SPAIN: Crazy About Spanish Cuisine

Why Transnational Palates Crazy about Spanish Cuisine

The current Spanish food varieties we are experiencing today are influenced by the Roman, Phoenician, Moorish, and Greek settlements in the Spanish history. These cultures have influenced Spain relatively, resulting in an exclusive array of dishes and recipes. For centuries, pork has been very popular in Spain from the Muslim rule to the country’s Christian re-conquest origins.

Gastronomical Spanish Varieties

There is without a doubt that Spanish foods are gastronomical varieties, and usually cannot do without the use of peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, and beans. The regional specialties all over the country are embodiments of the entire country’s culture, not restricted to the specific region. If you have been to Spain, you will never deny how the Spaniards prepare, cook, serve, and treat their foods. They make sure that every dish is full of flavor, aroma, colors, and uniqueness from other cuisines you would have eaten.

Spanish Breakfast

For the Spaniards, breakfast is considered as the least important meal. They refer to it as “desayuno”, but many of locals skip this meal. If they do, they only take a very light and simple breakfast about 10 in the morning. Desayuno usually consists of hot chocolate, coffee, or a freshly squeezed fruit juice accompanied by a pastry, toasted bread, or croissant. Common breakfast in the country also include “churros” or fried fritters with sugar.

Spanish Lunch

Spaniards, on the other hand, consider lunch as the most important of the day’s meals. The traditional Spanish lunch is composed of several courses, starting with a soup or salad, followed by a heavier one with any fish or meat, and then summed up by a pastry or fruit as dessert. In most cases, you will notice that the locals would take a shot of liquor after lunch or a cup of coffee at times. Throughout the meal, a kind of bread will always be on the table, plus wine and water.

If you have plans on visiting Spain, it is important to keep in mind that lunch in the country occurs between 2 and 4 in the afternoon. Lunch is likewise followed by what they call as “siesta” or the afternoon nap, thus, stores and shops are temporarily closed during this time. The traditional Spanish food and culture is always spent with families and loved ones, hence, workers are allowed to take the time off in order to spend lunch at home.

Spanish Dinner

Spanish dinner takes place between 9 and 11 in the evening as you will not see workers getting off from work as early as 8 in the evening. In order to survive the long day, and because of the midday break, they usually consume something light in between lunch and dinner, which is called the “merienda”, although very light in nature. During the summer time, you will see the locals sit down on dining restaurants until midnight. Hence, Spanish cuisine is really interesting and exciting, unlike other international dishes. Even in the comfort of your home, you can try these savory and enticing Spanish food recipes and experience the unbeatable gastronomy of ancient Spain.