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Appetizers

Gazpacho (Cold Spanish Soup)

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Gazpacho cold tomato soup spanish

Indulge in the refreshing flavours of Gazpacho, a beloved traditional Spanish cold soup that brims with an array of crisp and delectable vegetables, perfect for beating the heat on a scorching summer day. This simple and delicious Cold Spanish Soup or Tomato Gazpacho recipe will be a hit at your summer gatherings. The combination of fresh ingredients and a chilled serving makes it a refreshing choice for hot days. Don’t forget to experiment with different garnishments and enjoy the delightful flavours of this chilled summer soup. Origins Get ready for a tasty tidbit from southern Spain, Andalusia! Gazpacho, a refreshing cold soup, has become a staple on menus throughout Spain, with each region adding its own twist. Traditionally made in a mortar to avoid bubbles and foam, nowadays, we can use a blender to whip up a quick and delicious batch. Embrace the flavours of gazpacho and let it transport…

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Drinks

Hibiscus Sangria

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hibiscus sangria

Summer is almost here… it’s time for outdoor fun, for a refreshing Hibiscus Sangria with mango, mandarin, lime and Cava (sparkling wine) to make it fizzy! I saw a recipe not long ago of “Agua de Jamaica,” a simple juice made by infusing hibiscus leaves and sugar, then cooling it and voila! The picture looked so yummy, and I thought, those flowers are so pretty… they must taste good too. Well, I found some hibiscus leaves in the market and tried them as a simple tea… without any sugar… wasn’t tasting as they looked…  I was shocked by how unpleasant that infusion was… then I had little Stevia (0 calorie sugar) and cooled it overnight. Wow! The difference it makes with a bit of sugar sometimes… It went from 0 to 1000! Same goes for this Hibiscus Sangria! Health Benefits of Hibiscus Hibiscus leaves have many health benefits; they help control your blood…

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Fish & Sea Food

Seafood Marinera Pasta al Cava

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SEAFOOD MARINERA PASTA

Seafood Marinera Pasta al Cava is a delicious way to welcome summer with mussels cooked in a splash of sparkling white wine, garlic, tomato, thyme and parsley. Marinera Mussels (Mejillones Marinera) is a popular dish in Spain combined with Pasta which equals Seafood Marinera Pasta al Cava! Not to mistake with the Italian Marinara sauce, a tomato sauce. This dish is the Spanish cousin of Spaghetti allo Scoglio from Italy. However, the main difference is the Cava, a Spanish sparkling wine and paprika. This touch makes the dish even more dreamy and festive! The natural sea broth from the mussels flowing down the cava-tomato sauce is disturbingly addictive. Marinera with or without Paprika? In Spain, there is a fight about: “Should Marinera sauce contains tomato or not?” Half does it with paprika and wine, the other half with tomato and wine. Both ways are acceptable, and I personally don’t want to interfere, so…

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Appetizers

Figs and Goat Cheese Salad

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Figs and Goat cheese salad

A Mediterranean classic combo of fresh figs and goat cheese in a salad form with tomatoes, walnuts, the usual honey touch, and a balsamic cream not to overpower the dish. Figs and Goat Cheese Salad will blow your mind! This Figs and Goat Cheese Salad will make you want to forget all those other salads before this one. A simple combination that makes fireworks. Like in the Ratatouille movie, when the rat melts cheese on the mushroom with the help of a lightning bolt… Some ingredients are just much better coupled; this is a good example. A slice of melted goat cheese on a fresh fig piece! Served with crunchy lettuce, walnuts, and cherry tomatoes with a honey dressing and extra balsamic cream. Fig, goat cheese salad Goat cheese Paradise Where I live, close to the Pyrenees mountain chain, they do some great goat cheeses! Although we don’t see them…

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Main Meals

Chorizo Pasta al Vino

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Chorizo Pasta

A pasta dish based on a traditional Spanish tapa called ‘Chorizo al vino’ or Chorizo in wine. Merging both makes a splendid result for a main dish with extra red pepper, onions, parsley and garlic. Chorizo al vino is a tapa that cooks chorizo sausages slowly in red wine with a touch of smoked paprika, nothing else. I’ve used the idea and added extra veggies, red bell pepper, onion and garlic that go perfectly with the chorizo and served it on pasta. Chorizo Pasta sauce is thickened with cornstarch and tomato paste—a lovely Mediterranean dish for sausage lovers. Spanish Chorizo Sausage Authentic Spanish Chorizo isn’t a spicy “hot” sausage, nor a fresh type of sausage. It’s a paprika-flavoured, cured pork sausage that can be softly spicy or sweet, depending on the paprika used. If you want to reproduce the smokey effect with a sweet sausage, add some smoked paprika (Pimenton de la…

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Drinks

Authentic Sangria Española

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This authentic Sangria Española without added sugar contains apple, peach and orange pieces. Plus a little fizz in the end, to make it extra festive! The word Sangria comes from the word “Sangre” which means blood, so a traditional sangria should be the colour of blood. Nowadays, there are tons of different variations of Sangrias out there. Some are made with white wine others sparkling wines and all kinds of fruit combinations. However, the original version, the traditional Sangria Española, is and will always be the ultimate summer star! Sangria’s Origin Sangria’s origin is not clear, some say it was a way to upgrade the lowest quality wines from Southern Spain. Therefore, adding fruits (sugars) would help balance the sharpness. Others say it was an invention of British sailors, bringing along with them some Spanish wine to the Caribbeans and mixing it up with rum and fruits. Truth be told,…

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Appetizers

Pan con Tomate – Pa amb Tomaquet

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Pan con tomate - Pa amb tomaquet

The ultimate tapa for Catalans, pa amb tomaquet, or Spaniards, pan con tomate, is the simplest and most beloved of tapas, a lightly grilled bread with tomato, extra-virgin olive oil, salt and, if you wish: a little garlic flair to it. Pan con Tomate Tapa – Pa amb Tomaquet (Catalan) If you’ve ever set foot in Barcelona or its region, you probably saw this Pan con Tomate or Pa amb tomaquet on every table. Omit ordering it at the restaurant… surely your waiter will ask you if you want some with your meal. It’s simply inconceivable not to order it. Pan con tomate, or its Catalan term Pa amb tomàquet, is an integral part of their culture. So popular, to the point of having a book written about it, by Leopold Pomés called Teoria i práctica del pa amb tomàquet. You know it’s a serious matter when a whole book is…

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Condiment

Traditional Romesco Sauce

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Catalan Romesco Sauce

Traditional Romesco Sauce is a Catalan, Spain, fantastic nutty sauce with roasted veggies that goes with any grilled meat, fish, egg or vegetable. It is made of roasted tomatoes, garlic, hazelnut, almond and red pepper with a touch of paprika. A perfect condiment for BBQ season! A Catalan Ritual This Traditional Romesco Sauce originates from Tarragona, about an hour south of Barcelona, Spain. The chances are… if you visit and try any restaurant on the city outskirts, you’ll end up with romesco sauce on your plate. It’s generally eaten with grilled meat, fish or veggies but also on their famous patatas bravas with some aioli. The Catalan rural houses often have a grilling spot in their backyard where in winter months, they do Calçotadas. The equivalent of a Sunday brunch… Catalans have this ritual of grilling these special long onions called calçots. They are usually served with barbecued meat and veggies…

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Fish & Sea Food

Salmon & grilled Asparagus with Romesco Sauce

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Salmon on asparagus and romesco

A Salmon & grilled Asparagus with Romesco Sauce on a bed of quinoa topped with a nutty Romesco Sauce is a great way to bring a healthy Mediterranean sun to your plate. Salmon & grilled Asparagus with Romesco Sauce is the perfect set of Spanish flavours. This gorgeous orange sauce is a rich, nutty and ultra-healthy one. Suitable for the BBQ this recipe is inspired by charred veggies with Romesco, which is popular in Catalunya. The Romesco sauce can be found in jars in European markets if not, here is my recipe! Catalan Romesco Sauce The idea here was to showcase the Romesco sauce and grilled asparagus altogether. It could have been a piece of grilled chicken fillet, omelette on top or nothing at all and it would have been as delicious. Romesco is a typical Catalan sauce consisting of roasted tomatoes, pepper pulp, paprika and roasted nuts (almonds and hazelnuts)…

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Appetizers

Fried Eggplant with Honey

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Fried Eggplant with honey

Fried Eggplant with Honey is a popular vegetarian tapa in Spain. These crunchy eggplants are deep-fried in olive oil and finished with a sprinkle of salt and good-quality honey. Have you ever wondered about nice authentic vegetarian tapas? This crunchy Fried Eggplant with Honey tapa is what you are looking for! Called ‘Berenjena con Miel’ in Spanish, this tapa originates from the south of Spain. Nowadays, you’ll find it in about every tapas bar in Spain. It’s usually served with lovely honey or darker cane syrup and a nice sprinkle of salt. A great sweet and salty dish! Deep Frying with Olive Oil Knowing the common eggplants contain lots of water which makes them often saggy once cooked, the only way to make them relatively firm and crisp is by coating them in a light coat of flour and breadcrumbs and frying them up at high temperatures. An essential element to deep…

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