Traditional Spanish foods are always delicious, and completely different from any other type of food in the world. Spanish cuisine in general consists of a small variety of dishes which are derived from differences in terms of geography and culture. There are many main components of Spanish cuisine, and in particular a significant portion of Spanish cuisine derives from the Jewish and Moorish traditions.

There are many traditional Spanish foods that you can prepare, but a few in particular which are especially favorable.

Gazpacho

One of the most well known traditional Spanish foods is gazpacho. This is a chilled raw soup, one that originated in the Andalucia area. Typically this soup is prepared using bread, garlic, tomatoes, cucumber, and peppers. Olive oil and vinegar are often added on top of this in order to give it a sort of refreshing tang.

Paella

Another of the most popular traditional Spanish foods is paella. This is actually considered by some to be the national dish of Spain and consists mainly of rice seasoned with saffron. Although there are definitely a few different variations of paella, typically it is cooked in a flat metal pan with two handles that are riveted to the sides.

The combinations that can be used here are practically endless and it really all depends on your own personal opinion and preference. It is especially popular at fiesta time, and the genuine paella dish has a good helping of green beans and giant dried butter beans. The most important thing to remember here is that once the paella is ready to be served, the rice of grains should be dry and never mushy or sticky.

Flan

You cannot discuss traditional Spanish foods without mentioning dessert, and one of the most well-known and well-loved Spanish dessert dishes is flan. To make, you simply caramelize ¾ cup sugar in a pan, and in a separate bowl beat six eggs until the mixture is lemon colored and the yolks are all combined.

Now you want to add another ¾ cup sugar, 1 quart milk, and 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla. Mix thoroughly and then pour the mixture into a pan and bake at 325ºF for about an hour or until a knife inserted into the middle comes out clean.

Spanish food is loved by most people and many people are surprised when they find out just how easy it is to actually prepare these traditional and delicious Spanish dishes.

Tags: Flan, Gazpacho, paella

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