One of the BEST parts about living in Spain (not surprisingly) is the FOOD! (And if you make it through my email, I'm sharing another early-release Spanish recipe with you all!)
Meal times are a big part of Spain's special and unique culture, so this email is dedicated to sharing a bit about the amazing food experiences we're having here in Barcelona.
Spanish food is just BETTER. The mild climate means there's access to incredible produce year-round. The quality of fruit and veggies is the best I've had.๐
Living the dream here, folks! ๐
The FIVE Meals of the Day, in Spain
Meal times are a VERY important part of the culture here. Here's what a typical day of eating looks like in Spain:
1. Desayuno (Breakfast) 7:30-9:00 a.m.
Breakfast is typically small, and the most common breakfast in Spain is Pan con Tomate (toast with tomato). It's simply delicious, and it's the early-release recipe I want to share with you all! Our family enjoys it most often as an after-school snack.๐ฅ
2. Almuerzo(Mid-Morning Snack) 10:30-11:30 a.m.
This mid-morning snack might include a bocadillo (a small baguette sandwich with jamรณn), tortilla de patata, or another small tapa. It's a light bite to tide people over until the main meal later in the day.
3. La Comida (Lunch) 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Lunch is the most special and important meal of the day, and it's typically the largest! During this time, most small businesses close, and many public schools release students to allow families to eat together.
After the meal, a tradition called "sobremesa" begins. Everyone lingers at the table, enjoying relaxed conversation over coffee or a drink, sometimes for hours.๐
Spanish Paella is traditionally eaten during this lunch and often on Sundays. I've been making paella for years, but I recently bought my first Pallero outdoor paella grill and have loved it!
4. Merienda (Afternoon Snack) 5:00-6:30 p.m.
Especially for kids, a small snack—like a pastry or a piece of fruit—helps tide everyone over until dinner, which is usually enjoyed late in the evening!
5. La Cena (Dinner)9:00-11:00p.m.
Yes, you read that right. Dinner is very late in Spain and is usually something light, like Spanish tapas (tortilla de patatas, for example) or a salad and a drink.
**School Lunch: Our kids attend an International school, so they don't come home for lunch (La Comida), but their school lunch menu is incredible! Here's a peak at their lunch options for the rest of this week:
Tuesday: Tagliatelle with bacon and yakisoba sauce, Gyozas, Grilled salmon, Shrimp bread - Bread and seasonal fruit
Wednesday: Stewed lentils, Saxony cutlets in apple sauce, Zucchini omelet with roasted peppers - Bread and seasonal fruit
Thursday: Vegetable PaellaSpanish omeletteSquid Andalusian style, Roasted peppers - Bread and seasonal fruit
Friday: Ravioli with tomato, Barbecue pizza, Eggplant, tomato and cheese moussaka-bread and seasonal fruit
The Five Food Ingredients of Spanish Culture
1. Olive oil (and olives): Spain is the world's largest producer of olive oil! It's an essential ingredient used in almost every dish. The obsession with olives is just as strong, and you can find them in huge varieties at every grocery store and incorporated in so many foods.
2. Cheese: Spain has an impressive variety of cheeses, and it's the birthplace of my favorite, Manchego cheese. A US-style block of "cheddar cheese" is not very common or popular here.
3. Meat: This is a meat-heavy country, with lots of love for Jamรณn Iberico, chorizo, chicken, pork, rabbit, and beef. I was surprised the first time I bought a whole chicken from the store and realized it was, in fact, a whole, very fresh chicken.
4. Seafoodand conservas: Barcelona's coastal location makes seafood a staple, and that means I'm in heaven! I've loved the easy access to it ALL. (If anyone has a favorite cod or calamari preparation, send it my way!) I've also been loving the conservas–specialty canned seafood products–which are extremely popular here.
5. Bread: We saved the best for last! Like most Spanish families, we get fresh-bread baguettes from the market every single day! We enjoy them in Charcuterie or tapas style, with the above ingredients, or as a side to almost every dinner.
It may seem basic, but I know you'll love this incredible Pan con Tomate as much as I do. It only takes 15 minutes to make, and it is a Spanish breakfast staple!๐
Grate tomatoes: Cut tomatoes in half and use the large holes of the box grater to grate the inside tomato flesh into a bowl (stop grating when you're only left with the outer tomato skin).
Drizzle olive oil into the bowl with grated tomato. Add a pinch of salt. Set aside.
Toast bread: Heat a skillet over medium heat. Drizzle a little olive oil into the pan. Add bread slices and cook for a minute or two on both sides until toasted. Remove to a plate.
Spread garlic: Cut a large garlic clove in half and rub the raw garlic on top of the toasted bread.
Spoon grated tomato mixture on top. Drizzle with a little more olive oil and salt, if desired.
Optional: serve with thinly sliced jamรณn on top or fresh chopped parsley or basil.
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