Churros con chocolate in cookie form are a fun addition to a party spread. Plus, Cinco de Mayo is tomorrow and if you can’t find real churros, these buttery, cinnamon-sugar cookies with or without chocolate are a festive way to celebrate.
This chilled vegetable soup is the perfect light and refreshing meal or side dish during the heat of summer and a great way to use up tomatoes and cucumbers from your garden or market.
When I recently made a Roasted Red Pepper & Manchego Salad {with roasted red peppers, roasted asparagus, cherry tomatoes and Manchego cheese} I discovered that the flavor combo also works well in a Spanish tortilla.
The flavors of this salad are inspired by one of my most memorable meals: a roadside picnic in the Spanish countryside consisting of roasted red peppers and Spanish cheese.
These flaky, buttery pastries in the shape of a crescent are essentially croissants. I like to make an assortment of flavors but these almond crescents oozing with melt-in-your-mouth almond filling are my favorite.
Frittatas and Spanish tortillas are very similar. A common version of the tortilla española is made with a simple combination of eggs and potato. In this rendition, I added spinach, feta cheese, bacon and red bell pepper.
The tortilla española is similar to a frittata and nothing like the tortillas used in Mexican food. Tortillas de patatas, filled with thinly sliced potatoes, are one of the most popular kinds of tortilla that you will find but you can also add the veggies and meats of your choice.
Paella has become the national dish of Spain and a symbol of Spanish cuisine in the eyes of many people outside of Spain. However, though you can find paella throughout Spain, it is truly a regional specialty of Valencia. Traditionally, the seasonings in paella are simple – saffron, garlic, salt and pepper – allowing the natural flavors of the meats and seafood to shine. But the beauty of this dish is that you can load it with the ingredients of your choice. My personal favorite is paella mixta, made with all sorts of seafood, sausage and chicken.
Arroz con Leche, literally “rice with milk,” is a traditional Spanish dessert that is also popular all throughout Latin America. Variations of rice pudding can be found around the world and this is the Spanish take on it. I love the simplicity of this recipe – rice, milk, a cinnamon stick and sugar. It is easy to make as long as you have forty minutes to an hour to watch it and stir it frequently.
Spain is known for tapas, originally just an olive or two on a plate to literally “top” a drink. Over time, the olive or piece of cheese has been replaced by more elaborate “little bites” of truly gourmet food. But even the gourmet bites highlight the natural, simple flavors of the fresh ingredients. Each region of Spain has their own specialties, but some tapas, like Gambas al Ajillo, can be found throughout the country.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
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