Hola Foodies! Now that you’re stuck at home, craving dishes from all across the world, maybe it’s time to don the chef’s hat and put those cooking skills to test. But hey, you don’t need to make dal-chawal, instead, whip up some traditional Spanish dishes that will transport you to the gorgeous destination of wine-chugging, food-loving and siesta-fanatic people. Here are 5 restaurant-style Spanish dishes that you can make at home to help you get through this lockdown.
1. Gazpacho (Cold Tomato Soup)
This is a traditional creamy, cold, tomato soup popular in many regions of Spain. While you can get many versions of this, the most sought after one is the Andalusian version. This is made with tomato, finely chopped garlic, pepper and other ingredients. It’s healthy, sumptuous and really delicious.
Ingredients For 4 People
Ripe Tomatoes ( 1 kg)
Small Green Peppers (2)
Garlic Cloves(2)
Farmhouse Bread (100g)
Extra Pure Virgin Olive Oil (4 tbsp)
Sherry Vinegar (1 tbsp)
Water
Egg (4)
Bread
Salt( As per taste)
Method
First, soak the bread in water. Then proceed to crush the diced vegetables, olive oil, salt, vinegar and water according to how thick you wish the soup to be. You can use a mixer to blend this finely. Serve the cold soup in four individual bowls. Top the soup with tomato, cucumber, capsicum, onion, bread and a hard-boiled egg
Serve in four individual clay dishes. Gazpacho is usually accompanied by tomato, cucumber, green pepper, onion, bread and hard-boiled egg, all finely diced. And there, your cold soup is ready to eat!
2. Paella ( Spanish Rice Dish)
Paella is Spain’s answer to out biryani! There are many versions of this delicious rice-based dish filled with meat, spices and veggies. It’s usually prepared with Valencian rice, chicken , white beans, tabella (broad beans), ferradura (green beans), tomato, garlic, ground red pepper, salt, saffron and olive oil. The best way to feast on it is to have to straight out of the fire with your family.
Ingredients For 10 People
Rice ( 1 kg)
Chicken (2 kg)
Rabbit (1 kg)
Tomato (300 gm)
Green Beans ( 500 gm)
White beans ( 250 gm)
Peppers ( 100 gm)
Snails ( 24)- Optional
Olive Oil
Saffron ( Few Strands)
Garlic
Rosemary
Paprika ( 6 gm)
Salt
Water ( 3.5 l)
Method
To prepare this Spanish delicacy, firstly heat the oil in a pan. When the pan is hot, add chopped chicken and rabbit. Saute the meat till its lightly browned. Then add the chopped tomato and roast it over gentle heat together with the pieces of pepper for 7 to 8 minutes. Once this mixture is cooked, add a little salt, meat and paprika then fry them together. But do be careful not to burn it. Then, add water to cover the mixture and let it simmer.
It will take around 30 to 35 minutes for the meat to cook. Ten minutes before the end of the estimated time, you can add snails( optional), green beans and white beans. Right at the end of the cooking time for the meat, add more hot water and let it boil for 3 to 4 minutes. Then put saffron, rosemary and adjust the seasoning. Let the mixture simmer for another five minutes. After it simmers, add the rice evenly to the pan. Let it cook for 5 to 6 minutes straight over high heat; the mixture will reduce a bit. At the end of the cooking time, remove the pan from the heat and let it stand for few minutes until the rice absorbs the remaining stock. Serve the dish in the same paella pan after letting it stand for 5 to 6 minutes.
3. Tortilla ( Spanish Potato Omelette)
Omellete might be your all-time favourite breakfast dish. But how about gorging on the Tortilla or Spanish Potato Omelette. Prepared with eggs and potatoes this is a delicious, hearty tomato, which some love with onion and others, without. You can definitely prepare this simple Spanish dish from the comfort of your home.
Ingredients For 4 People
Medium Potatoes ( 4 )
Eggs (4 to 5)
Medium Onion ( 1)
Olive Oil ( ¼ l )
Salt ( As per taste)
Method
To prepare this sumptuous omelette, peel, wash and dry the potatoes. Then, cut them into thin slices and put them in a deep pan with olive oil at medium heat. Let it cook slowly. Then dice the onions finely. Fry them slowly wit the potatoes, till they are soft and begin to brown. Use a skimming spoon to stir and cut up the veggies. After 10 minutes, strain off the olive oil.
Take the eggs, beat them with a pinch of salt and then add it to the potato-onion mix. Put the pan back on the heat with a little olive oil. Put a lid on the pan and let it cook on a low flame for 5 to 10 minutes till the bottom begins to brown. Then, flip the Spanish omelette upside down using a lid. Put it back on the pan on the other side so it slowly sets. It must brown on both sides. Voila! Your omelette is ready!
4. Churros ( Sweet Fritters)
If there’s one dish that’s just perfect for a rainy day or a chilly night, it has got to be Churros. Hot crispy churros sprinkled with powdered sugar, dipped in creamy chocolate sauce is just YUM! So if you can’t visit your favourite Mexican restaurant, when not prepare this at home. Its super easy peasy!
Ingredients
White Flour ( 1 large cup)
Water ( 1 large cup)
Oil ( 1 tsp)
Salt ( just a pinch)
Olive Oil
Sugar
Method
Take a saucepan and place water, salt and spoonful of oil in it, and heat it. When this starts to boil, put the flour and stir this mixture rapidly. Once it forms a thick and smooth mixture, wait for this to cool. Then pour this in the doughnut maker. Shape these doughnuts and fry them in hot oil till it turns golden. Sprinkle it with powdered sugar and serve them with chocolate sauce.
Also Read: Learn To Make Restaurant Style Food At Home: Paneer Makhani Recipe
5. Santiago (Almond Sponge Cake)
Can you ever say no to desserts? Spain might be known for a lot of dishes, and one of them is Santiago. This fancy dessert is an almond sponge cake. This is decorated with the cross of St. James and is a mandatory purchase for pilgrims. Well, you don’t have to go to Spain to devour this, just prepare this light, spongy cake at home. If you like cakes then you can Make A Chocolate Mug Cake In Less Than 10 Minutes
Ingredients
This cake comprises a base and a filling, which needs to be made separately.
For the base:
Egg ( 1)
Sugar ( 125 gm)
Flour ( 2 cups)
Cinnamon
Water ( 1 spoon)
For the filling:
Eggs (4)
Sugar (250 gm)
Ground Almonds (250 gm)
Lemon Rind
Cinnamon
Icing Sugar
Method
First, prepare the base of this cake by beating the egg with a spoonful of water, sugar and a pinch of cinnamon. Slowly add the flour till it forms a mixture which can be kneaded. Roll this dough with a rolling pin. Grease the bottom of a tin with butter and flour. Then line the bottom of the tin with dough.
When it comes to the filling, beat the eggs with sugar and lemon rind. When the mixture begins to froth, put ground almond and cinnamon. Fill the tin with this mixture and put it in the oven, preheated to 180ºC for about 25-30 minutes. Now add the final touch by cutting out a St. James cross out of the cardboard. Place this in the middle of the tart and dust the tart with icing sugar. The cardboard cut out acts as a stencil. So when you remove the coss the shape will remain engraved on the tart. Enjoy this soft, cake with your family! Check out our #LockdownRecipe & Make Mango Float Dessert In 15 Mins