacon) – 1.60€ This really is fatty, one to avoid if attempting to lose weight!

Sobrasada (pork sausage paste, a distinctive red colour due to the parika used in flavouring it) on bread (best with white cheese on top!) - 1.50€ (2.60€ with cheese)

Whole boiled potato – 1.20€ (with garlic; con ajo)

Alioli: Small dish of garlic mayonnaise (“concha de ajo”) – 1.20€

Tortilla: Slice of potato omelette - 1.50€

Patata asada media: Half roast potato with garlic – 1.20€ (3 euros with garlic)

Michirones (rich broad bean stew) – 2.20€ (small; plato pequeño) or 3.50€ (large; plato grande)

Zarangollo (scrambled egg with onion and courgette, a very sweet and flavoursome alternative to plain scrambled egg) - 3.00€

Meatball with rich broth (“pelota con caldo”) - 1.80€

Fried chard (acelgas fritas- often served with fried sardines) - 1.50€

Lettuce hearts (“perdices”) – 1.20€

Queso fresco triángulo: 1.20€ A wedge of fresh soft white cheese which is excellent served with olive oil and tomatoes, try it with an Ensalada Murciana and bread.

Ensalada murciana (tomato, onion, tuna, egg, black olives, oil) - 2.00€

Boiled egg (huevo cocido) – 0.90€

Pepper salad - 2.80€

Pisto - 2.80€

Olives (Aceitunas)– 1.20€

Berenjenas: Deep fried aubergine slices, no price given but usually available and a good accompaniment to any of the wet dishes,

Stews – 6.00€ (sometimes sopa de trigo, a wheat soup, or guiso, stews are available.)

Rice dishes – 7.00€

Bread basket (Panera) - 1.00€

Plate of Serrano ham - 4.00€

To wash all of these down a variety of soft drinks are of course available, but non-drivers are advised to truly enter into the spirit of the meal with a little wine or beer. Be warned: the wine will not be among the most subtle you’ve ever tasted, and the coffee (0.90€) is made in the traditional “huerta” fashion by boiling it in a pan!

Drinks

Glass of wine - 0.90€

Small glass of beer - 1.30€

Glass of beer – 1.55€

“Tercio” (1/3 litre) of beer, bottle or can – 1.50€

Litre jug of beer – 6.00€

Litre jug of wine – 4.50€

Litre jug of sangria – 6.00€

75cc bottle of wine – 9€

Soft drinks (small bottle), tonic water and “biter” – 1.30€

Tonic water – 1.50€

Soft drinks (can) – 1.50€

Mineral water – 1.00€

Alcohol-free beer – 1.60€

1.5-litre bottle of water – 1.50€

0.5l bottle of lemonade – 1.30€

This is best followed by paparajotes, lemon leaves, which have been deep fried and drizzled with cinnamon and sugar: don't eat the leaf (even if the locals try to convince you that’s the way it’s done – it isn’t!), just the coating, washed down with sweet coffee flavoured with aniseed or sweet wine from Jumilla.

Paparajotes – 1.40€ each

Natillas sweet custard-like cream – 2.80€

Piece of fruit - 1.00€

Mistela grape liqueur – 0.80€

NOTE: All prices are subject to a 10 per cent service charge if the dishes are consumed at tables.

For upcoming events in the Region of Murcia visit the What’s on section of Murcia Today.