Whether you are taking a short city break weekend, a longer vacation or just doing business in Span for a few days, one if thing is for certain, you will love Spanish food. During your stay, no matter how long it is, you will want to eat, and while for some, global fast food is easy, for many Spanish food is a must. But what are some of the best Spanish dishes you really must try? Here are 5.
Let’s start with something sweet and something that is consumed in astronomical amounts by many Spaniards. Turrón is a sweet almond Nougat that is extremely popular at Christmas. However, many do not know that it is a true sweet treat available any day of the year even when you have no reason to celebrate at all. The small town of Jijona in the province of Alicante is where most of these very tasty treats are made and there are two types. Made with honey, almonds and egg white the two versions of this sweet treat are Jijona which is soft and chewy and the hard Alicante Turrón that has pieces of almond in it.
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Tortilla Española is a classic dish and one that is surprisingly tasty. Over the years there have been some variations on the Tortilla Española just to spice things up, but the traditionalist will have nothing of it. Nothing beats a traditional Tortilla Española that consists of Eggs, Potatoes and Onions, for some even the onion is extravagant, but it does give the meal a little more taste. Slow cooked in olive oil this simple dish is a very filling meal.
Perhaps the most well-known of all Spanish Dishes, Paella, is for some what Spain is known for. A traditional Paella includes chicken or rabbit, saffron, runner beans and butter beans. However, the Paella is not complete without rice and quite a lot of it. The rice is used to absorb the flavours not just to make the dish more filling. Try Paella with rabbit and you will be surprised just how tasty it is.
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A simple fried chicken dish, known throughout Spain is Pollo al ajillo. Everyone says the Pollo al ajillo made by their mother or grandmother is the best and truth be told this may actually be so as every time I have had it, it tastes better. This really is a simple dish. Whole unpeeled garlic is fried in olive oil to flavour the oil then removed. Chicken is then fried in the oil and when cooked the garlic cloves, some rosemary and thyme as well as a dash of sherry are added to make a dish that is unbelievably tasty.
If you have not had a bowl of Gazpacho then you have not been to Spain. This blend of ripe red tomatoes, cucumber, peppers and garlic can be found, ice cold, in jugs in many Tapas bars throughout Spain. It is one of the most refreshing things to eat or drink anywhere in the entire country and is quintessentially Spanish!
These are just 5 of the must try dishes you can have in Spain. There are many more surprisingly good dishes and one or two house specialities you will stumble up. However, to really get the most out of any restaurant, being able to speak Spanish, will open up many gastronomic delights.
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