Peras al Vino - Pears in Wine, a Spanish Dessert for Autumn
Peras al Vino is a Spanish dessert that is simple, elegant and easy! A new crop of pears has made their appearance in produce markets, so now is a great time to try out this recipe. After peeling the pears, let them slowly simmer in a sugar and white wine mixture on the stove top for an hour. In the meantime, you can be preparing the rest of dinner.
We recommend this dessert for your the next holiday party or family get-together. Make it ahead and refrigerate until you are ready to serve!
Tip: If you have leftover wine sauce, don't let it go to waste - pour it over vanilla ice cream.
Photo © Lisa Sierra, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Free Newsletter:
Get the Spanish Food Newsletter
Soup of the Week: Spanish Vegetable Soup - Menestra de Verdura
Our Soup of the Week is Menestra de verduras, a tasty Spanish dish, full of fresh vegetables and little bits of Serrano ham. We can't think of a better way to get the daily servings of vegetables. The great thing about menestra is that you can use whatever vegetables are in season at the time. So, you might substitute spinach, Swiss chard, asparagus, leek or faba beans.
Photo © Lisa Sierra, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Free Newsletter:
Get the Spanish Food Newsletter
Queimada, a Spooky Spanish Ritual for Halloween!
With a cool, damp climate, forests and miles of rocky, windswept coastline, Galicia is one spooky region in Spain. Ancient Celtic customs and superstitions still survive, handed down from Celts who lived in Galicia two thousand years ago. Galicians like to prepare a "Fire Drink" called Queimada and enjoy a spooky ritual where an oddly dressed man mixes sugar and liqueur together and lights it on fire. Then, while the drinks burns, he recites a "spell" in the local language called Gallego.
Whether or not you want to entertain your guests with a spooky "spell," Queimada is a good party drink to warm you up from the inside out this Halloween weekend or any evening this winter.
Photo Courtesy of Estribiyo, Flickr.com
Free Newsletter:
Get the Spanish Food Newsletter
Tapas or Main Course: Murcian Style Clams - Almejas a la Murciana
This dish is brightly colored and very attractive - Littleneck clams are surrounded by a red-orange sauce made of white wine and garlic, with small pieces of onion sprinkled about on the plate and nestled in the clam shells. The simplicity of this dish is beautiful, requiring only basic cooking tasks. To make it, you only have to know how to chop and saute an onion, rinse the clams and smash a clove of garlic. Don't forget the crusty baguette for dipping in the sauce.
To turn this tapa into a main course, prepare spaghetti, linguini or white rice and spoon clams and sauce over the top. Great for those nights when you don't have lots of time to make dinner!
Photo © Lisa Sierra, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Free Newsletter:
Get the Spanish Food Newsletter
Soup of the Week - Spanish Clam and Rice Soup - Arroz Caldoso de Berberechos
The Spanish love to eat soups as a first course of the large midday meal, which they simply call la comida. Typically, first courses are pasta or soup. Arroz caldoso means "soupy rice" in English and is made with meat, vegetables and/or seafood. This recipe is for arroz caldoso is made with cockles or littleneck clams. It is a deep reddish orange thanks to the roasted red pepper and has a wonderfully rich flavor from the clams. Try it as a main course for a light dinner. It's simple and takes only 45 minutes to make.
Photo © Lisa Sierra, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Free Newsletter:
Get the Spanish Food Newsletter
Favorite Spanish Mushroom Recipes
Mushrooms or Setas, as they are called in Spain are a favorite in Spanish food. They are easy to prepare and are very versatile. Sauteed, baked or stuffed, they can be a simple and flavorful "tapa" or side dish for your table.
Photo © Lisa Sierra, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Free Newsletter:
Get the Spanish Food Newsletter
Soup of the Week - Creamy Spanish Prawn Soup - Sopa de Carabineros
With the weather turning cooler, we start preparing more soups as a first course. This warm and creamy soup is chocked full of large prawns, or carabineros, pieces of fish and vegetables. Tarragon and brandy give this its' unique flavor. The best part of this recipe is that it is easy and can be prepared in less than an hour.
Photo © Lisa Sierra, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Free Newsletter:
Get the Spanish Food Newsletter
The Votes Were Counted & Your Favorite Spanish Tapas are...
Last week we posted a poll inviting all readers to vote for their favorite tapas. We are happy to say that many of you took the time to vote. From the start, these two tapas were the favorites... (drum roll please)
Four classic Spanish tapas are tied for third place:
- Bravas Potatoes - Patatas Bravas
- Serrano Ham - Introduction to Spanish Ham - Serrano and Iberico
- Chorizo Sausage - Introduction to Spanish Chorizo
- Manchego Cheese - Spanish Cheeses - Sheep's Milk Cheese
Where did your choices rank?
See Current Results.
If you haven't voted, and would like to, it's not too late. Vote here.
Photo © Lisa Sierra, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Free Newsletter:
Get the Spanish Food Newsletter
Easy Spanish Dessert for Autumn, Creamy Apple Tart
Tarta de Manzana - Light, flaky crust on the outside... creamy, and sweet, yet tangy on the inside. Delicious apple tarts!
We both have a sweet tooth. We fully admit it! When walking past a pastry shop in Spain, we slow down to take in all those beautiful creations with light flaky pastry and whipped cream tops. Then, there are those individual apple tarts... We like to serve them at a dinner party or holiday celebration this time of year. Well, how about making them yourself?! This recipe is quick and easy, especially if you use a peeler-corer-slicer. Make the tarts in the morning and refrigerate until dinner. Bring them to room temperature while you eat, or warm in a warming drawer and serve with a dab of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
They make a great dessert for Thanksgiving or a holiday special dinner party!
Photo © Lisa Sierra, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Free Newsletter:
Get the Spanish Food Newsletter
Tell us Please! What are your Favorite Spanish Tapas?
There are hundreds of different tapas in Spain. Every town or neighborhood has their favorite cafeteria or bar that people swear is the best. Some dishes are eaten everywhere in Spain, like tortilla de patata while other are regional specialties that have become popular all over Spain, like Pulpo Gallego. Some tapas are so simple that they require no cooking, like Spanish Serrano ham and Manchego cheese. If you've been to Spain, you probably have several favorites. Respond to the poll below, marking the tapas that are your favorites. Yes, you can mark more than one!
Photo © Lisa Sierra, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Free Newsletter:
Get the Spanish Food Newsletter