Spanish Food – Wonderfully Tasty Cuisine
The Spanish cuisines is diverse and often a unique mix of meat stews. There is a definite mediterranean touch to lots of the recipes from this region. There has also been considerable influence of the Spanish colonies and plenty of recipes were borrowed from them. The Jewish influence is also seen in its tastes and cooking style. Probably the most favorite non vegetarian food here is pork and pork stew is an element of the many spanish dishes.[I:http://oldfashionedcandysource.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/RajivKapur27.jpg]
The most important ingredient in Spanish cooking is olive oil, which is unsurprising when you think about the truth that Spain produces almost half of the world’s olives. However, in the North of Spain, butter and lard are also used equally well.
Spanish food has some unique features in just how its cooked and presented. Onions are garlic are used extensively and wine and bread is served with most meals. You can find good variety in desserts and fruits and dairy products are part of them. Desserts are often served with the main course. There is a unique Spanish custom that involves the serving of appetizers called ‘tapas’ prior to any drinks.
Lets take a quick peek at a few of the popular Spanish dishes:
- Gazpacho – A chilly vegetable soup that has become particularly well-liked 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, and is more like a stew than a soup.
Paella: This is a typical rice mix that’s unique to Spain. It is prepared by mixing saffron and olive oil with rice and is later garnished with seafood or meat and a few vegetables.
Chorizo: This is a type of sausage that is made by mashing pork fat and then adding chilli and paprika. There are two kinds of chorizo, one that’s spicy and the other that’s sweet. It can be eaten hot or cold although it is primarily served cold. Chorizo is used as an ingredient in many 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.
Pescaito Frito: Fish that’s marinated and friend after battering it into pieces.
Tortilla de patatas: A type of omlette laced with smashed potatoes and seasoned with onions.
For additional details and video clips on the various Spanish recipes please browse Spanish Food. You might also want to take a look at a few of the popular Spanish Desserts
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