| Andalusia is the largest region of Spain, situated in the | | | | best in Andalusia. Specialities of this area include "urta |
| south of the country it stretches along the coast | | | | a la roteña" which is bream cooked with |
| from Almeria through Granada, Malaga and as far as | | | | peppers and tomatoes. A fish stew packed with the |
| Gibraltar. Inland Andalusia reaches as far as Cordoba | | | | best specimens of the area known as "abaja de |
| and Jaen. | | | | pescado", is a must when visiting the capital city. |
| Andalusia represents the most famous images of | | | | Also in the province of Cadiz, is the town of Jerez de |
| Spain; the romance and passion that stems from | | | | la Frontera famous for its sherry, indeed it is from |
| gypsies, flamenco and bull fights, flowered patios and | | | | this town that the name sherry originates. As a |
| ancient Moorish palaces. The region is so vast that a | | | | consequence, many recipes from this area are |
| journey throughout Andalusia will take you to golden | | | | cooked using this local brew such as "riñones al |
| beaches, white washed hillside villages, beautiful | | | | Jerez" which is kidneys in sherry sauce and "rabo de |
| coastlines and rugged mountainous landscapes. | | | | toro al jerez" oxtail in sherry. |
| Andalusia is a land of extremes, bitterly cold, dry | | | | Bordering Cadiz to the north is Seville, whose main |
| winters high up in the hills, to hot sultry summers | | | | city is the capital and cosmopolitan heart of Andalusia. |
| close to the coast. | | | | Seville is famous for its "ferias" and the atmosphere |
| From this diverse landscape, comes a variety of | | | | here is exotic and colourful. So too is the food here |
| cultural experiences affecting every aspect of life | | | | with the Moorish influence especially strong in sweet |
| and especially the food. You can experience | | | | dishes such as "yemas" sweet eggs. There is a |
| everything from freshly caught sardines cooked on | | | | traditional dessert or type of confectionary for |
| the beach, to the famous Serrano or mountain ham, | | | | almost every fiesta which are made following recipes |
| traditionally cured in caves high above sea level. | | | | almost unchanged throughout centuries. The famous |
| Not only is the food here so special, but in Andalusia | | | | "manzanilla" olives originate from Seville and are very |
| offers a unique way of eating. Andalusia is the | | | | popular in salads or added to other dishes such as |
| birthplace of the tapa and the region of Granada is | | | | "pato a la sevillana" which is duck with olives. A very |
| the only place in Spain where tapas are still served | | | | popular local dish here is "huevos a la flamenco" which |
| free with your drink. In most other places you will | | | | is a baked egg dish with chorizo, peppers, peas and |
| generally be asked if you want a tapa with your | | | | asparagus. |
| drink and if you do, then you will be charged a little | | | | Huelva on the coast bordering Seville and Cadiz is |
| extra. "Ir de tapas" means bar hopping but it is totally | | | | mountainous and has lovely coastlines and a thriving |
| different from what the British call "a pub crawl!" The | | | | fishing port. The shrimps from this area are very |
| Andalusians eat later than people of other Spanish | | | | famous and continue to command high prices |
| regions and it is not unusual to have lunch at 4 | | | | throughout Spain. Not surprising then that here as |
| o'clock or dinner at midnight. Because of this the | | | | with many other andalusian regions seafood is of a |
| tapas are an important way of life for the people of | | | | very high quality and used in many local dishes. |
| Andalusia, they are very social people and they can | | | | Amongst the most popular are "raya al pimiento" |
| indulge their love of mixing with friends over a drink | | | | skate in a pimento sauce and "atun con tomate" |
| without getting drunk! Having small portions of food | | | | fresh tuna cooked in a tomato sauce. |
| throughout the day also keeps them going until the | | | | Cordoba makes up the northern most region in |
| main meal at home. | | | | Andalusia and was once the seat of the Moorish |
| This culture of eating a variety of different small | | | | Kingdom. One if this regions most famous speciality |
| dishes extends into the home as well. Since being in | | | | resulting from these times is "cordero a la miel" lamb |
| Andalusia, I have gradually started to adapt to this | | | | or kid cooked in a honey sauce. The wines of this |
| way of eating and instead of a plate piled high with | | | | region which are similar to sherry are used in many |
| meat and two veg, separate little dishes are brought | | | | game dishes such as "conejo en salmorejo" which is |
| out which is the tradition in Spanish homes. This | | | | rabbit in a wine marinade. These types of dishes still |
| gastronomic culture means the conversation flows | | | | testament to the Moors love of combining sweet |
| during eating as everyone is not tucking in to a huge | | | | with savoury flavours. |
| plate of food at the same time. Of course this also | | | | Jaen is surrounded by vast olive groves and its |
| means that meal times last longer; another feature of | | | | backdrop is a range of beautiful mountains. It is |
| Andalusian eating habits. | | | | situated on a steep hill with narrow streets leading up |
| Andalusia is made up of 8 different regions and each | | | | to a very imposing cathedral. The land in this area is |
| region brings to the table its own speciality that | | | | for grazing and there are many wheat fields. A |
| makes Andalusian cuisine so far reaching and diverse. | | | | surprising food from this region is partridge pate and |
| Almeria, famous as the location for many spaghetti | | | | the locals here serve up a delicious dish of potatoes |
| westerns is a region dominated by dry, barren, rocky | | | | in a garlic sauce known as "ajoharina." |
| and almost lunar landscapes. However, littering the | | | | Each region has its own culinary specialities which are |
| area are pockets of paradise, lush oasis providing | | | | derived from the produce and traditions specific to |
| year round fruits and vegetables. Being on the coast | | | | that area but Andalusia as a whole offers many |
| means Almeria has an abundance of fresh seafood | | | | famous dishes well known throughout Spain and |
| which is brought in to more inland regions. | | | | other parts of the world. Probably the most popular |
| Granada is the next region along the coast and is | | | | is the "Gazpacho Andaluz" which is a cold tomato |
| blessed with a variety of landscapes and architecture. | | | | soup made with garlic, peppers, olive oil and |
| It is home to the famous Alhambra Palace in its | | | | cucumber. Blended together and served as a starter, |
| capital city but also offers beautiful beaches, the | | | | this dish is available from about May is the ideal |
| snow-capped Sierra Nevada Mountains, and is home | | | | refreshment on a hot afternoon. |
| to a unique area of cave dwellings situated in a | | | | Frying fish in batter is something the Andalusian |
| prehistoric basin, which can be visited when passing | | | | people do very well and varieties of this dish can be |
| through the villages of Orce, Galera and Castillejar. It | | | | found throughout all regions. The result is a light |
| is in this region where the Serrano Ham is most | | | | crispy batter with a fresh succulent fish inside. |
| famously produced. High above sea level where low | | | | Garlic and olive oil are very important ingredients in |
| humidity and cold dry winters provide the ideal | | | | Spanish cooking, almost all dishes are cooked in olive |
| conditions for curing this gastronomic cornerstone of | | | | oil and most recipes require garlic. |
| Spanish cuisine. At its best just served in wafer thin | | | | Another important feature of Andalusian dishes is |
| slices, the Serrano ham is also the ideal | | | | that vegetables are rarely served as a side dish to |
| accompaniment to melon and almonds. A local | | | | main meals. They are eaten separately and often |
| speciality in many tapas bars is "habas con jamon" | | | | served as dishes in their own right for example |
| broad beans with ham. | | | | spinach cooked with chick peas or baby asparagus |
| Malaga is the gateway to the Costa del Sol which is | | | | stewed with onions, coriander and lemon juice. If |
| the part of Andalusia best known to foreign visitors. | | | | vegetables are to be served as a side dish, they will |
| It has a thriving port and is home to the old and new | | | | usually be presented in salads or a very popular dish |
| with modern palm tree lined avenues and ruins of | | | | is sautéed potatoes with green pepper. |
| roman theatres in its old town. Among local | | | | For reasons unknown, Andalusians have in the past |
| specialities celebrated here is the "fritura | | | | been criticised for their poor eating habits and for |
| malagueña" which is a selection of deep fried | | | | producing food that is either bland or drowning in oil. |
| fish, the fish can be whitebait, anchovies, squid rings | | | | Above is just a taster of how the people here |
| or small pieces of larger fish. Malaga is also famous | | | | combine local ingredients and traditions to create a |
| for its sweet dessert wines which are made from | | | | mouth watering variety of exquisite food which is |
| the moscatel grape. | | | | often surprising. The only way to discover this |
| The province of Cadiz it the southern most tip of | | | | gastronomic delight is to do as the Spanish do and |
| Spain and indeed Europe. It is home to the coastlines | | | | frequent the tapas bars to truly experience the true |
| of both the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. As a | | | | flavours of this beautiful and diverse region. |
| consequence, the seafood in Cadiz is some of the | | | | |