5 Distinctive Characteristics of Spanish Food
There is no doubt that the world has quite a lot to offer in terms of culinary goodness. Whether it's in your home town or a different country, you'll be treated to some really fine food that will have you clamoring for more. One of the most popular cuisines nowadays is Spanish food. It is considered to be the €people's cuisine€, simply because it has a down to earth goodness which is practically easy to make. What makes it even more popular among people is the fact that its ingredients can be acquired either regionally or locally. The reason why every region in Spain has its own unique take on signature dishes is because of the fact that transportation from one region to another was difficult until the late 20th century. The area is filled with mountains spanning throughout multiple directions, which caused people to come up with their own recipes for foods we know now as Spanish cuisine. A lot of the dishes these days are still cooked the same way they were several hundreds of years ago, while there are some which have notably distinct American and European influences as well. Regardless of this, there is no doubt that the food in Spain will always be bursting with flavor. Below are some of the characteristics which make Spanish cuisine unique:
1. A lot of Spanish dishes use olive oil when being cooked. This is because it is said that olive oil provides a lot of health benefits, and even more so than vegetable or corn oil.
2. For the most part, Spanish dishes are characterized by their Mediterranean roots. What this means is that you'll simply come across a lot of recipes which utilize sea foods. This is most apparent in dishes such as Paella.
3. Bread is usually served with the dishes. This is where most people often mistake Spanish cuisine for Mexican, simply because they assume they are one and the same. With Mexican dishes, tortillas are served instead. If you order tortillas, you'll be receiving an omelet instead.
4. Generally speaking, Spanish cuisine is tapas-based. What this means is that the food prepared is originally made to be shared with other people.
5. Unlike other countries, Spanish food is quite varied due to the different regions all over. Some ingredients may be substituted for another, depending on which part of Spain you're visiting. The northern regions of Spain often utilize meat and chicken, while the southern parts are all about shellfish and other types of seafood.
1. A lot of Spanish dishes use olive oil when being cooked. This is because it is said that olive oil provides a lot of health benefits, and even more so than vegetable or corn oil.
2. For the most part, Spanish dishes are characterized by their Mediterranean roots. What this means is that you'll simply come across a lot of recipes which utilize sea foods. This is most apparent in dishes such as Paella.
3. Bread is usually served with the dishes. This is where most people often mistake Spanish cuisine for Mexican, simply because they assume they are one and the same. With Mexican dishes, tortillas are served instead. If you order tortillas, you'll be receiving an omelet instead.
4. Generally speaking, Spanish cuisine is tapas-based. What this means is that the food prepared is originally made to be shared with other people.
5. Unlike other countries, Spanish food is quite varied due to the different regions all over. Some ingredients may be substituted for another, depending on which part of Spain you're visiting. The northern regions of Spain often utilize meat and chicken, while the southern parts are all about shellfish and other types of seafood.
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