Chireta
Encyclopedia
Chireta is an Aragonese
type of haggis
. It is a flavorful rustic dish typical to the counties of Ribagorza, Sobrarbe
and Somontano de Barbastro
, high up in the Spanish Pyrenees
. In the Catalan counties of Alta Ribagorça
and Pallars, formerly territories united to the historic County of Ribagorza
in medieval Aragon
, chireta is known as gireta, or girella, respectively.
Being a mountain recipe, nothing goes to waste: once the choice cuts of a slaughtered sheep have been reserved, the intestines, tripe, neck meat, minced liver including heart and lungs, are all used. This is enhanced with rice, chopped pancetta or bacon, cured ham, parsley, garlic, a pinch of cinnamon, salt and white pepper.
"Chireta" literally means "Inside Out"—i.e., the sheep's intestines which make up the casings are cleaned and turned inside out for a smoother, more appetizing appearance.
The casing is cleaned in white vinegar then rinsed very well before filling. The filling contains rice mixed with garlic, parsley and seasoned chopped meats. Casings are filled about a half to two-thirds of the way with the rice mixture, taking care not to overfill them, as the rice will expand once the chiretas are boiled in the broth—otherwise they are liable to burst. Once trussed, and just before cooking, they're also examined to make sure any air pockets are pushed out.
Chiretas are usually served hot, as a main dish. However they taste just as good, if not better, when served up as tapas
, sliced, dipped in an egg-flour batter, and fried to a golden color.
Chiretas can be found on the menu in restaurants of the Ribagorza, and Sobrarbe regions, and can also be sampled as tapas in the wine valley cuisine of the Somontano area.
In 2002, a Somontano meat packer initiated a Chireta Festival, which has been running every year since then, around the 3rd weekend of October. In 2002, they achieved a record entry in the Guinness Book of Records for the longest and heaviest chireta in the world: 103.75 meters long, weighing a total of 220 kg.
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
type of haggis
Haggis
Haggis is a dish containing sheep's 'pluck' , minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and traditionally simmered in the animal's stomach for approximately three hours. Most modern commercial haggis is prepared in a casing rather than an actual stomach.Haggis is a kind...
. It is a flavorful rustic dish typical to the counties of Ribagorza, Sobrarbe
Sobrarbe
Sobrarbe is one of the Comarcas of Aragon, Spain. It is located in the northern part of the province of Huesca, part of the autonomous community of Aragon in Spain...
and Somontano de Barbastro
Somontano de Barbastro
Somontano de Barbastro is a comarca in Huesca Province, Aragon, Spain.Somontano borders the counties of Sobrarbe and Alto Gállego to the north, Ribagorza and La Litera to the east, Cinca Medio to the southwest, the Monegros desert to the south and Hoya de Huesca to the west.As its Latin name...
, high up in the Spanish Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
. In the Catalan counties of Alta Ribagorça
Alta Ribagorça
Alta Ribagorça is one of the comarques of Catalonia, Spain. Its capital is Pont de Suert. The highest peak is the Comaloformo in the massif of Bessiberri. Northeast of the region is the western part of the National Aiguas Tortas and Lake of San Mauricio...
and Pallars, formerly territories united to the historic County of Ribagorza
County of Ribagorza
The County of Ribagorza or Ribagorça was originally the independent creation of a local Basque dynasty, later absorbed into the Kingdom of Navarre, and then into the Crown of Aragon. Historically it had a strong connexion with the counties of Sobrarbe and Pallars. Its territory was the valleys of...
in medieval Aragon
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
, chireta is known as gireta, or girella, respectively.
Being a mountain recipe, nothing goes to waste: once the choice cuts of a slaughtered sheep have been reserved, the intestines, tripe, neck meat, minced liver including heart and lungs, are all used. This is enhanced with rice, chopped pancetta or bacon, cured ham, parsley, garlic, a pinch of cinnamon, salt and white pepper.
"Chireta" literally means "Inside Out"—i.e., the sheep's intestines which make up the casings are cleaned and turned inside out for a smoother, more appetizing appearance.
The casing is cleaned in white vinegar then rinsed very well before filling. The filling contains rice mixed with garlic, parsley and seasoned chopped meats. Casings are filled about a half to two-thirds of the way with the rice mixture, taking care not to overfill them, as the rice will expand once the chiretas are boiled in the broth—otherwise they are liable to burst. Once trussed, and just before cooking, they're also examined to make sure any air pockets are pushed out.
Chiretas are usually served hot, as a main dish. However they taste just as good, if not better, when served up as tapas
Tapas
Tapas are a wide variety of appetizers, or snacks, in Spanish cuisine. They may be cold or warm ....
, sliced, dipped in an egg-flour batter, and fried to a golden color.
Chiretas can be found on the menu in restaurants of the Ribagorza, and Sobrarbe regions, and can also be sampled as tapas in the wine valley cuisine of the Somontano area.
In 2002, a Somontano meat packer initiated a Chireta Festival, which has been running every year since then, around the 3rd weekend of October. In 2002, they achieved a record entry in the Guinness Book of Records for the longest and heaviest chireta in the world: 103.75 meters long, weighing a total of 220 kg.