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Spain is famous for the quality of its food. Food is very important to the Spanish, and because fresh foods are easy to find, you can get great, rich flavours. Garlic, paprika, olive oil, almonds, cinnamon and olives are favourite ingredients. Cheeses, cured hams ("jamón serrano"), and red sausages ("chorizo") are a Spanish speciality. Vegetables are present in every meal. |
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Spanish food is traditional and is different from region to region. In the north, where it is colder, beans dishes ("fabada"), fish and seafood (even octopus!) are a speciality. The east coast has great rice dishes, like "paella" (yellow rice with fish, chicken and vegetables), and is famous for its "turrón", a Christmas dessert (almonds, honey and sugar). |
The interior of Spain
(Castilla, Extremadura, La Mancha and Aragón), is
famous for its roasted baby lambs and suckling pigs in
wood-fired brick ovens. You will also find many dishes with
garbanzo peas, lentils and white beans. In the Balearic islands
(off the east coast) you find treats like "ensaimadas",
sweet pastries with an almond paste filling, spicy sausages
and cured hams. In the south, "gazpacho" (a
cold tomato soup with green pepper, cucumber, garlic and
olive oil) helps you cool down from the heat in the
summer. gazpacho Lunch is the main meal of the day in
Spain, served much later than in the States, at about
2.30pm. Businesses and shops usually close for a couple of
hours to allow the "siesta" (short nap) to take
place. After lunch and before dinner, which
is usually from 9 to 10, many children have a snack called
"merienda",which usually is a "bocadillo", a crusty roll
with ham, chorizo, omelette, cheese, or even
chocolate! Adults eat "tapas". "Tapas" makes a
useful snack and can go from "jamón serrano", a piece
of Manchego cheese, roasted peppers or mussels on cocktail
sticks to stuffed anchovy olives or octopus.
¡Que aproveche!
