Spanish cuisine consists of an assortment of dishes, varying by geographic region, climate and cultural influences. Among recipes that are part of Spanish cuisine, several can be identified as iconic and common throughout the country. These include paella, gazpacho and migas, the basic recipes for which are included below.
Seafood Paella Recipe
Seafood Paella is made with saffron braised rice and seafood--shrimp, lobster, mussels and fish.
Gazpacho Recipe
Gazpacho is a cold tomato soup with numerous variations. Base ingredients include chopped tomatoes, bread, cucumbers, onions, minced garlic, bell peppers and olive oil.
Migas Recipe
If you find yourself with leftover bread, make migas. Stale bread forms the basis of the recipe, which also includes bacon, chorizo (Spanish sausage), eggs, olive oil, and spices.
Regional Examples
Catalonian cuisine is very rich and characterized mostly by rice dishes and seafood. The most popular dish of the region is Catalan cream, which is a custard dessert similar to crème brûlée. A famous dish in Madrid is Cocido madrilène, a hearty chickpea stew prepared with potatoes, vegetables and meat. The cuisine of Galicia is famous for emapanadas, as well as several seafood dishes made with octopus and cod.
Popular Chefs
Many chefs from Spain are powerful influences in the culinary world. Those most prominent have been awarded three stars from the Michelin Guide. They include Ferran Adrià, Juan Mari Arzak, Santi Santamaría, Martín Berasategui and Carme Ruscalleda. Another famous Spanish chef, José Andrés, is the host of the "Made in Spain" television show on PBS.
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