Spanish Specialties

With all the amazing ingredients available to Spain whether from its time under Muslim rule, the foods brought from the New World or shared from Europe, Spain has developed an incredible range of delicious dishes. Here are a few from their culinary tradition that will definitely make your mouth start watering! 🙂

Tapas ~ Tapas are the Spanish version of hors d’oeuvres. These little plates of snacks are very popular. They are often served in the afternoon or with drinks and usually consist of foods that will prepare the appetite like olives, cheese, spicy potatoes, fried peppers, calamari and stuffed mushrooms. With the longer hours between Spanish mealtimes, tapas are important!

Paella ~ This is one of the most popular and most well known Spanish dish outside Spain. This dish originated in the south of Spain in the Valencia area. Often cooked in a wide shallow pan over a fire, the rice dish is large enough to feed a crowd and has many variations from seafood to spicy to full of vegetables. 

Potato Omellete ~ The delicious potato omellete is known as “tortilla espanola” or “tortilla de patatas” in Spain. Both are made with a yummy mixture of thick cut potatoes, eggs and onions. Cooked in oil, it is often served as a tapas or a side dish.

Gazpacho ~ This cold soup is a Spanish favorite. Originating in the Andalucia area of Spain it is a silky smooth mixture of tomatoes, garlic, peppers, olive oil, salt and vinegar. There are several versions. Serving it cold is best in the hot Spanish weather with lots of bread, hard boiled eggs and ham on the side.