Spanish cooking does not need anything special. It requires a basic, well-equipped kitchen. The following are essential items for cooking in a Spanish kitchen.
- Bottle opener - For wines.
- Can Opener - A good quality, heavy can opener.
- Ceramic or clay pots - In various sizes for cocidos and other oven-baked casserole dishes.
- Colander - A metal or plastic colander, large enough to drain a pound package of pasta or a couple dozen clams after scrubbing.
- Cutting boards - Solid wooden or plastic cutting boards, used for various tasks.
- Espresso pot - For coffee.
- Flour sifter - A basic sifter for flour or powdered sugar. It does not need to be large.
- Frying pans - At least one cast-iron skillet or large, heavy frying pan about 12-14”, another for smaller one for making omelets.
- Garlic press – A sturdy, metal press - one designed to press cloves without having to peel them.
- Hand mixer or food processor – Do we need to say more?!
- Knives - Paring, slicing, carving, bread, etc.
- Mixing bowls - 3-4 in a variety of sizes.
- Mortar and pestle - For crushing garlic and making pastes.
- Olive oil can or heavy mason jar - For the storing leftover oil.
- Paella pan - For cooking paella.
- Pots and pans - A variety of pans, from small saucepans to stew pots, standard sizes with heavy bottoms.
- Poultry shears or meat clever - For cutting chicken.
- Pressure cooker - To speed up the cooking process of stews, etc.
- Ramekins - For flan, Spanish custard with caramel sauce.
- Roasting pans - For oven roasting meats.
- Rolling pin - For dough.
- Spatulas - For a variety of tasks.
- Spoons - At least 2 large serving spoons and a slotted spoon.
- Stick Blender - For making sauces, mayonnaise or quick blending, whipping or beating.
- Tongs - For turning hot meats and other food.
- Vegetable Peeler - For potatoes, carrots.
- Whisk - For beating eggs, cream and sauces.
- Wooden Spoons - Several sizes, used for many types of cooking.
Of course, we did not mention everything above, but this list is a good start.
