Gastronomy - Seafood

Fresh Prawns from Sanlucar de Barrameda

Five of Andalucia's eight provinces have stretches of coastline (Almería, Granada, Málaga on the Mediterranean; Cádiz and Huelva on the Atlantic), while a sixth, Sevilla, has a tidal river and a seaport. So, you can imagine that the cooking of the coastal regions is distinguished by a huge variety of seafood. The fish market is a great place to get acquainted with the local catch.

Also, tapas bars, freidurías (fried fish to go) and cocederos (cooked fish to go) display dozens of different fish and shellfish. You buy a heap of cooked prawns, wrapped in a paper cone, and carry them to the nearest bar to shell and eat them with a fino wine.

Fresh prawns, clams, mussels, scallops, crabs, lobster, squid are some of the shellfish. Of fin fish, fresh anchovies (boquerones), sardines, mackerel, hake (merluza), several varieties of sea bream (look for besugo, dorada, hurta, pargo), monkfish (rape), sole, turbot, sea bass, red mullet (salmonete), grouper, skate, conger, swordfish, tuna, and even more. Fried isn't the only way fish is prepared. It may be grilled and served with a garlic and parsley sauce, or baked in a crust of salt, or baked with potatoes and vegetables or sauced or combined in a salad.

Take a taste of Andalucia - Janet Mendel offers us her Paella recipes. "Paella is a golden rice dish which rates with the best rice dishes in the world. In Andalucía, paella is happy food, fiesta food, served for Sunday lunch or a picnic in the country. Beyond paella are more rice dishes which also make tasty eating.

Janet Mendel is an American journalist who has lived in Andalucia for many years. An expert in Spanish cooking, she has written four books about Spain's food. Traditional Spanish Cooking (Garnet Publishing) won the prestigious André Simon cookbook award. Her books can be purchased on-line from the andalucia.com bookstore. Her recipes can be followed in Take a Taste of Andalucía

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Tienda.com USA Visitors can order their Spanish seafood on-line from this reliable family run store.

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