Five very Christmassy culinary experiences in Spain

Have you been for tapas in Spain before? Have you seen the counters in the bars brimming with small plates? Well, in Spain, it’s normal for the most grandiose Christmas meals to start with a tray of assorted starters that may remind you of those counters laden with mouth-watering morsels. Iberian ham, a wide variety of rich cheeses, seafood, preserves, pickles, elaborate delicacies prepared specially for the festivities... It’s almost hard to believe that these are just starters.   Then the first course arrives and this typically involves a stew or soup/broth. Andalusian stew, Catalan escudella (a traditional meat stew with sausage), garlic soup (for example in Castle-La Mancha), cream of almonds in the Balearic Islands or even trout soup (typically in Castile and Leon) are the most popular. Rotisserie meat (especially lamb, suckling pig or Ternasco lamb, if possible, cooked in a woodfire oven) and oven-baked fish, such as bream or sea bass, are among the most typical main courses.

We told you that the meal was never-ending, right? Well, this was not an exaggeration. At Christmas, to round off the meal, the table is filled with all types of Christmas confectionery, covering the typically large tabletop. Perhaps it’s for this reason or because children are the centre of these celebrations, but sweet is the flavour that defines Christmas in Spain.  The list of treats for those with a sweet tooth available during these festivities is enormously long, and each region has its own specialities. Our recommendation is to consider lunchtime as a permanent state of being and try to sample the different types of nougat, cookies, marzipan and, of course, Epiphany Cake. Even though you will be able to enjoy it in bakeries and restaurants throughout the festivities, the most traditional way is to eat it in the afternoon on 5 January (while the Epiphany parade takes place) or on 6 January, after the Magi have left presents for all the children. It has something special hidden inside: a small figure that brings good luck to the person lucky enough to find it in their slice.