An Introduction to Spanish Cuisine

Many dishes are prepared today using the same cooking methods and ingredients as they were two or three hundred years ago. Like the Romans, the Arabs who conquered and lived in Spain for 800 years made fabulous contributions to Spanish cuisine, and their influence is seen in many recipes. Other dishes sprung up from European and American influences and were adapted to Spanish tastes. A few things remain true: Food in Spain is fresh, abundant, and full of flavor, and the Spanish love their food dearly.