Those who have already visited Spain will agree with us that traveling around this kingdom is a fascinating and unique activity in and of itself. For each tourist Spain is unique, and for gourmets, perhaps, she is a real Paradise.
Cuisine in Spain is one of the main attractions of the country. Aboriginal Spanish cuisine is quite simple, its base is onion, garlic, sweet pepper, greens, sage and olive oil. For many dishes, culinary practices such as grilling, baking with sheep's cheese and stewing in wine are characteristic
Despite this, it's not right to talk about a single national Spanish cuisine, because traditional Spanish cuisine is more like a commonwealth of cuisines in numerous regions of the kingdom . This it is unique. The character of modern Spanish cuisine was once heavily influenced by the Romans, Moors and Americans. Every Spain's regional cuisine was influenced by climatic conditions, everyday life and customs, traditions and history
Spain is a Mediterranean country, and therefore, like the population of any Mediterranean country, the Spaniards are very fond of fish and seafood. Dishes with seafood are found everywhere: in restaurants, in houses, in shops. But in spite of everything, fish delicacies are not the main thing that the Spanish cuisine offers us. It turns out that in reality there are more meat dishes in the traditional cuisine of the country.
Spanish cuisine is endless, you will not try everything in life. However, each of you must definitely taste the dishes that have become classics and pride of Spain: the famous Valencian paella (paella, rice with seafood), delicious gazpacho (gazpacho, cold tomato soup), a popular Spanish omelet from potatoes and eggs - tortilla, churros (something like cookie-donuts) with hot chocolate, savory sausage chorizo, famous Spanish blue cabrales and national delicacy hamon jamon.
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Northern cuisine
Northern cuisine, first of all, is rich in a variety of fish dishes, which is justified by the presence of numerous fishing villages on the Atlantic coast . In the Basque Country are popular dishes such as marmataka (potato with mackerel), changurro mollusks with crabs) and appetizing eel fry . In Cantabria, the influence on the kitchen was rendered by the mountains, rich pastures - on tables of Cantabrian residents beef and cheeses - favorite dishes . In Galicia bright representatives of the local cuisine are pot (pork and cabbage stew), pulp-a-fairy (boiled octopus) and fish, meren, stewed in a clay pot .Cider is the visiting card of the northern province of Asturias, also the Asturian principality is known for its traditional faadade - thick bean soup with ham and sausage .
Cider
Being in Spain, be sure to try cider . Best in all Spain, and probably in the world, cider is produced in Asturias . The climate of Asturias is characterized by high humidity: year round the province is watered with abundant rains . Thanks to this gift of nature, Asturias is an ideal region for growing excellent apples . Sin does not produce cider in Asturias !! It is here, in the north of Spain, 80% of apple wine of the country is born . Cider is the wealth and attraction of Asturias . It is no coincidence that the Asturian saying goes: "If a man lost his paradise because of an apple, thanks to the cider he regained it" .
In Asturias, there are traditions of consuming cider . Firstly, cider is not allowed to mix with other drinks, so Asturians even call cider " jealous bride ". Secondly, the drink must be given a certain temperature (+ 12 ... 14 ° C), at which the unique apple flavor is emphasized . Thirdly, the glass should be made of thin glass, at least 12 cm in height , wide and slightly expanded upwards . B-od If you want to spill cider in glasses, you need to have special skill . Standing straight, the bottle is held over your head on the outstretched hand, with the other hand as low as possible keep the glass, a thin vertical trickle of cider is directed into the glass so that the drink touches the edge of the glass, only this is a high foam, and cider gets rid of excess carbon dioxide . Fifth, all the contents of the glass are drunk immediately, until the optimal taste of cider has disappeared . And yet, at the bottom of the glass, always leave a little drink that is poured on the floor . Imes but why in sidreriyah floor covered with sawdust or shavings . There are several explanations for this tradition .The first explanation is that the cider is spilled out onto the floor to give the earth what it gave to . The second is to clean the glass for the neighbor on the table (often a glass was shared at the table, and cider is usually taken to a large company) . Third - to drain the sediment that appeared at the bottom of the glass . The fourth explanation was probably invented for the sake of a joke - to pour a neighbor's feet .
Mediterranean cuisine
Mediterranean cuisine is rich and varied. It is famous for its self-titled diet, based on the triune of wheat, olives and vine, to which fish and meat, rice and eggs, vegetables and fruits, cheese and yogurt, garlic and greens are added.
At the heart of the cuisine of Catalonia are sauces: софрито (garlic, onions, tomatoes, peppers and greens), samphein (tomatoes, peppers and eggplant), picada (garlic, pepper and roasted almonds) or ali-ol (garlic and olive oil). The favorite dish of the Catalans is casuela (bovine tail ragout and vegetables). Also cooks of Catalonia will delight you with a stew made of pork heads and legs, a thick and fragrant fish soup and fried sausages with white beans
If you are lucky enough to visit Valencia, try the famous paella and fideua . The real Spanish paella is a dish of rice , colored with saffron, with the addition of olive oil, as well as various fillings (seafood, meat, vegetables and t .d .) . Fideua, or vermicelli in Valencian style, - a dish from vermicelli and seafood . There is a legend that fideua is a dish that came into being because of the distraction of a young fisherman . Rybak, preparing a paella for his comrades, mistakenly, thinking about his beloved, fell asleep in the dish vermicelli instead of rice . Fideua really liked the fishermen and quickly spread throughout the Mediterranean coast . Unlike the paella, which adds not only seafood, but also meat, vegetables , fideua is prepared only with seafood .
But Maon, located on the island of Menorca in the Balearic Islands, is home to the world-wide and perfectly familiar to you mayonnaise. So, finding yourself in the Balearic Islands, taste this popular sauce. I wonder if it differs from the usual "Provencal"?
Cuisine of Central Spain
The nature of the cuisine of central Spain was greatly influenced by the geographical position and occupation of the population: there is a harsh climate, a mountainous area around, and people are engaged in heavy physical labor. Therefore, the food in this region is nutritious, mainly meat, game, various sausages, beans, lentils and rich soups cocido.
Choriso (or chorizo), pureorra, lomo, salchicion, morsilla, congress, butifarra, fuet - all these are the names of the numerous and beloved in the whole world of Spanish sausages. Surprisingly, the Spanish sausages are very popular with tourists as souvenirs. By the way, Spanish sausages can be tried not only in Central Spain - every region of the kingdom is famous for its variety of Spanish sausage
The special property of Spanish cuisine is the hamlet, which is popular both in Central Spain and throughout the kingdom. @@
The most valuable jamon is jamon iberico, or it is also called jamon pata negra, which translates as "black leg" . This jamon is made from meat of black Iberian pigs fed by a special diet: either acorn-bayot or combining acorns with fodder -recebo . Cheerful jamon is considered jamon serrano . It is made of white-pig meat, fattened, as a rule , fodder . In addition to the actual jamon, there is also a hamon d jelly (jamon delantero), or it is also called a jamon paleta (jamon paleta), which means "front leg" .
Southern cuisine
In the southern kitchen the kitchens of all peoples, once inhabiting this fertile land, have merged. For example, the famous and beloved by many cold soup of pureed vegetables, especially tomatoes, - gazpacho, as well as a stupefying sherry from the city of Jerez de la Frontera were born in Andalusia, and the sweet turrons this province inherited from the Moors. @
Without the traditional Spanish turrons (turron), in translation - nougat, there is not a single Christmas table in Spain . The most famous traditional Spanish turron is the soft Turon of Jihona, it is prepared by hand in the homonymous town of the province of Alicante . @ At one time, the torrons were prepared exclusively with almonds (ground or whole - hence the two ancient types of turons: the Turon of Gijon - soft, the Turon of Alicante - solid), now the range of turrets has increased and the sweetness is cooked with various nuts and even with chocolate, su ofruktami and popped rice .
Turron was eaten in Spain since ancient times. He brought with him an unfriendly Spaniard people - the Arabs, or as they were then called, the Moors. The Moors are gone, and the Turons are left, and now it is difficult to imagine Spain without a national nougat, especially on Christmas holidays. And in Gijón, in the province of Alicante, there is even a museum of these sweets made from nuts, honey and egg yolk or yolk.
But no one brought Churros to Spain, and the homeland of these sweet fried in butter sausages or ringlets from brewed dough, Spain, where this dish is traditionally served for breakfast, is considered to be a multi-pointed star. This Spanish churros is consumed by dipping into hot, hot chocolate, which is always served along with the baking.
Where to taste Spanish cuisine
Once you are in Spain, you can easily find a place where you can eat deliciously. Perhaps, many tourists will be pleased with the fact that food in Spain is a pleasure most often inexpensive (an average of 10-15 euros), although there are restaurants with higher prices, in which the bill for lunch is from 20 EUR.
By the way, the menu should pay attention to how the prices are written. If you assign an IVA next to the figure, then you will have to add 7% VAT when calculating the cost of the dish. If the inscription - IVA includo, VAT is already included in the price.
For those tourists who are fundamentally inclined to eat cheaply and who do not want to finish their meal with an unexpectedly large check, we recommend choosing institutions where the menu with prices are presented at the entrance . Also the role is played by the starryness of the restaurant chosen by you, denoted by the corresponding number of forks . Moreover, keep in mind that in the bar at the counter the cost of the order will be approximately 15% lower than at the table . But if you decide Enjoy Spanish cuisine in the fresh air, this is for you is a little more expensive than if you do it in the restaurant . Also pay attention to the presence of a special menu - Menu del dia, offering you a comprehensive lunch that is cheaper than the meals included in them, paid separately .
As for the service charge, it is included in the price of the dish indicated in the menu. Therefore, the tip in Spain is a matter of personal personality for every guest, although for good service it will not be superfluous to thank the waiter, giving him 5-10% of the check amount. In bars and street cafes, the bill is usually rounded up, otherwise you can leave a small change on the table, given to you for delivery.
Catering establishments in Spain usually have a day off on Sunday or Monday, and also close for lunch break, so plan your lunch earlier for an hour and a half. And do not forget that Spanish cuisine is a pleasure, which is a pleasure to stretch. ¡Buen provecho!
Bon appetit you, tourists of Spain!