Spain -

Spain

Spanish cuisine consists of many different dishes which stem from differences in geography, culture and climate. It's heavily influenced by seafood available from the waters that surround the country and reflects the country's deep maritime roots. Spain's extensive history with many cultural influences has led to an array of unique cuisines with literally thousands of recipes and flavours. Additionally it is renowned for its health benefits and fresh ingredients.

Among the multitude of recipes that make up the varied cuisines of Spain, several can be considered common to all or virtually all of Spain's regions, even though several of them have an origin known and connected with specific places.

Examples include most significantly potato omelette ("tortilla de patata", "tortilla española" or simply "tortilla"), paella, various stews, migas, sausages (such as embutidos, chorizo and morcilla), jamón serrano and cheeses.

There are also many dishes based on beans (chickpeas, lentils, green beans); soups, with many regional variations; and bread, which has numerous forms, with distinct varieties in each area. The regional variations are less pronounced in Spanish desserts and cakes: flan, custard, rice pudding (arroz con leche), torrijas, churros and madeleines are some of the most representative examples.