It’s almost impossible to emulate the gastronomical variety of Spain. There are so many regions, each with their own specialties, that tourists will find themselves overwhelmed by the thousands of fragrances and tastes.
Spain is famous for many things such as flamenco, football, its beautiful coastlines, the long lazy sunny days, the excellent nightlife, the usual siestas, the locals’ incredible long names, the islands and the fact that Spanish language is one of the most widely spoken language on Earth after Mandarin Chinese, but this vibrant area of Iberian Peninsula is also very well-known for its delicious food.
Far from being one of healthiest or the most elegant fares, the Spanish cuisine has its own charm, surprising tourists through color, diversity and incredible fusion of tastes.
When I started this post, I had the intention to make a Top 10 Things to Eat in Spain, but while writing, I realized that I just can’t decide about the order and I chose to make a list instead. For me, each of these foods tells a story, reminding me of some great moments spent in Spain and I hope they will become some beautiful memories for you, too.
TAPAS
You are not allowed to visit Spain without experiencing the famous Tapas! It’s like visiting Paris without seeing the Tour Eiffel, or like ordering an American coffee in Italy.
First of all, tapas are not a particular food; they are a sort of little meals that Spaniards eat anytime of the day or night, anywhere. I won’t make a general presentation of tapas because you can find it anywhere on the Internet, and it will probably take me few hours to share my own personal tapas experience. I will just tell you some interesting facts about this Spanish way of eat.
Tapas are part of the Spanish culture and for a better understanding of this fact you should know that in Spain there is also a verb “tapear”, which means “eating tapas”. Beyond all this fuss, these little meals are not always free. While cities like Madrid and even Barcelona provide tourists these little pleasures free of any costs every time you order a drink in a bar or a pub, there still are areas such as the Basque Country or Andalusia where you probably won’t get any free tapas.
The best tapas I’ve ever had were in Madrid, in their popular tapas bars where you don’t even have to pay for your lunch or dinner, because every time you order a beer, you’ll get a nice plate with mini sandwiches, almonds, squids or any other snacks, but never the same dish, which is absolutely great.
On the other hand, the tastiest tapas I’ve tried consisted in a platter of blue cheese on a beach in Mallorca, for which I paid, but it definitely worth every penny.
TORTILLA ESPANOLA
First time in my life when I’ve tasted tortilla I was on a ferryboat, on my way to Ibiza. I remember it was a big “bocadillo con tortilla”, a tortilla sandwich. I liked it so much that I could not resist and ate three of them.
Later, I’ve discovered that there are actually many forms of tortilla, some of them with a thicker texture and other thinner and soft, but this Spanish omelette always consists of potatoes, eggs, onion, salt and pepper, being the most common dish in the country.
Although they say tortilla is very easy to prepare, I’ve always had a problem in cooking it, never managed to bake it properly in the middle, I wonder why.
The recipe goes like this: Cut the potatoes into thick slices and put them in a pot with water to boil. Then, fry them in a pan with a little olive oil and make sure they are soft, not brown. Next step – drain the potatoes and mix them lightly with the chopped onions and the raw beaten eggs. Put the mixture back in the pan (preferably ceramic lid-like utensil) and let it fry first on one side for a few minutes and then flip it over with the help of a plate and let it fry on its other side.
Simple as ABC! Let me know if you make it!
PAELLA
Paella is a traditional rice dish originating in Valencia. In Spain there are three well-known types of paella: Paella Valenciana (white rice, vegetables, chicken, duck and rabbit meat, land snails, beans and spices), Seafood Paella (rice, seafood and seasoning) and Paella Mixta, which is actually a free-style mixture usually made of rice, chicken, seafood including clams, vegetables, olive oil, saffron, and other spices.
I love paella mixta, especially served directly from paellera as a romantic dinner on the beach, in a late summer evening accompanied by a cold glass of sangria and…the breeze.
GAZPACHO IN ANDALUSIA
Like most of the Spanish dishes, gazpacho can be cooked as well in several ways. Warm or cold, soup, salad or even stew, gazpacho is generally made from tomatoes, cucumber, onion, garlic, a little olive oil, wine vinegar, salt and sometimes (rarely) ham.
My favorite gazpacho is a soup made of tomatoes, cucumber, onion, garlic, olive oil, vinegar and salt, all blended, served with croutons, ice cubes and an addition of fresh chopped tomatoes, onions and cucumber. Perfect for a late lunch in Andalusia!
CREMA CATALANA IN BARCELONA
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