Spanish Food Recipe

Traditional Spanish food is influenced by the Greek, Roman, Phoenician and Moorish settlements. Spanish food is not only about tortillas and paella. The rich smorgasbord of Spanish food recipes can leave a seasoned gourmand spellbound. Allow us to introduce you to some of Spain's gastronomic delights and acquaint you with some of the traditional Spanish food menus.

Spanish Food Recipe
Gazpacho (This ice-cold raw soup originated from the Andalucia region of Spain and is a traditional Spanish dish that finds many takers on sultry summer days.)

1. 6 ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped
2. 1 bell pepper chopped
3. 1 onion, finely chopped
4. 2 stalks celery, chopped
5. 1-2 Tbsp fresh parsley chopped
6. 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, chopped
7. 1 clove garlic, minced
8. 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
9. 1/4 cup olive oil
10. 2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
11. 2 teaspoons sugar
12. Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
13. 6 or more drops of Tabasco sauce to taste
14. 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
15. 4 cups tomato juice

Paella Valenciana (Paella is a traditional rice dish of Spain - made with seafood, chicken, rabbit or vegetables. The rice you use in your paella depends on your preference - whole grain rice or wild rice or the short grained Spanish rice which is used for traditional Spanish rice dishes.)

1. 4 cups rice
2. 8 cups stock
3. 8 - 10 each of prawns and mussels
4. 200 gm shrimps
5. 2 tomatoes chopped
6. 3 -4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
7. Few strands of saffron
8. Olive oil

Spanish Natillas (A traditional Spanish dessert that is easy to make)

1. 1 liter milk
2. 8 egg yolks
3. 200 gm sugar
4. powdered cinnamon
5. 1 tsp cornflour

Sword Fish

1. 4 pieces of sword fish
2. 8 tomatoes
3. 3 tsp oregano
4. 4 cloves garlic chopped fine
5. fresh basil and parsley
6. juice of a lemon
7. 2 onions
8. olive oil
9. salt and pepper
10. breadcrumbs

1. 6 eggs
2. 3 potatoes, peeled and sliced into thin pieces
3. 1 onion chopped
4. 1 green pepper chopped
5. olive oil

Traditional Spanish Food
Garlic, olives and sweet and hot peppers are important ingredients in most Spanish recipes. Meat, poultry, game and fish feature prominently in traditional Spanish food recipes. Savory pies and rice dishes are meals in themselves. The Basque country features fish dishes principally, such as fish soup, garlicky baby eels, squid, and a variety of dried cod dishes. The seafood from the Galicia region is famous as are the casseroles from Cataluna. Cataluna is a premier Spanish region that boasts of gastronomical delicacies - bet it mixed seafood zarzuela, fine sausages and regional sauces. The rice dishes are a specialty of Valencia and surrounding regions of Spain. While Andalucia is known for its fried fish and gazpacho, Central Spain is renowned for its succulent roast recipes.

Spanish breakfast food is generally light. Most Spanish breakfasts consists of coffee and a croissant or roll. Tortillas or omelets are also eaten for breakfast. The lunch (la comida) and the dinner (la cena) menus are fairly elaborate. The Spanish Tapas or snacks are popular. A Tasca or Tapas bar is a place where most Spaniards relax at the end of the day. The traditions of Tapas or snacks that accompany a wine or alcoholic drink dates back to a Spanish king. Spanish Tapas menus can encompass simple dishes made of cheese and eggs or more elaborate canapés, dips and savory pastries.

Spanish Food Menu
An important specialty Spanish food is jamon Serrano or a special ham that is salt-cured. This type of Spanish ham is not smoked. Sausages are also very popular in the Spanish diet. Chorizo and Salchichon are examples of hard sausages while sobrasada is a soft and spreadable sausage. A Spanish menu is accompanied by a Spanish red wine. The Rioja and Montilla are famous though there are many varieties of tintos, blancos and rosadas. Salads and fried potatoes come as entrees in a typical Spanish food menu. Desserts are made of eggs, ground almonds, flour and milk.