Spanish CookingSpanish Cooking

The LocationThe Location

IngredientsIngredients

Spain's extensive history with many Spain's extensive history with many cultural influences has led to a cultural influences has led to a unique cuisine with literally unique cuisine with literally thousands of recipes and flavours.thousands of recipes and flavours.

The cuisine is famous for its rich The cuisine is famous for its rich flavours, quality and variety, Spanish flavours, quality and variety, Spanish cuisine makes use of ingredients cuisine makes use of ingredients found locally, such as found locally, such as seafoodseafood and and fresh fruitsfresh fruits and and vegetablesvegetables. .

Typical DietsTypical Diets

One was found in the northwest part One was found in the northwest part of the peninsula, with more of the peninsula, with more animal animal fatsfats that correspond to the that correspond to the husbandry of the North. husbandry of the North.

The other could be considered the The other could be considered the precursor of the precursor of the MediterraneanMediterranean diet diet and was found in the southerly parts and was found in the southerly parts of the peninsula of the peninsula

Foods found include diverse types of Foods found include diverse types of legumeslegumes, , onionsonions, and , and garlicgarlic. .

Other components of a Spanish meal Other components of a Spanish meal include include tomatoestomatoes, , potatoespotatoes, and , and pepperspeppers, all of which were introduced , all of which were introduced from the Americas after Spanish from the Americas after Spanish colonization.colonization.

Culinary Regions of SpainCulinary Regions of Spain

La Rioja La Rioja Madrid Madrid Andalusia: Famous for fried fish and Andalusia: Famous for fried fish and

gazpacho. Seafood, especially shrimp, gazpacho. Seafood, especially shrimp, squid, mackerel and flatfish, ham and squid, mackerel and flatfish, ham and Sherry wine. Sherry wine.

Valencia: Specialises amongst others Valencia: Specialises amongst others in the famous Paella, and is its in the famous Paella, and is its birthplace. birthplace.

Culinary Regions of SpainCulinary Regions of Spain

Catalonia: Alongside Valencia, Catalonia Catalonia: Alongside Valencia, Catalonia has a long tradition of has a long tradition of rice-dishesrice-dishes and and seafoodseafood. In addition, cooked and cured . In addition, cooked and cured sausagessausages are famous. Perhaps the most are famous. Perhaps the most well-known dish is the Catalan cream, well-known dish is the Catalan cream, similar to similar to crème brûléecrème brûlée..

Balearic Islands: A typical island-based Balearic Islands: A typical island-based diet of diet of seafoodseafood and simple, and simple, vegetable vegetable based dishes. Samfaina (Ratatouille) is a based dishes. Samfaina (Ratatouille) is a typical of Catalan cuisine generally typical of Catalan cuisine generally

The typical Paella Valenciana has chicken The typical Paella Valenciana has chicken or rabbit, a little broad green bean and or rabbit, a little broad green bean and white bean as well, and perhaps (most white bean as well, and perhaps (most likely, actually) a few snails. This dish is likely, actually) a few snails. This dish is very popular, and it's common to cook one very popular, and it's common to cook one each Sunday for family lunch.each Sunday for family lunch.

The typical Valencian Paella contains meat The typical Valencian Paella contains meat and vegetables, but many other variants and vegetables, but many other variants of rice-based dishes can be found, with of rice-based dishes can be found, with shellfish, meatballs or just covered in egg shellfish, meatballs or just covered in egg

Facts About Spanish CuisineFacts About Spanish Cuisine Rice, beans, peas, oranges, pimientoes, Rice, beans, peas, oranges, pimientoes,

tomatoes, and olive oil play a significant tomatoes, and olive oil play a significant role in Spanish cooking. role in Spanish cooking.

Many world famous varieties of wines Many world famous varieties of wines come from Spain, the most popular being come from Spain, the most popular being sherry, which is extracted from Jerez sherry, which is extracted from Jerez grapes. grapes.

People in Spain oftentimes drink hot People in Spain oftentimes drink hot chocolate instead of coffee or tea. chocolate instead of coffee or tea.

Desserts in Spain are usually in the form of Desserts in Spain are usually in the form of light dishes such as custards (flan), light dishes such as custards (flan), sorbets, sherbets, cheese and fruit. sorbets, sherbets, cheese and fruit.

The Spanish TapasThe Spanish Tapas Tapas : TAHpahTapas : TAHpah   These little samples of   These little samples of

delicacies, from prawns with garlic in olive oil, delicacies, from prawns with garlic in olive oil, meatballs (Albondigas), tortilla (not the meatballs (Albondigas), tortilla (not the Mexican flat bread, but the solid and at least 2 Mexican flat bread, but the solid and at least 2 finger thick potato and egg cake such as finger thick potato and egg cake such as Tortilla Española, or one made with various Tortilla Española, or one made with various vegetables such as asparagus or zucchini). vegetables such as asparagus or zucchini).

Tapas can be over 100 different kinds, many Tapas can be over 100 different kinds, many with seafood, mayonnaise based salads, mixed with seafood, mayonnaise based salads, mixed salads, stews or skewers of meat, oysters, salads, stews or skewers of meat, oysters, small stuffed sweet peppers, marinated small stuffed sweet peppers, marinated herrings, deep fried baby squid and on and herrings, deep fried baby squid and on and on!  And of course, olives. on!  And of course, olives. 

Thank youThank you

… … anan

anish banerjeeanish banerjee

initiativeinitiative