A gastronomic journey through Spain: recipes for travelers

Spanish cuisine is a real feast for the taste buds, combining rich flavors, traditional recipes, and top-notch ingredients. From fresh seafood to sophisticated desserts, you'll find something to remember in every region. Here are some popular Spanish dishes to try while traveling in this sunny country.

Paella

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of paella rice (or arborio)
  
• 1 liter of chicken broth
• 1 kg of seafood (mussels, shrimp, squid)
• 2 chicken thighs, cut into pieces
• 1 red pepper, cut into cubes
• 1 green pepper, cut into cubes
• 2 grated tomatoes
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 1/2 cup of olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of paprika
• Saffron, salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

• Heat olive oil in a large paella pan. Fry the chicken until golden brown, then set aside.
  
• In the same skillet, sauté the onion, garlic and pepper until soft.
• Add the grated tomatoes, paprika, saffron, a little salt and pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes.
• Add the rice and stir to absorb the sauce.
• Return the chicken to the skillet and cover with the chicken broth. Cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes.
• Add the seafood and continue cooking for another 10 minutes, until the rice is tender and the seafood is cooked through.
• Remove the pan from the heat and let the paella sit for a few minutes before serving.

Tortilla de Patatas

Ingredients:

• 5-6 large potatoes
  
• 1 onion
• 6 eggs
• 1 cup of olive oil
• Salt to taste

Preparation:

• Peel the potatoes and cut them into thin slices, and chop the onion.
  
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet and sauté the potatoes and onion until soft (about 20 minutes).
• In a large bowl, beat the eggs with a little salt.
• Remove the potatoes and onions from the pan, let them cool, then add them to the beaten eggs.
• Pour the mixture back into the pan with a little oil. Cook until golden on one side (5-7 minutes).
• Using a plate, turn the tortilla over and cook for another 5-7 minutes on the other side.
• Let the dish cool slightly before serving.

Gazpacho.

Ingredients:

• 6 ripe tomatoes
  
• 1 cucumber
• 1 red pepper
• 1 green pepper
• 1 red onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 3 cups of tomato juice
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of wine vinegar
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Ice cubes

Preparation:

• Chop all the vegetables (tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, onions, garlic).
  
• Put the vegetables in a blender and blend until smooth.
• Add tomato juice, olive oil, wine vinegar, salt and pepper. Blend again.
• Chill the gazpacho in the refrigerator for several hours.
• Serve the soup cold with ice cubes.

Pinchos

Ingredients:

• 1 baguette, cut into slices
  
• Various fillings: cheese, jamon, olives, cherry tomatoes, anchovies, shrimp, etc.
• Olive oil
• Toothpicks

Preparation:

• Cut the baguette into slices and lightly toast them.
  
• Spread the chosen toppings on the bread slices.
• Drizzle with olive oil.
• Secure the filling with a toothpick and serve as an appetizer on a large plate.

Cream caramel (Flan)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
  
• 6 eggs
• 1 can of condensed milk
• 1 can of evaporated milk
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Preparation:

• Preheat the oven to 175°C.
  
• Melt the sugar in a saucepan over medium heat and pour the caramel into a baking dish.
• In a separate bowl, beat the eggs with the condensed and evaporated milk, adding the vanilla extract.
• Pour the mixture into the caramel mold.
• Place the mold in a larger pan with hot water (water bath).
• Bake for 50-60 minutes or until the flan is firm.
• After cooling, invert onto a plate before serving.

Spanish cuisine is not only delicious food, but also a cultural experience that brings pleasure and good mood. Try these recipes at home or while traveling to Spain to better understand the unique flavor of this amazing country. ¡Buen provecho!