It's superior to its widely available and lowly cousin serrano in terms of its flavour, buttery texture and claretwine colour.

In either case, for a smoother, more buttery texture, replace a couple of the carrots with half a tin of haricot or butter beans.

It has a full and creamy fl avour, a succulent buttery texture and a mild spiciness from the mould.

Texturally quite light, it has a little oak on the nose and a creamy, buttery texture, finishing with a succulent red-fruit finish.

Curious, though it seems, it has a subtle but dynamic effect, thickening the sauce, adding a beguiling but unrecognisable extra dimension of flavour, deep colour and rich, buttery texture.