The “Soul of Summer” and Other Famous Vegetables from Navarra

White asparagus from PGI Espárrago de Navarra
An emblematic product of the Ribera del Ebro, white asparagus from Navarra is a premium vegetable known for its thick white spears and tender texture with barely-there fibres. Crossing the communities of Navarra, Aragón, and La Rioja, the banks of the river Ebro make up the PGI Espárrago de Navarra, which benefits from a temperate Mediterranean climate and a fertile, undulating landscape.

The distinctive off-white color of the asparagus is cared for by “earthing up”, meaning covering the spears with soil to protect them from sun overexposure, preventing photosynthesis to keep them juicy and pale. They are also harvested at night or in the early morning for maximum freshness, and in the case of preserved asparagus, they are sent straight to the cannery from the field. White asparagus from Navarra is easy to identify because it always bears the label “Espárrago de Navarra”. It is world-renowned for its creamy color, and is recommended to be prepared simply, served cold in salads with a dash of Extra Virgin olive oil, or plated with jamón serrano and other flavors of Spain.

Some canning and preserves brands worth noting for their white asparagus include La Catedral de Navarra, for artisanal techniques, premium quality, and chic packaging, the more traditional El Navarrico, Dantza with its “Extra” quality tips, and La Tudelana by Conservas Medrano, for various sizes of asparagus as well as a showcase of other gourmet vegetables from Navarra.

Artichokes from PGI Alcachofa de Tudela
Another white and tender variety of vegetable from Navarra, the artichoke from Tudela is considered the jewel of the vegetable garden and its own designated origin – PGI Alcachofa de Tudela. They have a more rounded form and are not sinewy, with a juicy, slightly bitter flavor.

Conserves Medrano specializes in gourmet conserves of white artichoke, the likes of which are used in haute cuisine. Typical recipes include the artichoke with jamón serrano, cooked in a stew or Al Estilo Tudela: a dish from the region that uses white wine, lemon juice, tomato, onion, almonds, jamón, and herbs such as bay leaves to bring out the full flavor of the artichoke.

Tomatoes from Navarra
The most famous tomato grown in Navarra is the Feo de Tudela (Marmande variety). It is known for its exceptional quality, intense umami flavor, and meaty texture, with an irregular, bumpy form and fine skin, giving it the “ugly” nickname (“feo” means ugly in English). It grows in the summer along the Ribera del Ebro. Other notably tasty tomatoes grown here include Rosa Barbastro and the Moya Verde. Although these are best enjoyed in salads, there are local recipes that also call for tomato conserves, such as the Ajoarriero, a rustic staple dish from Navarra featuring cod with tomato and garlic.

There are many options for tomatoes from Navarra as preserves, whether they are whole peeled in brine or olive oil, slow-cooked with EVOO as a sofrito sauce, sun-dried in EVOO to preserve an intense flavor, or canned as tomate triturado (crushed tomatoes). Brands offering a selection of preserved tomatoes from Navarra are El Navarrico and La Catedral de Navarra.

Bell Peppers and Piquillos from Navarra
PGI Pimiento Riojano has a variety of conical red or green bell peppers in La Rioja, which are highly sought after for their thick texture and sweet, balanced flavor. They are typically roasted, hand-peeled, and preserved. These peppers are widely used in stews, for example in the regional favorite Menestra Riojana.

Good enough to have their own DOP Pimiento del Piquillo de Lodosa, these meaty little red peppers are sweet and flavorful, and usually roasted over fire before being peeled and canned. Piquillo peppers are typically stuffed as a tapas platter, with tuna, codfish or even fresh cheese.

Menestras – Mixed Vegetables from Navarra
Not to be overlooked, menestras are the staple in any Spanish pantry, being a mix of vegetables that can be easily added to dishes for extra flavor and convenience. Canned or jarred vegetable medleys from Navarra highlight the quality of the region’s vegetable gardens, usually containing peas, carrots, green beans, and sometimes artichoke or asparagus. Brands like VEHORTU are producing vacuum-sealed vegetable packs from Navarra for optimum freshness. When shopping for menestras, look for the Navarra as origin on the label, to guarantee a premium product with the authentic flavor that comes from the Ribera del Ebro.

With so many exceptional vegetable preserves to choose from that are guaranteed by Navarra and the Ribera del Ebro regions, it’s hard to know what to try first! So, for some inspiration on cooking with preserves from Navarra, have a look at these recipes.