Amazing Spanish Recipes - Tasty And Fulfilling
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Spain is country with a mixed and complex heritage and Spanish cooking reflects this fact. While Spain is a Mediterranean country, and many Spanish dishes owe much to this, Spanish food also includes native foods imported into the country from Spain's former colonies in the New World such as beans, peppers, potatoes and tomatoes. Other Spanish dishes draw on the countries Jewish and Moorish heritage - it was worth remembering that much of Spain was ruled by the Moors for more than seven hundred years. Even the Reconquista (the Christian reconquest of the Iberian peninsula from Muslims) has left its traces in Spanish cuisine - pork is well-liked in Spain, and historically was a political statement of Christian identity since it was not eaten by Jews or Muslims.
The most important ingredient in Spanish cooking is olive oil, which is unsurprising when you think about the fact 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 distinct characteristics in the way in which its prepared and served. Onions are garlic are used extensively and wine and bread is served along with most meals. There's great variety in desserts and fruits and dairy products are part of them. Desserts are sometimes served along with the main course. There is a distinct Spanish custom that involves the serving of appetizers called 'tapas' before any drinks.
Some well-liked Spanish dishes include:
- Gazpacho - A cold vegetable soup that is particularly famous in hotter areas such as Andalusia. Traditionally gazpacho was made stale bread, garlic, olive oil, salt and vinegar, but today, bell pepper and tomato are also often added. There is also a variant called gazpacho manchego which is served warm, and includes meat (often rabbit) and mushrooms, that is more of a stew than a soup.
- Paella - A rice dish originally from Valencia. The main ingredients are rice, saffron and olive oil, and the dish is generally garnished with meat or seafood, and vegetables.
- Chorizo - A spicy sausage made out of fatty pork and seasoned with chili and paprika. There are 2 varieties: hot ("picante") and sweet ("dulce"). Most varieties can be eaten cold, although there are some regions of Spain which produce varieties that need further cooking. Chorizo is not just eaten on its own, but can also be used as an ingredient in other dishes.
- 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: This is a thick stew made out of pimentos, tomatoes, onions and potatoes.
- Marmitako - A fish stew made with onions, pimentos, potatoes and tomatoes.
Pescaito Frito: Fish that is marinated and friend after battering it into pieces.
Tortilla de patatas: A type of omelet laced with smashed potatoes and seasoned with onions.
Article Source: Articlelogy.com
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