Spanish cuisine is mostly simple and very practical, it mainly uses local ingredients. You can taste it not only during a foreign trip, but also in many Russian restaurants. Most people like it. Spanish cuisine has its own flavor, which makes it popular. When cooking dishes, simple and at the same time nutritious ingredients are used. All products are natural, and the most common method of cooking is stewing. Some cooking enthusiasts prepare Spanish dishes at home, delighting their loved ones with their skills.

Ingredients of Spanish cuisine

Let’s list the main ingredients of Spanish dishes to understand what they are cooked from most often.

Ham

Spanish ham is also called jamon. In itself it is a delicacy. Almost all tourists who come to Spain order this dish in local catering establishments.

Olive oil

Many people associate Spanish cuisine with olive oil. In this country it is produced on an industrial scale, including for export. Olive oil is a popular ingredient in salads.

Seafood

It is difficult to imagine the Spanish cuisine without seafood. There are mussels, shrimp and oysters. They are cooked in different ways, as well as eaten fresh. For example, mussels are excellent with lemon and champagne. The Spaniards themselves say that they have a love affair with the gifts of the sea.

Fish

Fish is also cooked very often. It comes in sea, river and lake. The most popular fish are tuna, red mullet, flounder, and perch. Spanish restaurants offer fish soup marmitaco, fish soufflé, paella, meatballs with walnut sauce and much more. Also, fish is often baked in a shell of salt.

Cheeses

Spaniards are also very fond of cheeses. More than a hundred varieties are produced in this country, but not all of them are known in Russia. Three kinds of milk are usually used to make them: goat, cow and sheep milk. The most popular varieties are “Manchego”, “Tetilla”, “Cabrales”.

Sausages

Native Spaniards will never refuse to taste sausage. Unique meat delicacies are made from ground pork, fat and spices. Sometimes wild boar, deer and bull meat are used. The spicy blood sausage “Marsilla” is a local delicacy that everyone should try.

Fruit

As in many cuisines of other nations, fruit is present in Spanish. Bananas and grapes are grown on an industrial scale. Local farmers are also involved in the cultivation of kiwi, orange, tangerine. These fruits are consumed fresh, added to salads and baked goods.

Vegetables

Of vegetables, Spaniards like tomatoes best, and add them to many dishes. Here they also like cauliflower, green peas, green beans. Most often vegetables in Spain are stewed and of course eaten fresh.

Nuts

Another feature of Spanish cuisine is the variety of recipes with nuts. They are added to cookies, smoothies, candies. Spaniards even have yeast-free bread with nuts and dried fruit. And also nut cakes, ice cream, muffins. Most of all, the locals like almonds.

Cooking methods

The most common way of cooking food in Spain is considered stewing. The advantage of this technique is that the food turns out soft and very tasty.

Paella can be given as an example. The Spaniards mostly cook it with rice and seafood. Variations with rabbit and chicken are also popular. Many people compare paella to the Uzbek pilaf, since rice and spices are invariably the main ingredients.

Also noteworthy is the Asturian-style fabada. This dish is a hearty stew in the Spanish style. It includes pork, white beans and saffron. In most cases, fabada à la Asturias is served for lunch.

Another dish Olla Podrido is very popular in Galicia. It is essentially a stew with vegetables. It has been cooked in Spain since the time of the Crusaders. The name of the dish translates as mighty. It contains a lot of meat, so in the early days it could only be afforded by wealthy people. The dish also contains beans, carrots, tomatoes, garlic, and sausage.

The Spaniards love and know how to cook fish and seafood. Meat dishes are also excellent for the Spaniards. All Spanish dishes have a distinctive flavor and please even the most demanding gourmets. Almost all of them are not only tasty, but also healthy. People who are fond of cooking should definitely master a few recipes of Spanish cuisine. You can try making tapos – layered sandwiches or a mouthwatering potato tortilla. For hot weather, a cold tomato soup called gazpacho would be perfect.