Amazing Spanish Recipes – Tasty And Fulfilling
Spain has a diverse and mixed heritage and it is indeed reflected in its cuisines. Spain being a Mediterranean country, the cuisines and culture has had a strong influence of its origins. Spain has governed several colonies in its time and not surprisingly many of the common native food of its colonies were brought into Spain. You will also find that the Spanish cuisines draw inspiration from its Moorish and Jewish heritage as well as from Reconquista. Pork is very popular in this country and was historically regarded as the mark of christian identity as the Jews and Muslims didn’t eat it.
Spain is the largest producer of olive oil, in fact half of the world’s olive oil is produced in Spain. Not surprisingly it is utilized in a lot of Spanish cuisines. Northern Spain also uses lard and butter equally well.
Other characteristics of Spanish food, include the widespread use of garlic and onions, the serving of bread and wine with most meals, and the consumption of fruit or dairy products as desserts. One particularly well-known Spanish custom is the serving of small appetizers (“tapas”) with drinks.
Lets take a quick peek at some of the favored Spanish dishes:
- Gazpacho – A cold vegetable soup that has become particularly popular in hotter areas like Andalusia. Traditionally gazpacho was made stale bread, garlic, olive oil, salt and vinegar, but today, bell pepper and tomato are also often added. There’s also a variant called gazpacho manchego which is served warm, and includes meat (often rabbit) and mushrooms, that is more like a stew than a soup.
Paella: This is really a typical rice mix that is unique to Spain. It is made by mixing saffron and olive oil with rice and is later garnished with seafood or meat and a number of vegetables.
Chorizo: This is a kind of sausage that is made by mashing pork fat and adding chilli and paprika. There are two types of chorizo, one that is spicy and another that’s sweet. It may be eaten hot or cold although it is primarily served cold. Chorizo is used as an ingredient in lots of Spanish dishes but can also be eaten by itself.
- Jamn serrano – Dry-cured ham.
- Fabada Asturiana – A bean stew that also contains black blood sausage (“morcilla”), chorizo and pork, and which is flavored with saffron and other seasonings.
- Olla Podrida – A rich stew with bacon, poultry or game, ham, meats and vegetables.
Calamares: Squid dish that is fried in olive oil.
- Pescato Frito – Marinated fish, battered and fried.
Tortilla de patatas: A type of omelet laced with smashed potatoes and seasoned with onions.
For further details and video clips on the different Spanish cuisines please browse Spanish Recipes. You might also want to take a look at a few of the popular Spanish Desserts
