Colourful, fresh, produce-driven Spanish food is sprinkled with Arabic influence from centuries of Moorish occupation. Nuts, citrus, and sheep cheese interweave with a long tradition of Catholic fast days and riches from the long coastlines. Here are some of my favourite Spanish recipes.
Pa amb Tomàquet Called pan con tomate in other parts of Spain, this classic Catalan snack is about as simple and delicious as you can get. There are many variations, but this is how it was taught to me many years ago by my Catalan flatmate, Susie. Susie told me that her family always made […]
Patatas Bravas Named for the ‘bold’ sauce that coats them, these deep-fried potato cubes in a spicy, tangy tomato sauce are one of my favourite tapas dishes when done well – that means freshly fried, not done ahead of time, refrigerated and reheated as happens in too many Spanish restaurants! As the sauce softens the […]
Leche Frita Leche Frita is many Spaniards favourite dessert and popular throughout the country. In the Basque region it’s called tostadas de crema and, as both names suggest, it is fried milk. The milk is formed into a thick custard that is set in the fridge until it can be cut into squares that are […]
PolvorónesAndalusian Shortbread These Spanish shortbreads hail from the southern region of Andalusia and are particularly popular at Christmas time. The name comes from the Spanish word polvo, meaning powder or dust, referring to their crumbly texture – the dough is the crumbliest I’ve ever worked with! They’re popular in Latin America and the Philippines and […]
Pimientos de Padrón (Padron Peppers) Looking for something different to get your next gatherings off to a great start? The darling of many fancy restaurants, Pimientos de Padrón (or Padron peppers) are plump little Spanish chillies grown near Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and they’re the easiest things in the world to prepare (they’re the ones pictured […]
Romesco is a Spanish sauce from the region of Catalonia, where a variation called salvitxada is served as a dip for calçots, local spring onions traditionally charred over open fires – Windy Hills Farm’s baby leeks are a great Australian substitute for calçots. One of Spain’s most popular sauces – with as many variations as there […]
Manchego, Fennel, Orange, Walnut Salad I love cheese and I love Sherry and this salad using Spain’s wonderfully nutty sheep’s milk cheese, Manchego, and delicious Sherry vinegar, is an ideal match for an ice cold glass of Sherry, such as Equipo Navazos La Bota 35. Manchego, fennel & orange salad is one of my favourite […]
Gazpacho is an ancient Spanish bread soup, possibly dating back to Roman times, which was readily adapted to include the New World tomato in the 18th century. It makes a delicious, appetite-stimulating start to a summer meal and is great in shot glasses for cocktail parties – perfect with an ice-cold Manzanilla Sherry such as […]
