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Apart from the Paella, the tapas, the omelette and of course, the cheese, and the ham are an icon of our gastronomy
Spain is one of the most visited countries annually, and it is not surprising, with a good climate, coastal and cultural areas of great interest and, of course, a gastronomy whose most typical dishes such as paella have become a benchmark at a level. world.
In this article, we are going to introduce you to the dishes that are the most successful among foreigners who visit Spain and which are also very successful among Spaniards.
The ham
How could it be otherwise, the dish that occupies the first place in the current ranking is ham. And honestly, how many of you haven’t seen huge ham legs hanging in bars and venues? You have probably seen this scene on numerous occasions in your life, and it is normal, as this is one of the most sought-after foods.
Among the different types of ham, the Iberian one stands out, made with black legs of Iberian pigs, raised in the pastures and fed with acorns, cereals or other products, thus determining the quality of the ham, and identifying its quality and purity. Iberian according to the labeling.
However, throughout the Spanish territory there are other varieties that are also interesting for their quality / price ratio, since you can choose to Terue haml of Trevelez, from Serón, or from many other places, and, of course, taking up the Iberian ham, we can find different types, such as that of Jabugo, the one of Dehesa of Extremadura, that of Pedroches or that of Guijuelo In Salamanca.
The paella
Also known as “Ribbon”, or at least that’s what a large part of the foreigners who visit the country call it.
This Valencian dish is also one of the most popular, and it is not surprising. Its traditional version is made with a rice base accompanied with chicken and / or rabbit, white and green beans and other vegetables, or this base is accompanied by seafood. Both types are considered as the classic or traditional paella.
However, there are many other types of paellas, as their production has spread over the years. In general, in any Valencian restaurant dedicated to the sale of paella you can find around ten or more types, because, although their base is the same, there are many companions to choose from to taste this delicious traditional Spanish dish, as you can. see below:
- Chicken paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetarian paella
- Lobster paella
- Mixed paella
- Black paella
- White paella
- Paella with lean
- And even made to the taste of each consumer
The covers
Tapas are another great companion for a holiday in Spain, as the vast majority of restaurants also offer them, either as starters, or in bars whose menu consists exclusively of tapas.
It is also true that one of the reasons why tapas are so popular is that they are generally “free” in certain regions of Spain, as it is enough to order a drink for the waiter on duty to present us with a cover.
There are different stories that explain the origin of tapas, however, the exact moment when they began to become one of the country’s gastronomic icons is not known.
According to some legend, it was the doctor of Alfonso X the Wise, in the thirteenth century, who recommended him, not finding any cure, to drink a sip of wine every so often accompanied by a small cold meat, in order to cover the effects. of alcohol.
And after the recovery of Alfonso X the Wise, he promulgated a law that made it mandatory to serve aperitifs with the glasses in all the kingdom’s breweries.
However, this is one of the different legends with which to frame the origin of this tradition that foreigners like so much.
The potato omelette
We were already taking time to include the potato omelette in this popular ranking. And how could it be otherwise, it is one of the foods that generates the most satisfaction in the palates of Spaniards and foreigners.
It is also almost a custom among foreigners to get up almost at lunchtime after a long night and “have” a sandwich or an omelet for breakfast, which is certainly not a bad idea to start the day.
An interesting aspect is that, as has happened with other dishes such as paella, many cultures have decided to include this dish among their menus, which has led to the creation, or rather adaptation, of the Spanish omelette. in different countries around the world.
If we go back to its origin, as we have done with the previous dish, we point out that these began to be prepared in the XNUMXth century.
Other dishes of great interest
Nor should we forget other dishes of great interest to tourists such as the famous stew, gazpacho for more summer times, migas, whose preparation varies considerably depending on the area of Spain in which we try them, a more traditional and exquisite dish such as the oxtail, and, of course, starters or side dishes such as chorizo, another of the great representatives of Spanish gastronomy.
And we cannot leave aside the excellent cheeses of the different denominations of origin that cover the entire geography, Manchego, Mahon, Idiazabal, Roncal, etc …
Without a doubt, we are a very rich country in terms of gastronomic culture and quality level of food, as many people decide to visit Spain as a result of this.