Spanish cuisine consists of a variety of dishes which stem from differences in geography, culture and climate. It is heavily influenced by seafood available from the waters that surround the country, and reflects the country’s deep maritime roots. Spain’s extensive history with many cultural influences has led to an array of unique cuisines with literally thousands of recipes and flavors. It is also renowned for its health benefits and fresh ingredients.
Not everyone agrees on a common definition for Spanish cuisine. Whilst some typically Spanish dishes (paella, serrano ham, etc) are consumed outside of Spain, the regions which comprise the Basque Country may share dishes which are non-existent in others (Patxaran, Piquillo peppers, etc). Although at first it may seem obvious that Spanish cuisine is the food eaten in Spain, there are equally well-defined Basque and Catalan cuisines which offer significant differences with the cuisine of Spain proper. This dichotomy is typical of multinational states in which more than one culture exists.
Learn How to Speak Spanish : Common Spanish Phrases for Food: Learn Spanish: Free Online Video Lesson