Sophie's research

In Spain traditional dishes include paella, jamon sarrano and Queso Manchego Paella Paella is a traditional Spanish dish from Valencia. It is a rice dish that can have meat, fish, seafood, and vegetables and is characterized by its use of saffron to give it a yellow color and unique flavor. There are three main types of paella: Valencian paella/paella valenciana: rice, green vegetables, rabbit, chicken, or duck, snails, beans, and seasoning. Seafood paella/paella de marisco: rice, seafood, and seasoning. Mixed paella/paella mixta: combination of seafood, meat, vegetables, beans, and seasoning. Jamon Serrano/Iberico Jamón serrano and jamón ibérico are dry-cured Spanish hams that are served in thin slices and are a typical Spanish food. Jamón serrano is named after the custom of drying the salted and cured ham in a shed high on the mountain (sierra in Spanish, or serrano when used to classify the ham). While jamón serrano is typically made from the Landrace white pig, jamón ibérico, which is much more expensive, is made from black Iberian pigs, and often called jamón de pata negra (black hoof). Despite their differences, both jamones are deliciously salty and savory examples of Spanish cuisine! Queso Manchego Another traditional Spanish food, queso manchego is typically eaten together with jamón serrano or ibérico. Queso manchego is a sheep’s milk cheese from the La Mancha region of Spain. It is firm and buttery and a wonderful complement to many Spanish dishes.