"Sweet" New Year in Spain: Traditional holiday sweets. Spanish New Years Recipes
In Spain, along with the Christmas tree, wine and cagatio, are traditional sweets. Without these confectionery products, it is impossible to imagine any festive table, they are presented as gifts, their eyes literally run up from their diversity.
The origins of this "sweet" Christmas tradition are not known for certain, but many historians and scholars point to the pagan origins of some desserts, when the days became long again during the winter solstice, and this meant a kind of return to life, which was marked by sweets made from grains. Others, on the contrary, claim the religious origin of this Christmas tradition in Spain: during the celebrations of Christmas and the feast of the adoration of the Magi, many communities restricted the consumption of meat in favor of products also prepared on the basis of wheat, which symbolized communion with Christ.
It is difficult to establish the origin of many Spanish sweets, but this does not prevent the Spaniards from enjoying them, including as a must-have to end a traditional Christmas dinner.
Turron
Turron is perhaps the most popular traditional Arabian sweet made from honey, almonds and caramel. Turron comes in soft (ground almond paste), hard and chocolate (chocolate mixture with toasted almonds or puffed rice). The soft turron is traditionally a specialty of the city of Gijón, and the hard one is Alicante. In addition to almonds, other types of nuts are mixed into the turron, and eggs, chocolate, marzipan are also added. More modern and creative, but less traditional varieties are turrons such as coconut, candied fruit, coffee, rum with raisins, whiskey, truffle, orange, etc. Some of the original indigenous Turron varieties are protected by law.
This Spanish Christmas dessert hits stores across the country on the eve of January 6, Magic Kings Day. Roscon is a large roll, baked from flour, yeast, sugar, butter, eggs, grated citrus fruits and almonds, in the shape of a pretzel, on top, like precious stones, covered with candied fruits and sprinkled with sugar. Two special surprises are laid inside this dessert. It can be a baby Jesus figurine, a coin, or a dry bean. According to custom, the one who finds a coin or baby Jesus will be lucky in the New Year. Well, whoever finds the beans must pay for the roscon.
This traditional New Year's dish in Spain is very reminiscent of polvoron in its fragility and light consistency and is also prepared using lard and sugar. The most popular cinnamon-flavored mantekados are traditionally produced in various flavors such as anise. The first mantekados date back to the 16th century, their homeland is considered to be two Andalusian municipalities - Antequera and Estepa, which to this day continue to hold the palm in the preparation of this delicacy.
This is a large, crumbly pastry in the form of a roll with layers of mousse or any other creamy filling, covered with a thick layer of chocolate with grooves that mimic the bark of a tree and decorated with holly leaves, mushrooms, raspberries, etc., made from marzipan. The shape of this cake really resembles real Christmas logs, which are laid in the fireplace and burned throughout the 12 days of the Christmas holidays.
This round and usually tall, dome-shaped pie filled with candied fruits is the most popular dessert made on Spanish Christmas, although it is of Italian origin. In the Spanish version, it is called Pan de Oro - golden bread.
There is a legend explaining why Toledo is the best marzipan producer in all of Spain. It says that during the times of famine, Toledo nuns used eggs and almonds (the only ingredients available in the pantries) to make a sweet pasta that saved the townspeople from exhaustion. Today, marzipan (the Spanish say masapan) continues to be the most important Spanish Christmas dessert in Toledo, where it is still prepared according to the same old monastic recipes. The oil contained in almonds allows you to sculpt various figures and shapes from marzipan, as well as paint in different colors or cover with multi-colored glaze. Typically, sugar syrup or powdered sugar is added to the crushed almond mixture. Some marzipans can be filled with egg yolk, jam, and vanilla.
Made with a mixture of almond paste and marzipan, these very thin and crumbly square cakes are a popular New Year's Eve dish in Spain. They are completely covered with powdered sugar and have an almond flavor with a slight hint of lemon.
Almendrados are made with almonds, flour and honey (it can be replaced with sugar) and baked in the oven. The ingredients of this dessert, as well as the methods of making it, vary from location to location. The origin of the sweetness is also Arabic. Almendrados is often baked in various Spanish monasteries.
This typically Christmas sweetness resembles a shortbread cookie, but has a drier and crumbly texture. Polvorones are made with lard or butter mixed with flour, sugar, milk, nuts and other ingredients like cinnamon, wine or lemon. Perhaps the popularity of this dessert is due to the fact that from the very first piece it crumbles in the mouth, turning into almond powder and butter, filled with flavors such as vanilla, cinnamon, anise, lemon, chocolate, etc. The best and most famous polvorones are prepared in the municipality of Estepa (Autonomous Community of Andalusia), the "capital" of the Mantekados.
These are just a few of the long list of Spanish sweets that scare your eyes in pastry shops and make you forget everything as you savor the magical taste of the Spanish "sweet" New Year.
The Spaniards are very fond of holidays, and they usually celebrate on a large scale. Christmas and New Years in Spain turn into one big fiesta, which starts in early December and ends on January 6, the Day of Kings. The Spaniards prepare for each stage very carefully, and how it all starts - read our first article on the Christmas theme. And in this one we will talk about:
- why the Spaniards are rightly considered the biggest "spenders" and how to effectively spend the "New Year's stash";
- where you can admire the revived pages of the Bible;
- what you need to stock up on for the Christmas and New Year's table;
- what will help to fulfill 12 cherished New Year's wishes;
- who brings gifts to Spanish kids and how to get to the royal reception.
How much is the holiday
Statistics rightly assert - the Spaniards are perhaps the biggest spenders in the world! Their expenses for pre-holiday chores this year will amount to 682 euros. They are quite a bit inferior to the Danish leaders - only some 7 euros. But they are significantly ahead of more prosperous Europeans, who, on average, are willing to spend more modestly - by 517 euros.
A third of the amount, 262 euros, will go towards gifts. It is customary to give them not only to relatives, friends and relatives. Gifts for kids are a separate topic altogether. Colleagues and colleagues will not be ignored. Each leader considers it his honorable duty to please his subordinates. For them, as a rule, “Christmas baskets” are ordered from special catalogs. Depending on the size of the donor, there will be a lot of goodies and drinks for the New Year's table. A very practical and pleasant gift.
To this same expense item should be added spending on Christmas parties, which start 2 weeks before the official holiday date.
This is “bread time” for local bars and restaurants. Cheerful campaigns sit up until the morning, tables are bursting and wines are pouring in. Every entrepreneur is sure that his generosity on Christmas days will turn into profit and the development of the company in the coming year.
The second item of expenses is New Year's delicacies. The Spaniards, as famous gluttons, are willing to fork out € 198.
The remaining 2 hundred will be spent on entertainment and travel.
And where do the Spaniards go to realize their "holiday stashes" with sense and pleasure? To the Christmas markets that sprout like mushrooms in the open air all over Spain.
We advise you to follow their example. After all, here you can "kill" three birds with one stone! Buy gifts, eat hot chestnuts, stock up on festive treats, and have fun. Painted wooden houses where smiling vendors dressed as Santa offer souvenirs and handicrafts from local craftsmen. Riding ponies and donkeys, swing roundabouts, bands and clowns, costumed processions. For children, artificial skating rinks are opened even where ice and frost have never been seen.
The charge of fun and cheerfulness will be enough for all the holidays!
Christmas in Spanish - Noche Buena
Christmas is a special day of the year. Wherever he lives or is on duty, a true Spaniard is ready to give up all business and rush to his native nest. This ubiquitous festive mood gets in the way of business life. Therefore, we do not recommend scheduling serious issues in December. On December 24, offices have a short working day, shops, bars, restaurants close earlier than usual. You can probably dine only with the Chinese. The rest - a hut on a stick. On Christmas Eve, the whole family - from nursing babies to old people - should gather at their home festive table.
This is a cozy family holiday: on the table are the most expensive and delicious dishes, mountains of sweets, henbane lights, gifts in bright packaging under the Christmas tree. The table is noisy and fun. The Spaniards are a melodious people, so the villancicos know Christmas carols by heart and sing in chorus with pleasure.
At 21 o'clock - TV channels throughout the country broadcast the congratulations of His Highness - King of Spain Felipe. At midnight, the solemn Christmas service begins in the churches - Misa de gallo. Translated into Russian, "the mass of the rooster", it recalls that it was the morning rooster's cry that told the world the news of the birth of Christ. It is also customary for the whole family to attend Mass. Well, then everyone returns to the interrupted fun, which lasts until the morning. This is how the Spaniards spend the Holy Night - Noche Buena.
But this is only the middle of the winter marathon. Ahead is the New Year's holiday. In Spain it is called "Old Night" - Noche Vieja.
Culinary Christmas and New Year traditions
A plentiful festive meal is a guarantee of well-being in the coming year. The Spaniards sincerely believe in this and make solid food supplies, although their value is steadily increasing. After all, you have to sit down at the festive table at least 3 times.
In addition to the Christmas dinner, they will have a New Year's meal and get-togethers on Kings Day.
There is no obligatory festive meal. Rather, each region has its own culinary traditions: from stuffed turkey and leg of lamb, to baked sea bream or eel. However, there are purely New Year's delicacies that will certainly appear in every home. These are all kinds of seafood - lobsters, crabs, langoustines, Spanish dry-cured ham - jamon and, of course, Christmas sweets. Most of them are the heritage of the Moorish culinary arts.
Spanish housewives do not bother with homemade pastries and willingly buy factory delicacies: marzipans, polvarons, turrons. Turrón - sweet tiles based on crushed nuts, honey and eggs. Turrón Duro - firm, reminiscent of our kozinaki, only with almonds. Turrón Blando - soft, like halva. The confectionery factories in Alicante and Gijon work hard for several months a year to provide the whole country with New Year's dessert.
"The grape of luck" or how the Spaniards celebrate the New Year
If Christmas is an event for a purely family circle of people, then the Spaniards go to the New Year to celebrate the New Year. They gather in large friendly campaigns or book a table in restaurants, where they prepare a special menu and a festive program on this occasion.
The culmination of the New Year's celebration is the global flash mob. Exactly at midnight, under the chimes, the whole country eats 12 grapes. And you need to have time to make a wish and after 3 seconds go to the next berry and preferably not choke. Those who did not manage to get to the main square of the country, Puerta del Sol in Madrid, join the annual ritual thanks to the television broadcast.
This tradition is believed to attract wealth, happiness and health throughout the year in this distinctive way. However, the background to the story is purely commercial in nature. Enterprising farmers from Vinolopo (province of Alicante), who received an unprecedented harvest in 1909, in order not to waste the excess of fruit, rushed to the capital on New Year's Eve. Distributing grapes free of charge, they inspired the “warmed up” Madrid citizens with the idea of the magical effect of the “grapes of luck”. The tradition quickly took root, retail chains offer ready-made packages and even tin cans with 12 grapes for the holiday.
You also need to stock up on a bottle of Cava - Spanish champagne and drink a glass of foamy wine right on the square, clinking glasses with everyone around you and wishing them "Feliz año nuevo" - "Happy New Year!" Around the roar of firecrackers, fiery spray of fireworks.
The fun lasts until dawn. Moreover, in the morning of the new year, you should have breakfast with hot chocolate, dipping crispy churros (a Spanish donut) there.
Who brought us gifts?
Kids outside the Spanish kingdom have cause for envy. After all, their Spanish peers receive gifts several times during the festive marathon.
This is probably why a whole team of wizards performs the honorable mission of donors. Moreover, the twin brother of Santa Claus, who is called here Papá Noel, does not play the first violin. Here, the rosy-cheeked bearded man in a red cap is considered an "overseas stranger." And parents suspect that it is he who provokes dear children into a festive shopaholia. Meticulous sociologists have calculated that there are an average of 10 gifts for every child's soul.
Much nicer to the Spaniards are their homegrown characters. In the Basque Country and Navarre, they greet Olentzero noisily and cheerfully. A good-natured coal miner, stained with soot, a merry fellow and a lover of a glass - closer and dearer than the impeccable Santa. He comes down from the mountains to tell the joyful Christmas news and to please the children with gifts.
In Catalonia, with sticks, they knock out Christmas delicacies from the Caga Tió log, which you can read about in a special article "Christmas traditions of Catalonia". Mythical forest creatures in green fur caps - Iratxoak give gifts to children in the province of Vizcaya.
On Christmas and New Year's Eve, Galician Santa Claus, Apalpador, sneaks into the children's bedrooms. He touches the babies' tummies to make sure they are eating well, and leaves roasted chestnuts under the pillow. In Cantabria, the woodcutter Esteru is the honorary donor.
Tio de Nadal - Christmas log bringing gifts in Catalonia
A traditional holiday for most Catholic countries, of course, is Christmas. New Year is celebrated there on a smaller scale. And there are much less established customs. Today we propose to talk about how the New Year is celebrated in Spain. This country amazes those who come here with its originality and dissimilarity to other states.
History of the New Year in Spain
New Year in this country is called Año Nuevo. This day is the middle of the Christmastide period, which begins on December 25 and ends on January 6. Officially, the New Year was recognized only in the 16th century. However, then this holiday was not widely spread. Celebrating the New Year in Spain began only in the 20th century. Frankly speaking, New Year's traditions only continue the Christmas traditions, but there are also some peculiarities. Let's talk about them in more detail.
How do the Spaniards celebrate the New Year?
This holiday does not have the same family warmth as Christmas, but the Spaniards still love it very much. After a festive dinner with their families, the inhabitants of this country go to the main city square. In Madrid, the New Year is celebrated on the Puerta del Sol, in Barcelona - on the square. Catalonia. Everyone takes with them small bags containing 12 grapes. What is the reason for this? Probably, many have guessed, but more on that later.
The New Year turns the country into incredible fireworks: huge fire flowers bloom on the main streets of each city, torches and festive garlands are burning everywhere. By the way, festivities are usually broadcast on television and radio from the square of Madrid.
One of the most unusual traditions that the Spaniards observe on the most magical night of the year is the wearing of red underwear. Socks, underpants or garters - at least one of these items of clothing should certainly be bright scarlet.
Lot
What other traditions in Spain for the New Year? For example, in some places the custom of drawing lots is preserved. Boys and girls write their names on pieces of paper, and then draw them out. Thus, couples are obtained - "brides" and "grooms". By the way, in some settlements of the country this ceremony takes place at the church porch. The resulting couples are declared in love until the very end of the Christmas season.
Tradition of 12 grapes
Celebrating the New Year in Spain cannot be imagined without this original tradition. Before the clock strikes, you need to have time to eat 12 grapes, each of which is a symbol of the successful month of the coming year. In this case, it is important to be in time and spit out the bones - before the striking of the clock ends.
This interesting tradition began at the end of the 19th century. And it happened quite by accident. Then in Vinalopo it was possible to collect an unprecedentedly large harvest of grapes. Someone came up with the idea to take the surplus to Madrid right before the New Year, where to distribute it absolutely free, so that everyone can appreciate the taste of the fruits from this region of the country.
Then there was another idea - to swallow grapes to the chimes in the square, where people are having fun. The custom stuck. Today, on New Year's Eve, the Spaniards think about their most cherished dreams. By the way, it is not at all necessary to limit yourself to only 12 grapes. The Spaniards believe that all grapes eaten on the main night of the year bring financial well-being and ward off the dark forces throughout the year. It is also customary to use sweets: turron, dried fruits and chocolate will bring happiness and prosperity to the house.
There is another custom: when going to someone to wish you a Happy New Year, you should take with you a gift basket with a bottle of champagne and nougat.
Kaganer
One of the strangest and at the same time the most typical representatives of Spanish culture can be safely called the Kaganer.
The history of its appearance is unclear. Historians believe that this impudent little man, relieving himself, appeared in Spain in pre-Christian times and was a symbol of fertility. The stubborn Spaniards did not abandon their tradition even when the Catholic priests proposed to renounce the pagan symbol.
Since then, Spain has celebrated the New Year, combining two cultures at once - Christianity and paganism. The presence of a kaganer is a sign of well-being and prosperity in the coming year.
New Year's menu
What is the difference between the New Year in Spain and the Russian celebration? First of all, in the land of bullfighting and flamenco it is not customary to cook too many different dishes on this night. Usually they get by with light snacks and no less light alcohol. The fact is that after midnight, young people go to various entertainment establishments, while representatives of the older generation usually return home.
What is being prepared here to celebrate the New Year? In Spain, it is customary to serve "Russian salad", which includes boiled potatoes, tuna, boiled eggs, natural yogurt or mayonnaise. There are options with the addition of cucumbers, olives, canned peppers.
A magical night will not do without a variety of appetizers from meat, fish, seafood. There must be grapes and turron on the table - a sweetness that is made from nougat, honey, fried almonds and sugar.
"Kava"
Celebrate the New Year in Spain with light sparkling wine. As a festive drink among the Spaniards, it is customary to serve an analogue of champagne called "Cava". What it is? A real sparkling pride of the country, a great sparkling drink. On this holiday alone, residents and guests of this state consume about 60% of the total production of "Kava".
This drink is made from white grapes and aged for at least 9 months. Kava is ideal with sweets, cold meats and cheeses, fish and seafood snacks. The drink is served very cold, while it is not recommended to cool it in the freezer - because of this, the drink may lose its aroma and taste.
Spanish Santa Claus
What is a holiday without symbols and heroes? Santa Claus in Spain is called Olentzero. He wears a national homespun costume and always carries a flask with excellent Spanish wine. The name of this winter wizard can literally be translated as "time for good people." One of the legends says that Olentzero is a native of the Basque race. It was he who first learned about the birth of Jesus and went down to the valley to convey this joyful message to people.
There is another legend, according to which the baby Olentzero was found in the forest by a fairy. She passed it on to an elderly couple who dreamed of children. After his parents died, Olentzero tried to somehow escape from loneliness. For this, he began to make toys and give them to children. The man was a coal miner, so his clothes were always stained with soot. Once Olentzero saved children in a fire, but he himself died. But the fairy wished that the good-natured person would live forever and give those around him joy. Since then, it is this character who has been leaving gifts on the balcony.
A whole army of wizards help Santa Claus in Spain, including fairies, wise men, Papa Noel and even a magic log. By the way, the main holiday for Spanish children is not New Year or even Christmas. Here children receive gifts on the Day of the Magi, also called the Day of the Three Kings. It is celebrated on January 6. On the eve, carnival processions are held in the country, which traditionally end with the speech of the Magi. Every year, children look forward to hearing what they have to say. The speech of the wizards is always the same: "Every child will receive a present this year!"
Present
Before celebrating the New Year, it is customary in Spain to prepare gifts. The main present that is customary to give is "cotillion". This small handbag is filled with various attributes of the celebration: streamers and confetti, colorful balloons, carnival masks and many other interesting things are collected in it. There is a rule: you can open the cotillion only after the clock strikes midnight and Happy New Year greetings are heard.
By the way, the average Spanish family spends about 530 euros on gifts for friends and family.
Beating Spain's gastronomic diversity is nearly impossible. There are so many regions in the country that tourists will be amazed by the thousands of flavors and tastes, as each region has its own specialties.
Famous for flamenco, football, beautiful coasts, long sunny days, exceptional nightlife, siesta, incredibly long local names, islands and the fact that Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages on earth after Mandarin and Chinese.
But don't forget that this lively area of the Pyrenean Peninsula is also renowned for its excellent food.
Spanish cuisine is far from the healthiest cuisine in the world and it is not cheap, but it is not devoid of its charm and surprises tourists with colors, variety and incredible combination of tastes.
When I started writing this post, I wanted to compile the Top 10 Must-Try Dishes in Spain, but in the process I realized that I just couldn't decide which place to give to the dishes and instead just decided to write a list. Each of these dishes reminds me of some amazing moment from my vacation in Spain, and I hope you will have fond memories of them too.
Tapas - Spaniards eat it at any time of the day or night
You can't visit Spain and not try the famous tapas! It's like driving to and not seeing the Eiffel Tower, or ordering American coffee in Italy.
First of all, tapas is not a special dish; it is a small snack that the Spaniards eat at any time of the day or night, anywhere. I will not go into detail about tapas, because there is a lot of information about them on the Internet, and it will probably take me a few hours to share my impressions of tapas with you.
I'll just tell you some interesting facts about tapas.
Tapas is a part of Spanish culture, and to better understand this, you should know that in Spanish there is even a verb "tapear" which means "to eat tapas". Because of the tapas hype, sometimes you have to pay for these snacks.
While in cities like and even tourists they are provided free of charge with every order of a drink in a bar or pub, there are still places, such as or, where you most likely will not get free tapas.
The best tapas I've tried was in Madrid, in the popular bars of this city, where you don't even have to pay for lunch or dinner, because every time you order a beer, you will be brought a plate of mini sandwiches, almonds, squid or whatever then other snacks. And the coolest thing is that the dishes are not repeated.
On the other hand, the tastiest tapas I ate was from blue cheese, I tried it on the beach in Mallorca, I paid for it, but it was undoubtedly worth the money.
Espanyola tortilla
For the first time in my life, I tasted tortilla when I traveled to Ibiza by ferry. I remember it was “bocadillo con tortilla,” a tortilla sandwich. I liked it so much that I ate three more.
Later, I learned that there are many types of tortilla, some thick, others thinner and softer. This Spanish omelet is the most common dish in the country and always consists of potatoes, eggs, onions, salt and pepper.
Although it is said that tortilla is easy to make, I always have problems with it. I've never been able to bake it right in the middle, I wonder why?
The recipe is as follows: cut the potatoes into thick wedges and put them in a pot of water until boiling. Then fry it in a pan with a little olive oil. Make sure it is soft, not browned. Then drain and toss the potatoes with lightly chopped onions and raw, beaten eggs.
Fry this mixture in a pan (preferably with a ceramic coating) for a few minutes on one side, then turn over with a spatula and leave for a few minutes.
Everything is very simple! Let me know if you can handle it!
Paella - the national dish of Spain
Paella is a traditional rice dish that originated in Valencia. Three types of paella are known in Spain: Valencian paella (white rice, vegetables, chicken, duck and rabbit meat, snails, beans and spices), seafood paella (rice, seafood and seasonings) and mixed paella, which is a free combination foods, usually rice, chicken, seafood, including shellfish, vegetables, olive oil, saffron and other spices.
I love mixed paella, especially the one served in a paella pan, just imagine, a romantic dinner on the beach, late summer evening, a glass of cold sangria, a light breeze ...
Andalusian gazpacho
Like most Spanish dishes, gazpacho can be prepared in many different ways. Gazpacho can be warm or cold, in the form of a soup, salad, and even stewed. Usually gazpacho is made from tomatoes, cucumber, onions, garlic, with a little olive oil, wine vinegar, salt and sometimes (but rarely) ham.
My favorite gazpacho is a soup made from tomato, cucumber, onion, olive oil, wine vinegar and salt. All this is mixed and served with croutons, ice cubes and chopped tomatoes, onions and cucumbers. Perfect lunch in Andalusia!
Crema catalana - Barcelona dessert
Many people think that crème catalana is the same as French crème brulee, but there are still tiny differences between the two incredible desserts. For example, creme brulee is prepared in a water bath and is usually served warm, but Catalan cream is always served cold and its castard is made from lemon and cinnamon zest, not vanilla, so the taste is fresher than that of a French dessert.
I love both desserts, I love vanilla, but on a hot summer day, nothing beats the cream of catalana in Barcelona!
Gambas ahiyo - shrimp with garlic
As a rule, I have a low profile with seafood, but trust me, gambas ahiyo in Spain is amazing! Whether served as tapas or as a main course, garlic shrimp cooks very quickly and easily: take a few fresh shrimp, cook them with a little olive oil, garlic and chili flakes and in about 10 minutes you will have one of the delicious dishes. Buen provecho! (Bon Appetit!;))
Qeso Manchego - Spanish cheese made from sheep's milk
Keso Manchego, he is also called Don Quixote Cheese, as Cervantes mentioned him in his legendary work "Don Quixote of La Mancha". This is a delicious cheese made from sheep's milk. The authentic Qeso Manchego is prepared exclusively in the province of La Mancha from a special breed of sheep called "Manchega", but you can taste the cheese all over Spain.
I was lucky to taste it in Madrid and I can say that its bright aroma impressed me from the first seconds. Awesome!
Aioli
I have always believed that aioli is a Spanish mayonnaise with a lot of garlic. In fact, the aioli are not of Spanish, French, or even Italian origin. According to James Oliver, and I have no other option but to believe him, aioli originated in the Middle East.
Anyway, the first time I tried it in Spain and for me it is a Spanish sauce, addictive and insidious).
The aioli recipe is very simple and should be easy to make. Well, that's not true, at least not for me. This is why I prefer to eat it in Spain with anything: tortilla, fish, baked potatoes, anything but sweets. , I miss so much!
Jamon Iberico in Madrid
What I loved most in Spain was the long, overstuffed bar counters on which, instead of chandeliers, huge chunks of jamon were suspended from above. At first glance, it seems amazing, but after that it seems original and cute. It was just great to drink while the bartender cut an incredible piece of ham for me. An amazing experience in Spain that every tourist should go through!
Grilled fish on the beach Marbella
If you are on vacation in Marbella, or somewhere in Andalusia, or be sure to try the grilled fish on the beach.
Don't be lazy to find a restaurant; the Andalusian beaches have original boats filled with sand, where fishermen cook the most delicious sardines on hot coals with their own hands. Delicious, healthy and cheap food, perfect for a hot summer day at the beach!
Finally, I must mention that any meal of mine in Spain, in any part of the country or on any of its islands, traditionally began with bread (fried or not, white or black), bowls of green pickled olives (sometimes served with pickled onions ), and the well-known aioli (sometimes replaced with oil).
Hope my post will help add some spice to your holiday in Spain!