Pebrereta Contest

The Pebrereta Contest is one of Villajoyosa’s most traditional culinary events. This event brings together chefs and food enthusiasts to pay tribute to the pebrereta, Villajoyosa’s signature dish. The contest is part of the program for La Vila Gastronòmica and highlights the town’s seafood cuisine and traditional recipes.

Summer invites us to share wonderful evenings and dinners outdoors with friends and family on terraces, beaches… And in La Vila Joiosa, pebrereta is a must at these nighttime gatherings. It's the quintessential dish of La Vila Joiosa, and its main ingredient is the "Villa Joiosa pumpkin."

In the early 1990s, the festival committee of the traditional Poble Nou neighborhood decided to include a contest featuring this traditional dish in its program of events. Over time, this Pebrereta Contest, which takes place in early June, has become one of the most popular culinary competitions in the municipality and has earned its place in “La Vila Gastronómica.”

While the contestant chefs prepare the Pebrereta using the ingredients provided by the organizers— green peppers, tomatoes, garlic, Vilera squash, sweet paprika, and santgatxo (a cut of tuna preserved in salt that originally had little commercial value), the groups of friends and cheerleaders share appetizers.

This contest, in addition to being a culinary event, is a deeply rooted community tradition that in previous years was held at Plaça de la Llum, a charming little square in the neighborhood. However, due to the increase in attendance and participation, it is now held in Poble Nou, though in a larger venue that can comfortably accommodate the hundreds of residents who come to enjoy an evening filled with music, fun, and great food.

The Pebrereta Contest gives us the opportunity to visit La Vila Joiosa and share an experience filled with tradition, flavor, and celebration.

Further information:

RECIPE:

Ingredients (serves 4)

- 5 green bell peppers, 500 g of squash, 2 kg of ripe tomatoes, 375 g of santgatxo, 1 dl of olive oil, garlic, salt.

How to Make This Dish:

1. Sauté the chopped peppers with the whole garlic cloves: there’s no need to peel them; just give each one a light tap with the pestle or make a small cut in them. Set aside.

2. Sauté the squash, then add the peeled, seeded, and chopped tomatoes.

3. When it's almost done, stir in the sangatxo that was soaked overnight.

4. After a few minutes, add the bell pepper and garlic, taste, and add salt if necessary.

Image gallery

Pebrereta Contest in images

Practical Information

ADDRESS
Avinguda d'Altea, 03570 Villajoyosa, Alicante
SCHEDULE
FRIDAY AFTERNOONS IN JUNE (check dates)
TELEPHONE
966851371
EMAIL
turismo@villajoyosa.es
CONTACT PERSON
Vila Joiosa City Council.
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