The Disarmament Festival is a gastronomic celebration held in Oviedo every October 19th, during which dozens of the city's restaurants serve a three-course menu: a chickpea stew with cod and spinach, tripe, and Asturian rice pudding.
The origin of this menu is said to date back to a series of historical events that took place in Asturias during the 19th century, during the Carlist Wars. One of these events recounts that one day, one of the sides was enjoying a hearty meal in which the main course was chickpeas with cod and spinach. Apparently, the soldiers were so engrossed in the deliciousness of the dish that they didn't notice the weapons they had left behind had been taken by the enemy. And that's how the name of this dish, "Disarmament," came about.
To prepare this Asturian "potaje de desarme" (chickpea stew), I'm going to use canned chickpeas, which are very practical and save a lot of time. However, you can also make this recipe by cooking the chickpeas at home beforehand.
To cook the chickpeas at home, soak them overnight. Then, put a pot of water on high heat with a couple of cloves of garlic and an onion. Once the water comes to a boil, add salt and the chickpeas. Let the chickpeas cook until tender. For the stew, you can use the chickpea cooking liquid instead of fish stock.
Asturian "potaje de desarme" is traditionally made with desalted cod, and this time I'm going to use cod flakes, although you can use any part of the cod. We will take into account the time needed to desalinate the cod at home, or we can also use cod that is already sold desalted and ready to cook.
Recipe Information
- Preparation time: 10 minutes
- Cooking time: 45 minutes
- Total time: 55 minutes
- Servings: 2
- Category: Main course
- Cuisine: Asturian
- Calories per serving (kcal): 639
Ingredients for Asturian Disarming Stew
- 1 medium egg
- Salt
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 100 g onion
- 100 g spinach
- 30 g olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 400 g cooked and drained chickpeas (or 200 g dried chickpeas)
- 500 ml fish stock
- 2 slices of bread
- 200 g desalted cod flakes
Cómo hacer el potaje de desarme asturiano
The first thing we're going to do is boil one medium egg. To do this, put a saucepan of water on high heat and when the water comes to a boil, add salt and the egg. Let the egg boil for about 12 minutes, then remove it from the saucepan and let it cool. When it's cool, peel it and cut it into quarters to decorate the dish at the end.
We finely chop 1 clove of garlic and 100g of onion, and chop 100g of spinach.
Heat 20g of olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Once hot, add the garlic and sauté briefly. Then add the onion, a pinch of salt, and cook for 7 minutes, or until the onion is softened and translucent.
Next, add 1 teaspoon of sweet paprika and quickly mix it with the sautéed onion.
Immediately add 400g of cooked chickpeas and 500ml of fish stock and mix well. Place over medium-low heat and let it cook for 10 minutes.
We put a frying pan on medium-high heat with 10g of olive oil and when the oil is hot we fry 1 clove of garlic cut into slices and 2 slices of bread.
We place the fried garlic and bread in a mortar, add a couple of tablespoons of the chickpea cooking broth and grind well until we have a homogeneous paste.
When the chickpeas have been cooking for 10 minutes, add the crushed mixture to the pot, mix and cook for a couple of minutes.
Next, add 200g of desalted cod flakes and mix them in with the rest of the ingredients, making circular back-and-forth movements with the pan. Let the cod cook for 5 minutes.
Next, we add the spinach and mix it well with the rest of the ingredients.
Let it cook for another 5 minutes and the Asturian stew is ready. Serve each plate with two quarters of a boiled egg.
Easy-to-prepare summary
- Boil 1 egg and cut it into quarters.
- Chop the garlic and onion and chop the spinach.
- Sauté the garlic and onion.
- Add sweet paprika to the sautéed vegetables.
- Add the cooked chickpeas and vegetable broth.
- Sauté the garlic and bread slices.
- Mash the sautéed garlic and bread with a little of the cooking broth.
- Add the mash to the pot.
- Add the cod flakes and cook.
- Add the spinach.
- Finish cooking the Asturian stew and serve with a boiled egg.
30 Best Recipes I Love Making at Home
If you’re like me, you probably enjoy keeping a mix of easy comfort food, classic international dishes, and crowd-pleasing desserts on hand.
Whenever I want something rich and indulgent, I usually go for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this elegant Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a decadent Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And when I’m craving something fruity and comforting, I always come back to this classic French Tarte Tatin recipe.
For easy breakfasts and lighter meals, I often make these fluffy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a satisfying Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these fresh Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. When I need a gluten-free pantry staple, I also like preparing this simple Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe.
When I’m in the mood for tapas and Mediterranean flavors, I usually rotate between this bold Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crispy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, creamy Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and refreshing Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. I also love serving this crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe when I want something a little more special.
For hearty lunches and cozy dinners, I always recommend this comforting Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, traditional Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, rich Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and creamy Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. If I want something more filling, I’ll often make this baked Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, rustic Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the ultra-comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.
Whenever I’m craving street food or party-style dishes, I usually make this juicy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, flavorful Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crunchy Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. I also like serving these easy Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe as a simple appetizer or snack.
And if I’m putting together drinks and a full menu for guests, I’ll often pair dinner with this refreshing Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this bold Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To round everything out, I love adding this tangy French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side or finishing the table with this striking Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.
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Over the years of testing and refining recipes in my own kitchen, I’ve learned that the best dishes combine simplicity, reliable techniques, and bold flavor.
The recipes in this collection are the ones I personally return to again and again—whether I’m cooking a quick meal for myself or preparing something special for friends and family.
For dessert, the rich and silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I often make when I want something elegant but easy. Another sweet favorite is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, inspired by the famous Central European chimney cake. If you enjoy baking, learning how to make syrup for better texture in desserts is useful, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe explains exactly how I prepare it in my own kitchen.
When I want something fresh and simple, I usually turn to the classic Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a perfectly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For heartier comfort meals, I often recommend the satisfying Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the quick weeknight favorite One Pot Pasta Recipe.
I also love sharing traditional dishes from around the world, including the authentic Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the classic Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.
Air fryer recipes are another category I cook regularly because they save time while still producing great texture. My go-to options include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.
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