1. Turrón
Photo: Lablascovegmenu / Flickr Creative Commons.
This sweet nougat made of honey, sugar and toasted almonds is a popular Christmas treat across the Iberian peninsula. From the hard Alicante style to the softer version from Jijona.
2. Turkey
Photo: Annie / Flickr Creative Commons.
The bird that most Americans associate with November and Thanksgiving often makes an appearance on Spaniards' tables for Christmas.
3. Seafood
Photo: emivel2003 / Flickr Creative Commons.
Mariscos are quite popular to eat for Christmas meals, anything from fish soup, lobster, prawns to langostinos, as pictured above.
Photo: Secret Tenerife / Flickr Creative Commons.
This "king cake" in Spanish-speaking countries is traditionally eaten on January 6th to celebrate Epiphany when the three kings brought gifts to baby Jesus. The ring-shaped cake typically has a hidden figure inside and whoever gets the slice with the figure inside "wins" - though some make the winner buy next year's cake.
5. Polvorones and mantecados
Mantecados. Photo: Javier Lastras / Flickr Creative Commons.
These crumbly cakes are another traditional Christmas shortbread dessert. Mantecados are distinct in that they are prepared with pig fat - manteca - while polvorones are named because they crumble into powder - polvo.
6. Yema
Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
These little cakes, a specialty of Ávila, are made of mainly egg yolk and often covered in sugar or icing.
7. Jamón
Photo: Boca Dorada / Wikimedia Commons.
Because when is it NOT the right time of year for jamón? In Spain, it's always time for jamón.
Comments