From Lisa & Tony Sierra,
Your Guide to Spanish Food.
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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.