GALICIA AND CANTABRIAN AREA
1. GALICIA AND CANTABRIAN AREA.The cuisine of Galicia is healthy, delicious, varied and rich; it is overall a paradise for those who love cuisine marinières, because they will find here the best and most varied selection of fish and seafood.
They will be able to taste the star recipe in many bars and restaurants; las vieiras, the famous Jacobean or pilgrim shell. As well as the delicious pulpo a la gallega, or the best and most varied seafood. Other popular dishes are sardinas asadas and el caldo de grelos, soup made of a very typical vegetable from Galicia.
And finally, we have to mention the famous empanada gallega, not only made of the most typical and varied fish but also filled with meat and vegetables, dish that has gained such a popularity that can be tasted almost everywhere nowadays, but you cannot forget to have here the authentic one.
Among its chesses the most popular is the tetilla one. In its deserts outstands la tarta compostelana, with almonds. The most popular of the vinos de Galicia is Ribeiro; red or white, with a young body and very light; but there are others equally delicious as Fefiñanes, Betanzos, Rosal, Valdeorras, Ulla y Amandi, that will be the perfect match for this tasty cuisine. Although the star wine of the region, is the one produced in the region D.O. Rías Baixas. The grape variety Albariño is the main variety of the denomination, from which exquisite and very aromatic white wines are made, both complex and intense.
Finally, the most well known liquor from Galicia is aguardiente de orujo, in the popular queimada: liquor with lemon skin, coffee and sugar, burnt in a particular ritual (el conjuro)
Asturias has a lot of things in common with Galicia and also particular features that characterized it. Its most popular dish is fabada, typical dish of the mountains that has in the fabes, beans, its main ingredient, along with different meat. Fabes con almejas is another way to cook them. Other dishes are pote asturiano, or los frisuelos, as well as the great number of chesses (outstanding Cabrales) and its rice with milk. The wines of Asturias are not of a great interest. The most typical alcoholic drink is the cider, made from apples.
Cantabria is as well a mixture of sea and mountains. Its most typical dishes are cocido montañés, las anchoas de Santoña, and los sobaos pasiegos as a desert. As regards the drinks, outstands the mistela, sweet wine popular in the northern regions and the orujo de Liébana.