Delicious Spanish Cuisine!
Have you heard of these famous Spanish Dishes?
Spanish cuisine derives from a complex history where invasions and conquests of Spain have modified traditions which made new ingredients available. Thus, the current and old cuisine of Spain incorporates old and new traditions. Spanish cuisine also varies depending on the geography and climate of the regions so you will find a great variety of special dishes from the Gazpachos of Andalusia to the Tortillas of the Canary Islands and Paellas of Valencia.
- Gazpacho
Gazpacho or Andalusian gazpacho is a cold soup made of raw, blended vegetables. A classic of Spanish cuisine, it originated in the southern region of Andalusia. In Andalucía, people have it every day in summer and there is always a jug on the counter in tapas bars. Also try salmorejo from Córdoba, a thicker version that is often served with pieces of Ibérico ham on the top.
2). Paella
Paella is one of the best-known dishes in Spanish cuisine from the Valencia region . For this reason, it may be seen internationally as Spain’s national dish, Paella takes its name from the wide, shallow traditional pan used to cook the dish on an open fire. Its a rice dish made with vegetables and sometimes seafood. According to tradition in Valencia, paella is cooked over an open fire, fueled by orange and pine branches along with pine cones. This produces an aromatic smoke which infuses the paella Also, dining guests traditionally eat directly out of the pan instead of serving in plates.
3. Croquettes.
Traditional croquetas in Spain are made with thick béchamel. They are one of the most typical tapas dishes in Spanish countries. You can find Spanish a plate of croquetas in almost any restaurant or bar, each made to the establishment’s own — sometimes secret — recipe, combining ingredients such as Jamon (cured ham) or bacalao (Atlantic codfish) with béchamel sauce, which is then breaded and fried. The creamy cheese (queso) croquettes pack a smooth flavour, or try the croquettes of local sweet-spiced black sausage (morcilla) or Spanish blue cheese (queso de Cabrales) for unique Spanish flavours.
It’s also a good yardstick for comparing food in Spain: the quality of a bar-restaurant can often be judged by their ability to handle the Spanish tapa staples of croquettes or bravas (Spanish potato chips).
4. Tortilla Espanola
Spanish omelette or Spanish tortilla is a traditional dish from Spain and one of the signature dishes in Spanish cuisine. It is an omelette made with eggs and potatoes, optionally including onion. It is often served at room temperature as a tapa. It’s a great starter (or meal) for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A tasty Spanish snack you’ll see around is a wedge of omelette squeezed between bread to make a bocadillo (sandwich).
5. Patatas Bravas
Patatas bravas, also called patatas a la brava or papas bravas, is a dish native to Spain, often served as a tapa in bars. It typically consists of white potatoes that have been cut into irregular cubes of about two centimetres, then fried in oil and served warm with a spicy sauce. Perhaps the most ubiquitous of tapas, patatas bravas vary quite a bit around the country, but all versions involve chunks of fried potato. In Madrid, bravas sauce is made with sweet and spicy pimentón (Spanish paprika), olive oil, flour and stock — but never tomatoes. Some people add garlic, some a dash of fino sherry, while others selfishly insist on keeping their secret ingredients to themselves. So next time you go to a bar in Spain, you know what to find!
