The Essential Spanish Kitchen

The average modern day Spanish kitchen is really not that different to
any other modern kitchen, you can find the microwave, the blender,
ready meals and packet mixes. However, there remains the traditional
essentials of cookware and ingredients which are used daily in Spanish
cooking and are all important to create your own piece of Spain at
home.Each Spanish pantry or larder always contains a ready supply of
the most essential everyday ingredients and accessories from olive oil
to onions and the paella pan to the cazuela.The Spanish are sometimes
criticised for the amount of oil they use in cooking, it is used in
almost every recipe and is even used when frying sweet dishes. Extra
Virgin olive oil, though is the oil of choice due to its renowned
health benefits and unique flavour. Some people prefer an ordinary
virgin olive oil but very rarely are other types of oil used in
Spanish cooking as they have a blander taste although are considered
less expensive. Extra virgin olive oil can be quite pricey but the
use of a good one needn€™t prove expensive. When using a good quality
extra virgin olive oil, remember that it expands on heating so don€™t
overdo it. Also the quality is such that it can be reused five or
six times. Once cooled, the oil can be strained and stored in jars
for the next time but always store oil for frying fish in separate
containers. Extra virgin olive oil is used frequently in marinades
and dressings and for a milder taste, it can be mixed with other types
of oil. Olive oil for cooking should never be mixed with other types
of oil however, as during heating possible toxins can be released. If
you want to create a traditional Spanish dish, extra virgin olive oil
is essential for that all important €˜taste of Spain€™, there really
is no substitute.For Spanish cooking, always have two or three bulbs
of garlic at hand. Along with extra virgin olive oil, it is probably
the most frequently used ingredient and it can be used in a variety of
ways. Raw garlic is of course at its most powerful, rub some over a
slice of toast with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt for a
truly traditional Spanish style breakfast.Raw garlic finely chopped is
used in marinades or for salad dressings, the amount used depending on
personal taste. Cooked garlic will loose some of its bite but other
ingredients in the recipe will take on its flavour. Garlic can be
roasted whole, then crushed and added back to the pot, it can be
inserted into meat for roasting or simply chopped or crushed and added
to the pot or pan.A vital partner to garlic is the pestle and mortar.
Use the pestle to squash a garlic clove for easy peeling. The mortar
is essential when preparing small amounts garlic and other herbs and
spices. When mixing a variety of ingredients together, start with the
smaller, hard ingredients such as peppercorns or cloves, then move
onto the garlic or saffron for example. The softer herbs like parsley
should be mixed in last. It is important to add liquid to your mix,
whether wine, sherry or water, use them to form a paste with your
ingredients. This is especially important for saffron as it must be
crushed and blended with liquid before being used as your rice dish
will not have an even colour.Used regularly, although quite expensive
and exotic, saffron is what gives rice dishes such as the paella its
lovely golden yellow colour. Saffron is collected by hand and is the
tiny part of the crocus which explains the high cost. Only a tiny
amount is needed however, so it is worthwhile keeping in your store
cupboard.Other essential Spanish herbs are oregano, thyme rosemary and
parsley. Parsley is used so frequently that it is given away free in
fish shops and butchers. Thyme is an excellent accompaniment to
chicken and a sprig of rosemary makes an excellent kebab stick. All
of these herbs can be grown quite easily in the Spanish kitchen
garden.Although not used everyday, two important Spanish spices are
paprika and cayenne pepper or indeed whole chillies, dried or fresh.
Paprika can be smoked or not, sweet (dulce) or spicy (picante) and is
one of the most important ingredients when preparing the traditional
chorizo for it€™s colour and flavour. A spoon full of paprika will
add colour and flavour to any marinade or cooking sauce and add
chopped chillies to any dish for added bite such as gambas al
pil-pil.Along with saffron, to create the perfect paella, the
€˜paellero€™ or paella pan is a hugely important piece of Spanish
kitchen equipment. This large round shallow pan has been used for
generations to prepare the world famous Spanish dish of fish or
chicken and rabbit with rice. There are different variations of pan
available but the most important feature is that it must be large
enough to cook a dish for all the family!The earthenware dish or
€˜cazuela€™ makes a regular appearance in the Spanish kitchen.
Available from the very small for serving tapas, to the enormous, they
are such a versatile piece of cookware that no Spanish kitchen is
complete without one. They can be used over an open fire, on the
barbecue, in the oven or over the hob, plus they retain the heat after
cooking € perfect for gambas al pil-pil, a classic spicy dish of
chilli and garlic prawns. To get the best out of your cazuela, soak
overnight before the first use and heat to temperature gently. For
larger dishes, such as the traditional winter €˜cocido€™ or stews and
soups, the Spanish €˜olla€™ or large casserole dish which is fat in
the middle and narrow at the top and bottom, is vital in the Spanish
kitchen. Available in a variety of materials, it is great for cooking
over an open fire.No Spanish kitchen or indeed household should be
without the Serrano ham, cured for at least a year high up in the
mountains, the Serrano ham is the cornerstone of traditional Spanish
gastronomy. The Serrano ham is found in all bars, restaurants and
Spanish kitchens and is kept on display for easy access in its
specialist jamonero or ham stand. The Serrano ham, when carved in
wafer thin sliced using the specialist ham carving knife, also an
essential in the Spanish kitchen, makes for the perfect tapas or
raciones dish. Simply drizzle with olive oil or serve with almonds,
manchego cheese or broad beans for a truly authentic Spanish delight.
The best thing though about having a Serrano ham permanently in your
kitchen, is that you can just carve off a slice whenever the mood
takes you.The leftover bone of the ham is used to make a stock or
€˜caldo€™ essential for adding flavour to soups and stews.Another
Spanish classic is the €˜Tortilla de Patatas€ or Spanish omelette,
which is truly delicious, simple to make and requires only the most
basic of essentials from the Spanish kitchen. Always keep at least a
dozen eggs in your Spanish kitchen as you will need at least eight to
make a good sized omelette. Potatoes and onions are also vital in
many Spanish dishes and red onions are often found in salads as they
are sweeter and have less bite.Never be without a few fresh, ripe
tomatoes as the Spanish enjoy them almost daily in many different
ways. Fresh juicy chunks are great in salads and one or two sliced
with a drizzle of olive oil are popular to finish off a meal. Fresh
tomatoes are often chopped or blended then slowly reduced to create a
lovely homemade tomato salsa, used either on its own or added to other
dishes such as spicy chorizo with pasta. For a variation to your
Spanish style breakfast, chop a tomato in half and rub it over your
toast with a drizzle of olive oil and some slices of Serrano ham €
perfect.The €˜barra€™ or French style stick of fresh bread is a daily
essential too. It is served with every meal and many Spanish people
just can€™t eat a meal without it!Wine is also an important part of
Spanish eating culture and cooking. Red wine is enjoyed at meal times
while a nice bottle of white always goes down well as an aperitif.
Keep white wine handy for use with chicken dishes or steamed mussels -
a favourite at the table. Rabbit and beef dished are enhanced by a
drop or two of red wine so have a bottle in the rack. Spanish wines
are among the best in the world but needn€™t be expensive so you can
enjoy that added extra of Spanish warmth without breaking the
bank.Many of these Spanish kitchen essentials are found easily and are
indeed used everyday in other types of cooking, what makes them
special is how they are used. So stock up, get creative and add a bit
of Spanish sunshine to your table.