Contents
Easter Monday: traditions in Spain
Easter Monday is celebrated as the ‘Mona’ day in the Valencian Community. It is tradition spend the day at the countryside or at the beach with family and friends to enjoy of an outdoor picnic with typical homemade food (potato omelette, meat with tomato, Easter sausage, snacks, etc.). It is also typical to spend the day in a country house and cook paella with firewood or grill meat for lunch.
The Easter ‘Mona’ is a traditional sweet that is consumed in Easter Monday. It is a rounded bun with a boiled egg in the center. For the little ones, the ‘Monas’ are made with funny shapes like lizards, turtles, bears, snakes, etc.
We encourage you to participate this funny ritual of the ‘Mona’ day. It consists in stamping the boiled egg of the ‘Mona’ in the forehead of a relative or friend who is clueless to break it before eating it. On Easter Monday don’t forget to eat ‘Mona’ and a chocolate bar to enjoy nature well accompanied by your family or friends.
Here’s the recipe for making a traditional Valencian Mona de Pascua in Easter Monday.
Ingredients:
For the dough:
– 500 g of strong flour
– 100 g of sugar
– 25 g of fresh yeast (or 8 g of dry yeast)
– 200 ml of warm milk
– 100 g of butter at room temperature
– 2 eggs
– Zest of one lemon
– 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
– A pinch of salt
For decoration:
– 1 beaten egg (for brushing the dough)
– Hard-boiled eggs (traditionally placed in the dough)
– Moistened sugar (sugar with a few drops of water)
– Colored sprinkles or anisettes
– Candied fruits (optional)
Instructions:
1. Prepare the starter dough: If using fresh yeast, dissolve it in a bit of warm milk with one tablespoon of sugar and two tablespoons of flour. Let it sit for about 15 minutes until it bubbles and expands slightly.
2. Make the dough: In a large bowl, mix the flour with the salt and sugar. Make a well in the center and add the eggs, lemon zest, vanilla essence, and the starter dough (or dry yeast). Gradually add the warm milk while kneading the mixture.
3. Incorporate the butter: Once the dough is well combined, add the butter in small pieces and continue kneading until fully integrated. The dough should be soft and elastic. If it’s too sticky, you can add a little more flour, but not too much.
4. Let it rise: Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a lightly greased bowl. Cover with a damp cloth and let it rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours, or until the dough doubles in size.
5. Shape the monas: Once the dough has risen, divide it into portions (depending on the size you want for the monas). Shape them into balls or elongated forms and place a hard-boiled egg in the center of each, pressing gently to ensure it sticks.
6. Second rise: Place the monas on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and let them rest for another 30 minutes.
7. Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
8. Decorate and bake: Brush the monas with beaten egg and sprinkle with moistened sugar and colored sprinkles or anisettes. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until the monas are golden brown and cooked through.
9. Cool and serve: Let the monas cool on a wire rack before serving.
And there you have it! Your traditional Valencian Mona de Pascua is ready to be enjoyed in Easter Monday.
