One way I have been learning about the culture here in Spain is through eating good food. The food here is a lot different and it has been super fun and exciting to expand my taste pallet and find new favorite foods. I usually eat with my host family and my host mom is a really good cook which has been super fun. We eat a lot of different meals with varying fruits and vegetables.
Alicante is a city in Spain on the Mediterranean Sea so there is a lot of seafood available. I have had the opportunity to try octopus, mussels, and lots of fish. A very popular seafood dish here is paella. Paella is typically eaten as a big lunch for Spanish families around 2 or 3 in the afternoon. There are many different types of paella including rice, pasta, and vegetable. It can also be made with other meats such as chicken or turkey instead of seafood.
Another popular food here in Spain is tapas. Tapas are small dishes that include various foods. Eating tapas here is so fun because it is like a taste-testing event every time. Each dish is so small that you get to try and then if you like it there is always more. Some tapas include different combinations of ham, bread, tomatoes, eggs, olives, and more. Another very popular tapa is croquetas. There are also various kinds of croquetas including potato and ham. Croquetas have become one of my favorite foods here, they are so yummy!
Fruits and vegetables are a huge part of the diet here in Spain and I have had the opportunity to try very many. Some of my favorites here are kiwi, tomatoes, and Brussels sprouts. All of which I was not a huge fan of before coming to Spain but now I love. Salad is also very popular here and can include lots of different fruits and vegetables with olive oil as a dressing. Olive oil is the typical seasoning and dressing for almost every food here in Spain.
Churros and chocolate are a very popular Spanish breakfast. They are super good and probably one of my favorites. The chocolate is super thick and smooth and has a great taste. This combination is something I will be missing back in the States.
This is just a little bit about the food that I have had the opportunity to eat here in Spain but there is so much more. It has been super fun to learn more about and I surely have been eating well.
The post Eating good! appeared first on Off-Campus Study.