Spanish gastronomy is one of the most renowned in the world not only for the quality but also for the variety of the dishes and it is the pride of the country.
It is difficult to define the national cuisine of Spain as a whole. Rather, traditional Spanish cuisine is composed of many regional cuisines. Each of them was influenced by climate, history, and their own customs.
However, it is not difficult to distinguish the characteristics common to all Spanish culinary traditions. First of all, Spanish cuisine itself is in fact quite simple. Its base is onion, garlic, and peppers. Other ingredients such as olive oil, herbs, and sage are commonly used.
Influences of Spanish Cuisine
Simplicity and quick preparations are also common in the recipes of many regions. Such cooking methods as stewing in wine, stewing with sheep cheese, or grilling are typical of many dishes in the Iberian Peninsula.
Spanish gastronomy is very similar to those from the south of France and Italy: the same Mediterranean mix of garlic, olive oil, tomatoes, and green peppers, but with a clear influence of oriental traditions. The legacy of the Arabs is a variety of spices, almonds, and rice, indispensable components of many of the traditional dishes of the Iberian Peninsula.
Spain traditions: Rice and then Paella
Rice is one of the world’s most popular foods and an essential component of Spanish cuisine. It is no coincidence that Spain is Europe’s second-largest producer of rice, which means that there is a wide variety of delicious rice-based dishes available in each and every Spanish restaurant.
When it comes to rice, the only limit in Spain is one’s imagination. The possibilities for this small grain are almost limitless in Spanish cuisine, and the results are usually excellent. In most restaurants throughout the country, you will find an enormous variety of dishes with rice as the main ingredient, all of which are equally delicious. One of them is the well-known paella.
Learn how to make your own Spanish Rice
Rice is very famous and well known in Spain because of paella. That’s true, but paella is not the only delicious dish made with this versatile ingredient. It is an ideal complement to a wide range of other foods: legumes, meats, vegetables, fish, and seafood.
The secret to getting an amazing rice dish is in choosing the right combination and in the method of preparation, when you have those two the rice will surely take on all the flavors of the other ingredients and create a unique dish as the traditional Spanish Rice.
Although Paella is an amazing dish, you may want to stand out a little bit and prepare this quick and easy Spanish recipe instead. No one will be able to resist the urge to eat it, that’s for sure.
If you are salivating, do not blame yourself, it is only normal. You better read carefully and write down the following steps, you will see how easy it is to prepare!
Learn more about this recipe on successrice.com/recipes/spanish-rice/
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups (300 grams) of white Rice.
- 1 clove of chopped garlic.
- 1 unit of chopped onion.
- ½ unit of chopped sweet bell pepper.
- ½ unit of chopped green chili bell pepper.
- 4 tablespoons of oil.
- 2 teaspoons of Saffron or 1 tablespoon of rice seasoning.
- Necessary amount of vegetable poultry broth.
- 3 ½ oz. (100 grams) of raw ham (Italian prosciutto will be OK as well, no international issues here).
- Necessary amount of chopped parsley for garnish.
Preparation:
Step 1: Sauté the garlic, onion, sweet bell pepper, and green chili bell pepper in the oil until transparent.
Step 2: Add the rice and saffron, cook for a moment and cover with broth.
Step 3: Cook over low heat, adding more broth as needed and just enough so that the rice cooks and does not have to be strained.
Step 4: Brown the ham slices in a frying pan to make them crispy.
Step 5: When the rice is tender, serve it juicy with the crispy ham strips and chopped parsley.
Step 6: Serve hot and enjoy!
Extra tips:
- You can add more flavor, color, and texture to your dish and get more of a complete meal if you serve this Spanish rice alongside a healthy green salad.
- You can replace the Saffron with chili powder, oregano, or half an envelope of Spanish rice seasoning.
- If you like to accompany this dish with a good wine, Albariño is the perfect choice. It’s a white fruity wine from the coastal regions of Galicia, Northwest of Spain.