Cruising for Cuisine - Spain
Amongst Europe’s many places for famous cuisine, Spain is often one of the most celebrated. Roman and Moorish influences live on today, while many dishes are inspired by the produce of the surrounding sea. If you're tired of Tortilla de Patatas, the famous Spanish Omelette or if you've had your fill of paella then you may want to try one of these tasty Spanish classics. The recipes for all of these delicious dishes are all available from BBC Food. If you want to get the real taste of authenticity though, and make the journey to Spain for a culinary holiday, take a look at Abercrombie and Kent for luxury holidays.
Cozido is a Spanish stew, made from meat, vegetables and chickpeas - and a lot of garlic, onions and a dash of olive oil. The most famous of these is the Cozido Madrileno, or Madrid stew, which contains an incredible array of beef, ham, salt pork, sausage, blood sausage, a stewing chicken, garbonzos, potatoes, cabbage and carrots are the ingredients besides onion and garlic.
A similar dish that you may want to try is Fabada, which is a bean stew. However, there is less variation with this dish, and it contains white beans rather than chickpeas, as well as pork, various types of sausage and seasonings. The thing that gives this a different taste to the Cozido is saffron, which lends the dish a subtle and exotic flavour. Invented in the Asturias, a keen cider-making region of Spain, Fabada is often served with bread and a crisp cider.
As Spain is on the Mediterranean it isn't surprising that they use a lot of olive oil. Another great dish, this time a sweet pastry-like biscuit, with plenty of olive oil in it, is the Torta de Aceite. These little tarts contain a lot of nuts and seeds, most notably anise seeds, which give them their unique taste. Obviously if you're allergic to nuts, they are best avoided like the plague, although because they use of olive oil rather than tons of butter they are otherwise quite healthy. Torta de Aceites originate in Seville, in the Andalusia region of Spain, where they have been made for well over 100 years.
Spain is of course also famous as the birthplace of tapas-style eating. These small plates were designed to accompany drinks of wine or beer and have since developed into a sophisticated culinary form encompassing everything from simple dishes of ham or cheese to grilled seafood or meat and more complex dishes. Any visit to Spain should take in a trip to the local tapas bar – there are few better ways to experience the extraordinary cuisine of the nation.
When you’re making any trip to foreign lands, always consider your travel insurance. AA Travel has a variety of packages to provide you with the necessary cover.
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