Staples Of Spanish Cuisine
Clean Eating|July/August 2017

Spanish food does not rely on spices and herbs as much as neighboring cuisines do. Instead, the following pantry items form the backbone of Spanish cooking. They offer subtle flavors but add incredible depth to the recipes here.

Staples Of Spanish Cuisine

1  MANCHEGO CHEESE regularly appears in tapas spreads across Spain. It’s made from sheep’s milk and is aged anywhere from 3 months (called Semi-Curado) to 6 months (Curado) to a year or more (Viejo). Thin slices are often served with membrillo, a jelly-like paste made of quince. The tangy, nutty flavor of Manchego makes it a great choice for cheese platters and in sauces, salads and stuffings. Parmesan cheese is a suitable substitute if you’re using it in a recipe.

2 SERRANO HAM is dried, cured ham made from a special Spanish breed of pork. It’s usually thinly sliced and served alone or with crusty bread as a tapa, but it also adds flavor to stews, paella and pasta. Serrano ham is leaner than its Italian cousin prosciutto, but you can use them interchangeably.

This story is from the July/August 2017 edition of Clean Eating.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the July/August 2017 edition of Clean Eating.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM CLEAN EATINGView All
Summer Lovin'
Clean Eating

Summer Lovin'

Bushels of berries, peaches, nectarines, cherries, plums and more beckon at the market. Buy them all and soak up the sun in these bejeweled desserts.

time-read
6 mins  |
Summer 2022 / July - September 2022
Into the Wild
Clean Eating

Into the Wild

Cooking along the 500-mile Colorado Trail taught Clean Eating editor Amanda M. Faison how to transform the campfire into a kitchen.

time-read
9 mins  |
Summer 2022 / July - September 2022
[ Three Ways ] Tropical Punch
Clean Eating

[ Three Ways ] Tropical Punch

Of African origin, hibiscus or Jamaican sorrel, is an important staple in West Indian and Mexican cooking. Hibiscus is sour enough to make you pucker and tropical enough to evoke the islands. Popularly brewed as a tea, the dried petals play well in savory or sweet recipes, too.

time-read
4 mins  |
Summer 2022 / July - September 2022
You Had Meat Tacos
Clean Eating

You Had Meat Tacos

"When it's done properly, taco should be a verb," declared Jonathan Gold, the late restaurant critic of the Los Angeles Times. Tacos are much more than a meal; they're an action.

time-read
10+ mins  |
Summer 2022 / July - September 2022
The Multitasker
Clean Eating

The Multitasker

Collagen usually makes headlines for its skin-saving benefits. But did you know that it's also an essential nutrient for joint health? (Especially if you sit at a desk all day.)

time-read
3 mins  |
Summer 2022 / July - September 2022
The Minimalist
Clean Eating

The Minimalist

Summer cooking is all about fresh and fast and avoiding the stove.

time-read
2 mins  |
Summer 2022 / July - September 2022
Lighten Up
Clean Eating

Lighten Up

If you've had an air fryer in your online cart since the start of the pandemic, it's time to commit. Let's just say it'll change your life.

time-read
5 mins  |
Summer 2022 / July - September 2022
JUST RIGHT
Clean Eating

JUST RIGHT

The classic low-country boil is a celebration of place, tradition and ratio.

time-read
3 mins  |
Summer 2022 / July - September 2022
Recovery Days
Clean Eating

Recovery Days

The mantra that food is fuel is gold, but food as refuel is equally valuable.

time-read
10 mins  |
Summer 2022 / July - September 2022
Lower your impact without sacrificing satisfaction.
Clean Eating

Lower your impact without sacrificing satisfaction.

Eat like a Reducetarian.

time-read
7 mins  |
Summer 2022 / July - September 2022