Ivy wine

When holidaying in Spain you will no doubt want to try the wonderful food that’s available. Whether you choose to enjoy the luxury of dining out or are self-catering and want to buy and prepare your own meals, you will be delighted at the quality and quantity of fresh produce and tasty dishes that are on offer. You will also no doubt encounter some foods and dishes that are unfamiliar to you. Travelling round by car is a great way to explore the region and the wide variety of foods that Spain has to offer. Having your own transport from car hire in Malaga airport provides the ideal means to do this.

Spain’s food is typically Mediterranean but with Moorish and Jewish influences from its rich past. Olive oil and garlic are widely used, as are the herbs and spices grown in Spain, such as paprika and saffron. Many typical dishes are quite simple and you will find stews and casseroles on most menus. Pork is probably the most popular meat used in dishes in Spain and appears in such dishes as solomillo de cerdo and cerdo secreto. You will also come across beef, lamb and chicken as well as game such us partridge, pigeon, quail, rabbit, venison and even wild boar.

Potatoes, onions, aubergines, pulses of all types (especially chickpeas), mushrooms, artichokes and asparagus are all cultivated in Spain and widely used in its typical dishes. Espinacas con garbanzos is one such typical dish, a stew of spinach and chickpeas, and berenjenas con miel is a delicious dish of fried aubergine slices served with honey. It may sound a little strange but you will love it.

Of course, for a country with such a large coastline, fish and seafood are always widely available and of the topmost quality too. Fish is often served simply fried with lemon and garlic, called pescao frito and many beach restaurants specialise in barbecued fresh fish such as sardine, which really can’t be beaten. You will also have plenty of opportunities to try prawns, anchovies, squid, swordfish, tuna, mullet, cod, octopus, mussels and clams. River fish such as trout are also popular and of high quality.

Spain is one of the biggest producers of fruit and vegetables in Europe and you will see this for yourself if you have the chance to visit one of the big markets in places such as Malaga city. Here you will find stalls overflowing with beautiful fresh produce and at very reasonable prices too. There will usually be stalls selling not only fruit and vegetables but also fish stalls, meat stalls, cheese stalls and bread and pastry stalls. Markets are great places to stock up with produce if you’re self-catering or fancy a picnic. Just get in your car from car hire in Malaga airport and enjoy a gastronomic experience.