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A cultural melting pot
It is impossible to get to know Spain during one short vacation. The list of beautiful must-see places is almost as long as the list of must-try dishes on such a trip. As in Polish cuisine, in Spanish cuisine each region has slightly different, specific tastes and dishes characteristic of this part of the country. Not only that, just like in Poland, the influence on Spanish cuisine and how their national dishes are prepared and tasted today, had the history of wars and invasions, and thus a mixture of cultures, tastes, techniques and ingredients.
Experts on the subject emphasize that Arab influences were of key importance for Spanish cuisine in its present shape. It is Arabs that the Spaniards owe some of the spices in their dishes, and what is also surprising – citrus fruits and almonds, which we associate so strongly with the south of Europe that hardly anyone, without going deeper into the subject, will be tempted to say that oranges or lemons are not ” an original idea “of Spaniards, Italians and Greeks.
The flavors of the regions
Each of the six culinary regions of Spain has a different, distinctive feature. In eastern Spain, you will taste sweet and spicy dishes. Look for rice and seafood dishes here, also in this part of the country you will taste Spanish specialties with a hint of Arabic cuisine. However, most of the Arab influence can be found in southern Spain. Rice, tomatoes, saffron and almonds, meat prepared on a spit or in the form of stews, and the famous Spanish tapas, i.e. small snacks in various forms and flavors. Southern Spain is said to have the most diverse culinary diversity.
Seafood and fish reign supreme in the north. It is also worth tasting cheese and milk-based dishes here. Game, and especially rabbit dishes, are worth looking for in central Spain. The Balearic Islands are dominated by fruit, vegetables and nuts. The inhabitants of these Spanish islands are also masters of preparing pork dishes. Here, hot sausage and … mayonnaise have their roots. We still have the Canary Islands, where, similarly to the north of Spain, seafood and fish are the most popular dishes. Here you will get to know the taste of a brilliant dessert – cream, the main ingredients of which are yolk, cinnamon and almonds.
Health itself
Spaniards are famous almost all over the world for their culinary skills, and their cuisine is entered on the UNESCO list of intangible heritage. It is from this country that many famous chefs come from, and local restaurants very often collect international, prestigious awards and distinctions. The craftsmanship of the local chefs is evidenced by the fact that as many as 10 Spanish restaurants are regularly included in the list of the top 50 in the world.
We already know that it is tasty. Equally important, it is also very healthy. The famous Mediterranean cuisine, based on healthy fats, fresh fruit and vegetables, rich in fish and seafood, is the ideal of a good diet. Of course, as with everything – in moderation.
You can find more about the advantages of the Mediterranean diet and how to choose the right diet here: https://.pl/jak-wybrac-najlepsza-diete-odchudzajaca.
Good company and tapas
Spaniards are convinced that eating in company tastes better and is better digested. Eating in this country is a social ritual, which is perfectly visible even in the smallest towns, where the locals, whole families, with friends in bars and restaurants enjoy delicious meals.
A trip to the bars and trying tapas in each of them is not only a Spanish culinary entertainment, it is also a must-see for every tourist who wants to get to know this country from the kitchen.
What do Spanish bars most often serve?
Tortilla – this dish has nothing to do with a wheat cake in which we wrap vegetables and meat with sauces. Spanish tortilla consists of potatoes and eggs, fried in olive oil. As tapas, it is served in small pieces for stuffing, for example on a toothpick.
Staying with potatoes, be sure to try patatas bravas and patatas alioli, i.e. fried potatoes with hot sauce, or a sauce made of olive oil and garlic. The snack tray in the Spanish bar is full of traditional ham (Iberian, serrano) served with bread or sticks and a full range of Spanish cheeses. Of the latter in Poland, we probably know Manchego best (you can buy it in good deli, and even in some grocery stores).
To pair with Spanish cheeses, it is worth reaching for brilliant olives. The most often patinated, but equally popular are those stuffed with peppers, almonds or anchovies. There is no tapas without the most famous Spanish chorizo sausage, served grilled or stewed in cider. It is also worth trying fried pork skins or bacon. Depending on the region, cuttlefish are prepared differently – fried or grilled, with alioli sauce, mayonnaise – they are excellent tapas, just like fried squid rings.
The wealth of these snacks is so enormous that it is impossible to list them all, let alone try them. It’s good that tapas are tiny portions to share with friends – thanks to this you can get to know more flavors.
And if you have doubts about how to choose dishes from the restaurant menu when you are on a diet, be sure to check it out here: https://.pl/w-restauracji-na-diecie-co-wybrac ?.
Spanish breakfast
A popular opinion is that a Spanish breakfast is coffee, considered here as a meal, and that the inhabitants of this country reach for something specific only at lunchtime. This is not entirely true. According to the data of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, 94 percent. the people of this country are eating breakfast. They are divided into two groups – lovers of sweet breakfasts, i.e. coffee plus a sweet croissant, and sometimes the most popular Spanish sweet, a variety of our donut, i.e. churros (the shape is far from Polish donuts, and closer to eclairs) dipped in chocolate, coffee or cocoa.
On the other hand, lovers of savory breakfasts reach for toasts, necessarily covered with olive oil (judging by the popularity of olive oil, it can be concluded that the only thing the Spaniards do not add it to is coffee), sometimes with mashed tomatoes, in a richer version with cheese and ham (luxurious toast it is obligatorily served with serrano ham). Do not be surprised, however, that when ordering toast for breakfast in a restaurant, the waiter will offer you several types of bread to choose from, on the basis of which it will be prepared.
Time for lunch
In Spanish cuisine, dinner is the largest meal of the day. In restaurants, it is worth looking for a daily set – the meal consists of an appetizer, main course and dessert – a meal must be washed down with wine, and at the end with strong and aromatic coffee. As an appetizer, we will probably get a salad or soup (on the hottest days it is worth reaching for the most popular Spanish cold soup – gazpacho), the main course will be based on meat or fish supplemented with fresh vegetables, potatoes or rice.
As for desserts … For these we could use a separate blog entry, but it is worth trying a dish that resembles French crème brûlée and is said to be its prototype, i.e. Catalan cream. There is also no visit to Spain without the chocolate-dipped churros already mentioned here.
Dinner? Late and modest
Yes, it’s true – Spaniards eat their dinner relatively late. Around 21 p.m. and sometimes even 22 p.m. Such a late supper is the result of the climate in southern Europe, we will meet similar customs in the aforementioned Italy or Greece. After a hot day, the temperature drops and it becomes ideal to go out, meet friends in bars and restaurants and enjoy the famous tapas.
If the meal is eaten at home, Spaniards often eat one-pot dishes for dinner, there are sandwiches, tortillas with vegetables or nutritious tomato cold soup, on Spanish tables at this time of the day you will also find eggs in all forms and forms. The key, however, is a small amount of food and preferably good company at the table.
Delicious and dietary
There is no doubt that Spanish cuisine is a feast of colors and flavors. Based on valuable, fresh products, it can be an excellent recipe for a healthy diet. Some dishes may seem greasy, but as always we repeat – we do not gain weight from specific products, but from the surplus of calories consumed.
Therefore, if we plan to lose a few kilos, some Spanish delicacies must be approached with a lot of caution and moderation (especially with very calorific churros). The choice itself, however, is so huge that we will definitely be able to compose a balanced and healthy menu.
What are your favorite Spanish specialties? Which regions are worth visiting in search of culinary adventures? And the last question – should the Spanish menu permanently appear among the recipes in our diet? 🙂