Basque Country

If it's memorable Spanish cuisine you want, then you have come to the right place. Sure, the signs in some bars and restaurants will remind you that you are neither in Spain nor France - you are in Basque country. But, frankly, I'd be happy to be told I was on the moon when served the sumptuous food on offer in this culinary corner of Spain.

Some Basque chefs win awards. Some Basque restaurants are in guides to the best in the world. But the best thing about Basque food is that all of it is special. Whether you are eating the local version of tapas, Pintxos, in a bar in Bilbao, or sampling a tuna stew anywhere in Basque country; you will not be disappointed.

Fish, in particular cod, is popular up here. For example, the dish called Bacalao fresco sees cod poached with mussels or seafood in wafer thin slices. Hake is another fish they cook differently in Basque country. With apsparagus and peas for example. 

The seafood cuisine here is varied. Snow crab is stuffed. Clams are served with mushrooms. Eels are served with garlic and chilli. Shrimp is a joy when cooked in a puff pastry alongside spinach. Then, of course, there is the famous Basque tuna stew, Marmitako. You certainly don't have to like seafood to enjoy dining here, but it helps.

 

Fish Soup with Brandy

Boozy Soup

I confess that each morning now I am adding a quantity of brandy to my coffee now that winter has arrived and plenty of snow has landed on the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains.
Don't look at me like that! It's normal practice in Spain.
I always make sure that I have no plans to drive that day - which is more than can be said for some i see having an alcohol fuelled breakfast in my local Spanish bar.

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Rick Stein on Tapas

El Rinconcillo, Seville
Bite sized Stein

In his four part television series on Spanish food, Rick Stein travelled the length and breadth of the country experiencing what all those who live in the country have known for some considerable time.

The quality of what is on offer when dining outside has improved in leaps and bounds in recent years. As part of his tour, Rick Stein sampled the Spanish obsession with eating snacks before dinner or as lunch itself.

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Prawns in Chocolate Sauce

Spanish Chocolate
Chocolate Prawns

Prepare to be amazed at how often chocolate makes it into Spanish cooking. The Spanish have a life long love affair with chocolate and it turns up in the most unexpected recipes. Like this one.

Combining two of my personal favourites. Prawns and chocolate. I would never have imagined this could work well. But, I am pleased to tell you, it works very well indeed.

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Savour San Sebastian

San Sebastian
Culinary Capital of Culture

San Sebastian will the be European Capital of Culture for 2016. It beat off challenges from four other splendid locations in Spain and can now prepare for what should be a boom year in the city that has such a rich culinary history.

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Bacalao for Breakfast?

Bacalao
Almighty Cod

It was probably a childhood of eating Cod and Chips that led to my passion for this particular fish. Frankly, I've no idea if the cod I ate then had ever seen the sea, but the cod I eat in Spain most definitely has.

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Chickpea and Pepper Toasts

Spicy Toast

As promised, here's the recipe for another little tapas you can prepare easily and serve to visiting friends and family. A not too filling snack before settling down for dinner. You'll not be wanting to spend too long over preparing these little toast based snacks, so why not use chickpeas from a jar or can? It saves having to soak dried ones overnight. There's hot, smoked paprika in here so be confident that your visitors can take the spice.

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Seafood Toasts

Time for a Toastie

One of the simplest and yet most popular tapa servings is the Montado. Little slices of toasted bread on which a variety of food may be served. It might be prawns, shrimps, anchovies, peppers or spicy chicken. Many bars serve them but they are easy to make at home and serve as little snacks for your friends and family.

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Veggies in Spain

Vegetables in Spain
Vegetarian eating in Spain

If you are a vegetarian living in, or visiting Spain, your ability to enjoy fresh vegetables will vary considerably depending on where you are.

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Baked Basque Crab

Basque Crab

Basque chefs know what they are doing with seafood, especially lobster and crab. Baked crab is wonderful, never more so than with this recipe for such a traditional Basque dish.

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Leek and Potato Soup

Time for a Leek

Leek and Potato soup has to be one of the most filling and tastiest of all soups. You can have it plain and simple or, as it is here, served with a garnish of cod, chorizo and wild rocket. Porrusalda is a typical dish served in bars and restaurants across Basque country. This recipe serves eight people.

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