Saffron is a Spanish herb used in many regional dishes.
Spain is famous for its distinctive food and the spices used in Spanish cuisine play an important role. Spain has been both the invader and the invaded throughout history, and this has produced a cultural mix of spices from other countries. Moorish and Mexican influences are particularly notable, and many of the herbs used in Spanish food grow wild in parts of the country.
Spanish Paprika
Spanish paprika is a spice made from dried and ground red peppers. There are different types of paprika, some are sweet-tasting, while others are hot and spicy. Originally from Mexico, paprika was introduced the Spain after their invasion. It is now used in many Spanish dishes involving meat and fish.
Saffron
Saffron is a popular Spanish spice. A key ingredient in paella, saffron is an important product in Central Spain, particularly the La Mancha region. The saffron grown there is slightly different to the plants grown elsewhere in the world as the flowers have longer stigmas and shorter stems. Therefore, saffron from La Mancha is never ground and should be used before the next harvest, otherwise it loses some of its freshness.
Chili Pepper
According to online resource Spanish Food UK, chili was brought back from Mexico by Christopher Columbus. Although the original peppers were too hot for people to stomach, sweeter varieties have since been grown. The red peppers can be used in dishes as a substitute for saffron, or dried and ground into pimenton, the substance that is used to color foods like chorizo.
Fennel
Today, fennel is used all over the world and is known for its strong smell and flavor. In Spain, it grows in the wild and is used with many dishes, including shellfish and food requiring an aniseed flavor.
Cilantro
Cilantro is popular in the Huelva and Extremdura regions of Spain near the border with Portugal. However, it can be difficult to source in other parts of the country. In the southwest, it is used with Moorish food and often serves as a replacement for parsley.
Tags: dried ground, from Mexico, parts country, used many, used Spanish
