Here is another soup recipe that includes a drop of alcohol. This time fino sherry. The sherry triangle in Spain revolves around places such as Jerez de la Frontera, El Puerto de Santa Maria and Sanlúcar de Barrameda in the province of Cadiz. If you like to taste sherry that is a world away from that which my mother may have consumed each Christmas, then it is this corner of Spain you want to head for. I would never have imagined that I could like sherry but, in Spain, I do.
I often sing the praises of almonds grown in Spain. They grow in vast numbers, including in the La Alpujarra mountain range. Almonds are used in so much Spanish cooking and in so many different ways.
Here they are the core ingredient behind a very good Spanish pudding, almond cake. The almonds are best prepared by soaking in boiling water until the skins loosen and can be popped off with ease. Prepared in this manner, the almonds produce more flavour.
Here is another delightful Spanish meal that employs the finest pork and the almonds that grow in vast quantities in Andalucia.
In particular, in La Alpujarra. This quaint and elevated part of the Granada province will be the area I feature next with a look at the most often cooked Spanish meals tere and the ingredients that are readily available.
Santiago de Compostela in Galicia is famous for being an important destination for religious pilgrims. Most recently actor Martin Sheen made a film called "The Way" in which the stunning architecture of Santiago, and the sheer beauty of Galicia, is there for all to see.
But Galicia does not just specialise in empanadas, seafood, white wine, cheese or tasty meat. It also has its own pudding.
So now that I have been given hundreds of recently harvested almonds by a local landowner, what should I do with them?
I see almonds all around me when I go walking in Andalucia. On the trees, being knocked off the trees and, now, left on my doorstep by a nice neighbour.
Bake a cake, that's what I'll do! A sumptuous almond cake using a recipe that is popular on the island of Majorca. This is a gorgeous cake.
Skate is an all too often forgotten fish. But not in Spain. It is used in a variety of meals and soups. I think this recipe sees the fish in good company. Almonds go well with white fish. Try this meal and then you will be converted to Skate.
Here's a recipe that exploits the super spice that is saffron (azafrán) to the best ends. Valencia lays claim to have originated this dish. My advice to you is to always have saffron in your kitchen. There are so many wonderful Spanish meals that cannot be made without it. Potatoes with Almonds and Saffron (serving 4 people) is just one.
It is not uncommon to see rabbit for sale in Spanish supermarkets or at outdoor markets. Visitors to the more authentic parts of Spain are often shocked to come across villagers carrying a dead rabbit and taking it the woman of the house for cooking. Uusally,as they say, 'in the pot.' For the less squeamish among you, here's a recipe for animals that are seen either running through fields or, more likely in Spain, on a restaurant menu.
American clients on a recent tapas tours questioned me on the meat available in Spain. They said that meals they had been served claiming to be based on beef, didn't taste like any beef they were accustomed to. "That was not beef as we know it" they said after eating in a Seville restaurant. True, beef in Spain is not as it is in America. But it can be every bit as tasty if cooked correctly.
Here's the simple recipe for an addictive tapas dish. Bars often serve toasted almonds. Whichever country you are in, one of the oldest tricks of any bar owner is to serve you something to begin with. Bars all over the world know that if a dish of something salty is on the bar, the customer will drink more. So, here's a recipe for some nice toasted almonds to have available when friends come to visit you at home.
