by Jims Vincent Capuno
“Spain is an example of how people can integrate the gastronomy in their everyday life as another enjoyment,” said Javier Alvarez Casanova, the country’s economic and commercial counselor of the Embassy of Spain. “The positive element is that it is compatible with health, with the Spanish diet being one of the best in the world in that sense.”
“The people’s cuisine” is how Spanish foods are known. The reason: most of the ingredients used in cooking are those grown locally or in other parts of Spain .
Mountains run through the country in several directions, acting as natural barriers to communication and making transportation difficult until the last half of the 20th century. This is one of the reasons why cooking differs so much from one place to another.
Most of the top 12 ingredients for Spanish food can be grown in the Philippines . Examples: garlic (fresh since is eaten both raw and cooked), onions (used in the famous Spanish omelets), potatoes (essential in soups, stews, casseroles and side dishes), tomatoes (gazpacho is a cold soup from raw tomatoes), and parsley (indispensable in the Spanish kitchen).
Not to forget are the spices, particularly hot peppers and pimenton (paprika). Rosemary, thyme, oregano, and saffron are the main spices that you’ll find in most Spanish recipes.
A must also are eggs (they often accompany meat or vegetable dishes), bread (served at every Spanish meal), and milk (utilized in soups and many desserts). Spain is noted for its wine, which is also used in cooking.
The most important of all: olive oil. All Spanish recipes call for olive oil. Spain is a leading producer of olive oil and olives are grown all over the south of Spain and in other parts of the country.
Wanting to order Spanish foods? Here are some words you need to remember: albóndigas (meatballs), berenjenas (eggplant), calamares (fried squid rings), caracoles (snails), chorizo (spicy sausage), gambas (prawns, often fried in garlic), jamón serrano (cured ham), lomo (pork loin), morcilla (black pudding), pulpo (octopus), salchichón (sausage or salami), and tortilla (Spanish omelet with potato and onion).
Buen provecho!
