I went to Spain and fell in love with the meals

November 1, 2023

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I lately returned from a jam-packed whirlwind journey to Spain the place meals was a key focus. I hadn’t been again to mainland Spain since I used to be sixteen. Madrid was the primary European metropolis I ever laid eyes on, and it was fantastic to be again. I fell head over heels in love with Spanish meals.

Travelling affords you the chance to immerse your self overseas’s tradition and meals. It’s an attractive factor. I attempted to study and perceive as a lot as I may whereas I used to be there.

I’ve determined to interrupt this journey up into 4 separate posts to make them simpler to digest. This one is about Spain and Spanish meals basically, after which I’ve written about Madrid, Barcelona and San Sebastián & Rioja.

My pictures from this journey

Previously, I’ve travelled primarily solo and with extra time accessible to spend on pictures. On this journey, regardless of taking my new Fujifilm digicam which I purchased for the needs of travelling (it’s lighter than my full-frame Canon), I shot most of my pics on my telephone.

It was fairly liberating to have the ability to stroll round with just one crossover bag and lug eight kilograms of digicam gear round. It was bittersweet as a part of me nonetheless needed to spend the time it took to seize little vignettes of locations. You possibly can see a number of I took on one of many events.

I’ve an iPhone 14 Professional Max so it actually takes nice images. I’m additionally actually having fun with video lately and making reels is one other inventive outlet. The calls for of the social media algorithms apart, I really like the story you’ll be able to seize with video.

In lots of the locations we went petty crime is a matter; so not having the stress of capturing with two gadgets and placing my telephone out and in of my bag was a aid. I used to be, in any case, on vacation. I hope you get pleasure from my photographs which assist give the phrases visible color (I’ve used each cameras in these pics).

12 Spanish meals you’ll fall in love with

There may be a lot wonderful meals available in Spain and we tried to eat as lots of the dishes as we may. Listed here are only a few issues to look out for that I really like.

1. Anchovies

I am keen on anchovies so went out of my technique to eat as many as attainable. I merely can’t get sufficient. You will notice them throughout Spain and may be questioning what the distinction between anchovies and boquerón’s are – so right here goes.

Are boquerón’s and anchovies the identical?

Boqueron and anchovies are primarily the identical fish, belonging to the Engraulis encrasicolus species. The distinction within the names lies of their preparation. When consumed contemporary, it’s known as “anchovy” or “Bocarte.”

Nonetheless, when salt is processed, it’s known as “anchovy,” and when processed with vinegar, it’s known as “boquerón.” Anchovies are cleaned Bocarte fish, that are cured and matured in salt for about 6 months. Among the many most famed anchovies are these from the Cantabrian Sea (the place San Sebastian Donostia is). They’re identified for his or her delicate texture and intense flavour.

The preparation of Cantabrian anchovy fillets includes a standard salting approach, which extends the shelf lifetime of the fish. They’re then gutted, resalted and weighed all the way down to dehydrate.

After a few hundred days, the anchovies mature, turning reddish in color. The lid is eliminated, the container is cleaned with brine, and a ultimate layer of salt is added earlier than sealing it hermetically.

Canned anchovies are generally bought in glass jars or plastic containers. It’s essential to notice that in contrast to canned fish and seafood, canned anchovies require refrigeration as they’re semi-preserved.

If they’re preserved it’s in both olive oil or sunflower oil. This was complicated as we discovered tinned anchovies within the fridge aisles of supermarkets. I ate anchovies almost on daily basis on my journey as for me, they’re probably the most scrumptious treats on the planet.

2. Paella

Paella is Spain’s most well-known dish, and one can find variations all around the nation. It originates from Valencia and is historically made with rabbit and snails.

I personally like it with seafood, and right here you’ll be able to have the seafood cleaned and able to eat, or ‘soiled’ with the pores and skin and heads of the prawns nonetheless on and the shells with the shellfish. While consuming it clear is far simpler, holding the heads and shells within the paella imparts a a lot richer flavour of the ocean.

3. Spanish Fideuà (or pasta paella)

I ate this for the primary time on this journey and fell in love. I can’t wait to attempt to recreate what I tasted in my kitchen.

Spanish Fideuà, particularly the seafood selection (Fideuà marisco), is a pasta-based various to conventional paella. What’s even higher is that it’s notably easier to organize. Fideuà is a one-pot dish that’s nice to feed a crowd. As every thing cooks fairly shortly, the seafood is lower very small to accommodate the cooking time.

3. Patatas Bravas

My largest remorse with this journey is that we solely ate this dish twice. Once we may have eaten it once more, we had been both too full or the restaurant we had been in didn’t serve it. The dish we ate at El Quim in Barcelona was the very best patatas bravas I’ve ever eaten. Doused in a pink pepper and an aioli-like sauce it was pure heaven.

4. Padron pepper

Scorched complete Padron peppers are one other scrumptious facet dish which one can find throughout. These are typically not too spicy and are one of many solely methods you’ll really feel like you’re consuming greens.

5. Jamon

Spain produces a number of the finest Jamon (ham) on the planet, particularly from the Iberico area. High quality will range and it’s price searching down the great things. The cheaper jamon can be nonetheless scrumptious.

6. Chorizo

Chorizo is often made by combining floor pork with a mix of paprika, garlic, and different spices to create a flavour-packed sausage. This combination is then stuffed into pure casings and left to dry or ferment, permitting the flavours to develop and intensify. The result’s a scrumptious, barely spicy sausage with a particular pink color, loved in varied Spanish dishes and tapas.

7. Eggs

Eggs are large in Spanish delicacies, and one can find egg dishes in all places. You’ll find them paired in uncommon methods. For instance, fried in olive oil and served with seafood or mushrooms.

A dispaly of fresh eggs in the Boqueria market in Spain

8. Tortilla

Spanish tortilla is one other very well-known dish that I assumed was just a little bland earlier than visiting. I ended up consuming a number of and actually loved them. They’re finest when made contemporary in a small pan, in any other case, attempt to discover ones which might be freshly made with a wobbly center.

Typically onions are used and different instances not. They’re an elaborate type of omelette, and I discovered them excellent for breakfast. They’re eaten at any time of day in Spain and this actually is probably the most versatile dish possible. I can’t wait to mess around with recipes for tortilla.

Spanish tortilla at Cal Pep in Barcelona

9. Recent seafood

Spain has a number of the most unimaginable seafood I’ve ever encountered anyplace on the planet. We ordered extra seafood than the rest. We didn’t eat rooster or beef as that is what we eat lots of at residence. I’m besotted with monkfish and razor clams.

10. Pimenton – or smoked paprika

Pimenton, Spanish paprika or smoked paprika is a necessary flavour of Spain and I couldn’t think about Spanish meals with out it.

Smoked paprika, or “pimentón,” is made by drying and smoking ripe pink peppers. The method usually includes roasting the peppers over an open flame or in a smokehouse till they’re charred and tender. Afterwards, they’re floor right into a high-quality powder. The smoking course of imparts a smoky flavour and distinct pink color to the paprika. It’s a key ingredient in lots of Spanish dishes. There are three important kinds of smoked paprika in Spain: dulce (candy), agridulce (bittersweet), and picante (spicy), every providing completely different ranges of warmth and smokiness to varied culinary creations.

11. Tomatoes

The tomatoes in Spain are unimaginable in summer time. You will notice them featured in a number of dishes however most prominently merely rubbed onto toasted bread con tomate.

The bread in Spain is superb so it’s not at all times essential to order your bread con tomate (with tomato) as that is about 4 instances the value of normal bread. We discovered this the onerous method after we ordered 3 parts at one in all our early meals at about 5 Euro every so primarily paid R300 for six small items of tomato toast. It was, nonetheless, scrumptious and doused in olive oil.

12. Turron

Spanish turron, also called nougat, is a candy that could be a large a part of Spain’s culinary heritage. This confection is made by mixing honey, sugar, and egg whites with roasted nuts, similar to almonds or hazelnuts. The combination is then formed into blocks and left to harden, leading to a candy, nutty deal with. There are two important varieties of turron: “turron de Jijona,” which is delicate and clean, and “turron de Alicante,” which is difficult and crunchy. You’ll find specialty shops throughout Spain they usually supply samples that will help you determine what to purchase. I want I had introduced extra again with me.