A list of the most popular tapas;
Boquerónes - Small white fish fillets in oil
Albondigas - Meatballs, usually in a tomato sauce
Ensalada Rusa – Potato salad with eggs, pees, mayonnaise, tuna, and many more lovely ingredients
Ensalada de Boca - Crabstick salad
Huevos en Mayonesa - Eggs in mayonnaise
Callos - tripe with chickpeas
Magro - Pork pieces in tomato sauce
Tortilla – Spanish Omelette
Gambas Pil Pil - Prawns in a hot, garlic oil
Jamon Serrano
Serrano is a delicious cured ham consumed all over Spain in bars and restaurants. The hams hang from the ceilings of most establishments, each will have a small container attached at the bottom to collect the greasy fluids that drip of the hams as part of the curation process. The hams are taken down and placed on special clamps and very thin slices are carved using a flexible and very sharp knife. Spain is the world leader in the production of air-dried hams - some 190,000 tons per year, which are also exported all over the world.
The hams are subjected to a short period of time in salt and then at least three months in the mountain air. Most are produced from white pigs but the darker Iberian pigs produce the most expensive hams and the most tasty called Pata Negra
All these hams are subject to a stringent quality control and are awarded certain classes depending on their production methods. The hams are best eaten on their own, without bread and sometimes with a nice red wine.
+ last updated: Monday 6th September 2010
