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Solar cooking for vegetarians Print E-mail
Vegetarian
Sunday, 27 July 2008 19:20
a sunflowerSo it's now pretty much the hottest part of summer here in the Sierra de Grazalema and at this time of year lighting a flame barbecue outside is not only foolhardy it is actually against the law. The sierras are tinder dry and a spark can cause a big uncontrolled fire very easily... So what are we to do when we have some friends around to our country finca for an afternoon vegetarian barbecue, microwave? No, the answer to perfect summer outdoor cooking is a parabolic solar cooker... It's not rocket science. Reflect and concentrate the sun onto the base of a pan and you can cook just like on a regular hob.

Ok, so it is a bit tricky at first because the incredible instant heat that arrives on the bottom of the pan at first caught me by surprise... I was warned not to use anything with teflon or "heatproof" plastic on and I christened my new solar cooker by burning the teflon on one of my best pans... Ah well, it's a learning curve. The trick is to use really thick black bottomed iron pans and a bit of cullinary flexibility.

Using a solar cooker

This system of heating a pan costs absolutely nothing as you don't put any fuel in it and it doesn't burn so it is a completely eco friendly way of cooking. It also has a seriously helpful side to people who are not so fortunate in other parts of the developing world and the advantages include:
  • Water and milk can be pasteurised
  • Lower cost compared to firewood or cooking oil
  • Greater safety for children and the cook compared to a fire or stove
  • Lower likelihood of starting a fire that could destroy a family's home
  • Less time spent cooking compared to tending a fire or stove.
So anyway, back to the vegetarian lunch time recipe....

butternut squash on a solar cooker
We grow a lot of organic vegetables in our garden and right now it's the season for dwarf french beans, butternut squash, tomatoes, aubergines, onions and peppers so a vegetable stir fry seemed the perfect recipe to test out the solar cooker.

Here we see the delicious butternut squash sliced thickly and being stir fried with olive oil, salt and pepper. Once the squash started to go a little soft I just added all the other vegetables to the pan along with plenty of fresh herbs such as rosemary, thyme and a bit of lavender..I also suggest that it is good to have a jug of cold water at hand in case any of the ingredients start to catch on the bottom of the pan as the heat spot is very concentrated. The trick to avoid this is to keep everything moving.

All in all not a bad first attempt at solar cooking but I need a bit more practice and also need to make a bigger cooking / frying area to focus the sunlight on as I found the piece that comes with the solar cooking kit is a bit small.

I paid around 85 Euros plus IVA for my cooker and if you want one too, you can buy a solar cooking kit from Eduardo of Generador-Electrico.com ....he can help out with this and many other aspects of alternative energy systems from solar power and water heating to gas powered generators. Have a look at his website and give him a call if you want any advice.
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written by Stu, March 17, 2009
Yes, it is one of the best things I've ever bought. Weigh the base legs down though as mine blew away in the storms this morning. So easy to use.Make use of the sun then enjoy the evenings!! Good luck, Stu xx

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Last Updated on Monday, 28 July 2008 13:29
 

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Restaurant Al Lago, Zahara de la Sierra
A stunning setting with lake views from the terrace in which to enjoy a leisurely lunch, dinner or innovative tapas. Chef Stefan Crites, who trained in New York for many years, re-interprets some of Spain’s culinary classics with a creative and exotic touch using local organic vegetables, top quality meat and fresh fish from the markets in Cadiz.

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Las Truchas
Las Truchas is a small hotel with a home from home atmosphere, located in the quaint town of El Bosque. Explore the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park and the White Towns Route (Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos) that are situated within easy reaching distance of this hotel. You can enjoy magnificent views of the surrounding landscape from the hotel rooms.

Cortijo Valverde
Beautiful hotel with outstanding views of the surrounding countryside providing that special vacation destination for either a restful holiday, or a base from which to explore the many treasures that Andalucia and Inland Spain has to offer.

Villa Turistica Grazalema
This hotel is located 500 metres from the charming village of Grazalema, a place characterised by its whitewashed façades, its narrow and windy streets and set in the centre of the natural park

Hotel Fuerte Grazalema
Situated in the heart of the sierra de Grazalema natural park, Hotel Fuerte Grazalema is a paradise for outdoor walking enthusiasts and is set in oak woodlands 5 kilometres from the village of Grazalema. It makes an excellent base from which to discover this stunning part of western Andalucia


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