Recipes

Which its large expanse of coastline, it's no surprise that Andalucia is famous for its fish and seafood. Go to your local market and pick up some fresh fish and try these traditional Andalucian recipes.

Olive oil is one of the main products of Andalucia and is a staple ingredient of many Spanish recipes. Here are some of the recipes from the gastronomy section that you can try out using the famous Andalucian olive oil.

Spanish desserts are typically not very sweet, just a little something to change the taste and end the meal, preferable with a cup of that wonderful coffee!

Roast the red peppers: wash and dry well, and poke once with a fork. Place in an oiled shallow baking dish and bake, uncovered, at medium high for an hour or so, until the peppers are very tender when pierced with a fork. This is best done early in the day or the day before, but if you have a microwave you can speed up the process (though best flavour is acquired in the oven or over hot coals, if you have them).

When we think of Spain, tapas are one of the first things that comes to mind. The delicious little plates of goodness that go perfectly with a caña of beer or a glass of wine are an icon of Spain, so spend some time hopping from bar to bar tasting them. There are so many to try, from gambas al pil pil and tortilla de patatas to albondigas (meatballs) and Russian salad, you'll never get bored of them.

Clean the fish well, removing the head and the spine, as well as the tails and the insides. (Occasionally you will find the fish already cleaned at the market, just be sure it is fresh.) Once cleaned, place the fish in a dish and cover with vinegar. Leave, covered, in the refrigerator for at least six hours.

This is an Andalucian favourite. It is normally prepared to order and served in small individual ramekins. Make sure you mop the delicious oil with some bread! Heat the olive oil to gently fry the chopped garlic and the peppers. Add the shrimp and fry for one more minute. Remove from heat and serve sizzling hot.

Gazpacho is one Andalucia's trademark dishes and a sign that summer is truly here. Why not try out some of these recipes suggested by food writer Janet Mendel, with Porra recipes from the kitchens of Arte de Cozina in Antequera and a special Cherry Gazpacho recipe from Alfonso Rodriguez.

There is most certainly a difference between grabbing a bite of something on the run, or sitting down at table to eat a meal the "right" way, and the Spanish are experts on making meals so much more than just sustenance.

Soak the bread in water until softened, squeeze it out and put in a blender or processor with the almonds and garlic. Blend to a smooth paste, adding a little water if necessary. With the motor running, add the oil in a slow stream, then the vinegar and salt. Beat in some of the water, then pour the mixture into a tureen, wooden bowl or pitcher and add the remaining water.

Clean the partridges and tie them with string so they keep their shape. In a cazuela or deep flameproof casserole, brown them slowly in the oil, then remove. Add the onion, garlic, carrot, bay, thyme, parsley, pepper, cloves, paprika, vinegar, wine and salt to the casserole. Bring to a boil and cook 5 minutes.

In a frying pan heat the oil and add the chopped ham, onion and garlic. Sauté a few minutes, then add the tomatoes. Continue cooking on a medium heat until tomatoes are very reduced, about 15 minutes. Oil four (or eight) oven-proof ramekins and divide the tomato sauce between them. Break one or two eggs into each ramekin.

Place the lamb in a stew pot with the ham bone, tomato, onion, pepper, garlic, parsley, mint, bay leaves, salt and pepper and wine. Add enough water to just cover the meat. Bring to a boil, then simmer, covered, until the meat is tender. Skim out the meat onto a serving dish. Purée the liquid, discarding the tomato skin and herbs.

Cut the asparagus into 4-5 centimeter lengths. Cook them in boiling salted for 8 minutes and drain, reserving the liquid. Heat the oil in an earthenware cazuela. Fry the garlic and slices of bread until golden, then remove them from the pan. In the same oil, fry the drained asparagus.

A thick cream which is served in individual ramekins as a starter, to be eaten with a spoon. It also makes a good party dip, accompanied by bread sticks and vegetable dippers. To turn it into gazpacho, just thin with water and serve with the usual accouterments of chopped onions, cucumbers, green peppers and bread crumbs.

Hurta a la Gaditana - Sea Bream, Cádiz Style. Hurta is the red-banded sea bream, typical of the Cádiz coasts, but any large sea bream (such as gilthead or red bream) could be used instead.

Cut the fish into chunks. Put the water in a pan with the salt and bring to a boil. Add the potatoes, whole tomato and dried peppers. Cook, covered, until the potatoes are almost tender. In a mortar, blender or processor purée the garlic, oil, cumin, paprika, cayenne and saffron with the cooked and skinned tomato, peppers and a few pieces of the potato.

Award Winning Food writer Janet Mendel, author of several books about Spanish cooking, provides a taste of Andalucía. In this instalment, she introduces you to paella and beyond.

Veal filet with French onions, asparagus, celery purée and thyme sauce with new potatoes. Kasper Nielsen will revolutionise the way you see Andalucia's finest ingredients. Veal filet with French onions, asparagus, celery purée and thyme sauce with new potatoes.

Kasper Nielsen will revolutionise the way you see Andalucia's finest ingredients.