Spanish food is a delight to the eye and the palate, using a variety of fresh ingredients and aromatic flavorings.
Dairy Products
Both milk and cream feature in desserts, but are not so widely used in savory dishes. The best-known Spanish cheese is Manchego, from La Mancha, made from ewe's milk. Young Manchego, which is soft and creamy is difficult to find outside Spain, but the tangy, full-flavored mature cheese is widely available.
Fish & Seafood
Hake, fresh sardines and salt cod, bacalao, are among the most popular fish in Spain and other favorites include anchovies, monk-fish and mullet. Other popular seafood includes mussels, clams, prawns, squid, crab and lobster.
Fruit
Spain is rich in fruit, particularly oranges, lemons, figs, peaches and melons, and is a large commercial producer of strawberries.
Grains & Pulses
The ideal rice for paella is Valencia rice, but as it may be difficult to obtain outside Spain, Italian risotto or long grain rice can be used instead. Plain boiled or saffron-flavored rice is a common accompaniment to meat and seafood dishes. Cornmeal, made from the abundant sweet corn grown all over Spain, and many varieties of dried beans and peas often feature in Spanish soups and stews.
Herbs & Spices
Garlic is a popular flavoring throughout Spain and features prominently in a number of tapas. Flat leaf parsley is popular both for flavor and as a garnish. Saffron consists of the dark orange stigmas from crocus flowers, and La Mancha is said to produce the best in the world. Paprika is a mild seasoning made from ground red pepper that can be used to add flavor and color to many Spanish dishes.
Meat & Poultry
Pork is the country's most popular meat and beef, mostly in the form of steak, is frequently served in city restaurants and in the north of the country. Chicken both whole and in cuts is prepared in a wide variety of ways throughout Spain. Other favorites include duck and game: Jamón Serrano, a raw, salt-cured rosy pink ham a little like prosciutto; Chorizo, a pork sausage flavored with paprika, and black pudding, which is an important ingredient all over Spain.
Nuts
Many varieties of nuts, especially almonds, grow abundantly in Spain, but they tend to be eaten as snacks and simple tapas, rather than incorporated into cooked dishes. Some traditional desserts are flavored or decorated with almonds or pine nuts, and they are popular fillings and toppings for pastries.
Vegetables
Strictly speaking, olives are a fruit, but are used as a vegetable. Where possible, choose olives with their stones and pit them yourself. Those sold loose in brine are better than the ones packed in oil. Spanish onions have a sweet, mild flavor and are usually quite large. Other popular vegetables include green beans, courgettes, potatoes, spinach, peppers, sweetcorn and tomatoes.
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