Find some foods in your local supermarket.
Many supermarkets today have an international foods section. While a shopper may not be able to find every type of food from Spain, there are some popular items. The Spanish foods that are available in supermarkets can be used as a base to build a Spanish typical meal. Add some Spanish wine to complete the meal.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is the base for different Spanish dishes. Olive oil from Spain is popular, due to its quality and taste. The taste of the different Spanish brands are analyzed like bottles of wine. Extra virgin olive oil is the best quality. You can use it in any recipe that calls for olive oil.
Serrano Ham
Serrano ham, or jamón serrano in Spanish, is similar to prosciutto. It's a ham served cold, often as an appetizer. The time to create a slice of serrano takes anywhere from one to two years. After salting and drying, the ham is cured by hanging it in a cool and dry area. White pig serrano ham is the most common type of cured ham from Spain. "Serrano" in Spanish is the sierra also known as the mountains; most serrano ham is grown in mountain regions.
Chorizo
Chorizo is a pork sausage. While there are Portuguese and Mexican chorizo, Spanish chorizo is distinct because of the pimentón, the sweet Spanish paprika that's used in the seasoning. While it's not cured as long as jamon serrano, it is usually cured for two to three months. The chorizo in the supermarkets are more on the sweet side, but there are spicier versions available as well.
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