Typical Spanish Food

[britanayork]

Hi! Soy Britana. I'm a student studying Spanish, and I would really like to learn more about Spanish culture. I was wondering... Is there a food that is typical of Spain? Is there a dish that is exclusively Spanish?

[ValenciaSon]

Hi! Soy Britana. I'm a student studying Spanish, and I would really like to learn more about Spanish culture. I was wondering... Is there a food that is typical of Spain? Is there a dish that is exclusively Spanish? There are many dishes as Spain is so regionally diverse, but the one that stands out in the public's mind is Paella.:thumbs-up:

[MCP]

Or maybe tortilla española - omelette made with potatoes and (sometimes) other ingredients.

[Pippa]

There are many dishes as Spain is so regionally diverse, but the one that stands out in the public's mind is Paella.:thumbs-up:
What springs to mind:

Galicia.- Empanada gallega, lacón con grelos and any type of seafood.

Asturias.- Fabada asturiana, fabes con almejas

Cantabria.- Cocido montañes, cocido lebaniego

Basque country.- Bacalao a la bilbaina

Burgos.- Cordero asado, morcilla

Segovia.- Cochinillo asado , cordero asado

Salamanca.- Hornazo

Madrid.- Cocido madrileño, callos

Valencia.- Paella

[greytop]

Although not a "dish" as such, how about tapas? Most visitors will remember these.
Valencia region also has cocidos, arroces del horno (our local version is arroz con crosta - rice in the oven with a beaten egg topping), arroz negro (coloured with squid ink), jabalí (wild boar, often in a stew).
Many of the dishes have regional variations that make them even more interesting.
You could write a book!!

[Berti]

Here’s three course Adalusian with all three courses known and enjoyed across Spain, embracing the flavours of summer, winter and a sprinkling of Christmas.

Salmorejo Cordobes

Rabo de Toro

Pestiños

[ValenciaSon]

But you gotta start the day with Ensaimada Mallorquina.

[MrMark]

Here's a good glossary of Spanish words used for food. http://www.gomadrid.com/dict/a.html

Some are more typical than others...

[Kralizec]

Hey, right now we're writing a recipe book with local dishes to finance next summer's holiday parties, since my penya (meaning a non-lucrative association of friends) are the 2010 majorals (the guys responsible for the concerts, fireworks etc). I'll let you know when it's done if you want.

It's gonna be mainly in Catalan-Valencian (ValenciaSon, lets not have a fight over this!) with summarized Spanish, English, French (and maybe German) translations. Expect Valencian dishes with maybe some Balearic influence, and a few French and Algerian dishes brought by our huge pied noir* population.

*: For those who don't know, this French expression meaning "black foot" refers to people born in the 40-50s in Algiers from immigrant families. Post-war poverty and political prosecution (most locals were anarchists) made lots of people flee there; the descendants of these refugees came back to their parent's birthplaces in the 60s because of the Algerian war of independence.

[Hispanicvs]

For example...

Paella
http://www.malaga-si.es/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/paella.jpg
Turrón
http://www.1de3.com/wp-content/uploads/turron.jpg
Mazapán
http://img.blogdeblogs.com/guiamaximin/uploads/2008/03/mazapan.jpg
Arroz con leche
http://www.tapaselchollo.com/admin/Arroz%20con%20Leche.jpg
Vinos , as " Moscatel " or " Jerez "
http://www.vitagenes.com/VitagenesBlog/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/red-wine-red-grapes2.jpg
Almendras Marcona
http://www.zaral.com/latienda/_res/fotos/frutos_secos_fritos_0_almendra_frita.jpg
Horchata de chufa
http://www.granizadossegovia.com/archivos/horchata%20de%20chufa.gif
Polvorones
http://www.sanenrique.com/imagenes/catalogo/polvoron-almendra-seda.jpg

[Hispanicvs]

Dulce de membrillo
http://www.gastronom1a.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/membrillo1.jpg
Boquerones en vinagre
http://www.cafe-central.es/imagenes/cocina/boquerones.jpg
Mojama
http://www.salazoneslorenzo.com/images/Mojama-Extra.JPG
Tortilla de patatas
http://puertohurraco.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/tortilladepatatas.jpg
Mantecados
http://www.marquesitas.com/img/productos/mantecados%2005.jpg
Empanadillas
http://www.recetasdemama.es/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/empanadillas-10wtmk.jpg
Natillas
http://elgastronauta.hawanet.de/wp-content/uploads/2006/06/natillas.jpg

[Hispanicvs]

Chocolate con churros
http://www.madridpedia.com/files/fotografias/chocolate-con-churros-una-de-las-consumiciones-tipicas-de-madrid.png
Chorizo de cantimpalo
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41z%2BCKiuVlL._SL500_AA280_.jpg
Chorizo pamplones
http://www.font-verdaguer.com/uploads/pics/DSC_4442_03.jpg
Queso manchego
http://www.lomejor.com/19/3/39/12/42/Quesos01.jpg
Queso fresco
http://www.montesinos.es/images/grande_queso_fresco_cat.jpg
Queso de cabrales
http://www.mareni-gourmet.com/images/MLH267_Cabrales_Mini.jpg
Aceitunas con anchoas
http://aceitunasverdolay.com/img/manzanilla-anchoas.jpg
Flan de huevo
http://www.recetasdelacocina.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/flan_huevo.jpg

[Talairan]

It's 8:46am and you have just made me very hungry (and wanting to leave this rain behind and get on a plane back to Spain). :D

[La Rubia]

What springs to mind:

Galicia.- Empanada gallega, lacón con grelos and any type of seafood.

Asturias.- Fabada asturiana, fabes con almejas

Cantabria.- Cocido montañes, cocido lebaniego

Basque country.- Bacalao a la bilbaina

Burgos.- Cordero asado, morcilla

Segovia.- Cochinillo asado , cordero asado

Salamanca.- Hornazo

Madrid.- Cocido madrileño, callos

Valencia.- Paella

Pippa: you forgot the "pescaíto frito de Cádiz".
Here there is a photo of my particular "pimientos fritos rellenos de tortilla de patatas"... mmmmmm.... wonderful with a cold bear glass on the beach! If someone wants the recipe... just tell me!
http://fotos.subefotos.com/af65da40a04d184cd62775c226ed58e5o.jpg