Food for Thought: 6 Spanish Foods to Learn About (and try!)
A tasty homemade snack, dessert or even a full meal can make a great addition to any Spanish lesson and a wonderful way to look at culture. Here are some Spanish foods to learn about and taste the next time you want to do some extended learning.
Spanish Deviled Eggs
Eggs are a huge part of Spanish cuisine as well as an important element in the Latin diet. The Spanish have several egg dishes that they enjoy throughout the day and chilled, spiced Deviled Eggs are a good option for a hot afternoon.
This Andalusian version of eggs is full of chorizo, pimento and olives, all of which are known Spanish foods used in a variety of dishes. If you have picky eaters in your home, you can adjust the recipe to leave out some of the extra ingredients. Encourage everyone to try a bite of the original as these are a true taste of Spain.
Ham and Cheese Empanadas
Ham and cheese empanadas are great because it’s essentially a warm, crunchy sandwich that helps introduce your family to empanadas. Empanadas are little half-moon shaped pastries filled with anything from seasoned ground beef to sweet summer strawberries.
Empanadas are more than tasty, they’re also a piece of history. Recipes of these delicious pastries can be found in cookbooks as far back as the 1500s. Today, many people still love them and your family will adore this version.
This recipe is sure to be a new favorite. Cream cheese is seasoned and paired with slices of ham to make a warm, salty snack perfect for any lunch or party. Have them as a post-Spanish class snack or to munch on while you plan your trip to Catalan, Spain.
Kids Watermelon Sangria
A cool, tall glass of sweet, pink sangria is hard to top on a hot summer day. Grab some watermelons, mint, and blackberries.
Traditional sangria mixes sugar and fruit and dates back to ancient Rome. When the Spanish wine industry took off, Sangria was created and is still popular all over the country. Luckily, many non-alcoholic versions have gained the same standing as the original and now everyone can have a glass.
Make this version with the kids when the weather starts to warm up. Be sure to name the ingredients in Spanish when you make it – there’s nothing like a lesson you can taste!
Pink Banana Agua Fresca
More popular in Mexico than Spain, agua frescas are definitely worth a try because they’re so refreshing and delicious. The drink is somewhere between a pressed juice and a smoothie. They’re lightly sweetened and served ice cold to take the edge off of a hot day.
This one uses a bit of milk to smooth out the taste of banana and then calls for dashes of grenadine to give it a pink color. Don’t be afraid to water this drink down a little to keep the texture light – agua frescas should never be too intense.
The recipe is quick and easy. Younger chefs can be in charge of the grenadine while older helpers can chop up the bananas and measure out the milk. Make plenty – this one is likely to be a favorite.
Authentic Spanish Flan
No Spanish dinner is complete without a few wiggly bites of flan. This gelatinous dessert is golden yellow with caramelized sugar on top and all around on your dessert plate.
Made of only five ingredients, flan comes together fast and tastes delicious. It’s creamy, sweet and easy on the pallet so even your most picky eater will want to try it.
Remember to incorporate a bit of the Spanish foods history behind whichever dish you choose and be sure to use as much Spanish vocabulary as possible to get the full effect of the lesson.
If you tried one of these Spanish foods or any other fun, authentic dishes, please share in the comments for others’ to enjoy!
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