Food and memory
Some people who haven’t been to Spain may have a preconceived notion of what Spanish food is, but there is such a gastronomic variety throughout the country that it would be helpful to have a few must-try dishes. Food and memory are strongly linked, so be sure to sample these dishes during your holidays to Spain and create delicious memories you’ll remember long after returning home.
Tapas
Tapas are a staple of Spanish cuisine. Tapas aren’t one type of food, but rather an umbrella term for small snacks that can be enjoyed during the day anytime you like. Ranging from a plate with an array of cheeses to some sliced bread with a lentil spread or a slice of marinated meat, tapas are meant to be gourmet bites that go along with drinks in between meals. In some bigger cities, you’ll often get them for free with drinks at a bar, but there are also trendy restaurants that specialize in them. The further out into rural areas or small towns you venture, the more likely you’ll be expected to pay for these bite-sized treats.
Paella
Paella is a traditional Spanish dish that has been perfected over the years. The dish is regional to Valencia where it originated, but you will find it other places as well. Ingredients are cooked and combined in a giant pan. There are mainly three types of paella: Valencian Paella (consisting of white rice, vegetables, chicken, land snails, and beans), Seafood (rice, shrimp or lobster, spices) and Mixed Paella, which can be all sorts of combinations, usually featuring red peppers. To someone unfamiliar with this dish, it could seem like a strange hodgepodge but paella is beloved by both locals and tourists and well-worth a try on your holiday.
Tortilla Espanola
Tortilla Espanola is going to be a treat for all comfort food lovers. It’s the most common dish found throughout Spain and makes for a tasty, hearty meal. Potatoes and onions are fried in olive oil, eggs are added to the mix and the tortilla is fried on both sides. The fluffy frittata is served sliced into little pieces as a tapas or in larger portions for a meal with a side salad to balance out the starch. Appropriate for any meal of the day and wildly popular among the Spanish, you can count on Tortilla Espanola to be available whenever you feel like ordering it.
With these delicacies in mind, you’ll be able to bring a whole lot of flavour to your Spanish adventure.
Elisa Gomez is a California history teacher who has travelled around Europe several times. In her spare time she likes to share her great love for Spanish culture and write about what makes her favourite country so special.
Leave a Reply