Specialties of Galicia
Galicia is said to be a country with a genuine feeling of solidarity, tradition and identity. It is also a country for gourmets. Galician cuisine is normally referred to the typical ingredients and dishes that are found in the cuisine of the Galician region. Some of these include polbo a fiera that is a dish prepared of octopus, shellfish, the ribeiro & albarino wines, empanadas and orujo liquor. In comparison to the wide range of Indian and French cuisine, Galician cuisine is considered to be quite simple.
Galicia is famous for offering several diverse culinary specialties that are normally from the village or the city. Usually, a wide variety of fish and a range of seafood specialties are being offered all along the coastal region. Trout’s, eels, Norway lobsters, spider crabs and clams are some of the seafood’s collected from the small rivers along the coast. The variety of fresh water and sea products are pretty wide. Due to its long shoreline and fishing economy a wide range of sea products is found in most of the traditional dishes of Galicia.
Mussels, one of the famous seafood specialties is being served throughout Galicia. There is a local market in Vigo which is popularly known as La Piedra where one can easily find different variety of seafood specially mussels and oysters. St James mussel is one type of seafood which is mostly appreciated in Santiago de Compostela and Ria of Arousa. One of the most popular and internationally known seafood is the octopusy which is actually served on a round piece of wood and is seasoned with peppers, olive oil and salt.
Agricultural products like wheat, maize and potatoes are even stapled in the Galician dishes along with the meat and dairy products such as pigs, sheep and cow. Besides these products, vegetables stew and soaps are also well liked by the people of Galicia. Caldo is one of the famous soap which is prepared of pork meat, beans, boiled potatoes and chard. Pie is also said to be one of the typical food from Galicia. This dough is prepared of wheat or corn flour and is filled with instance clams, chicken, tuna, onions and tomatoes.
A pepper from Padrón is a pledge of the beginning close to Santiago de Compostela. These peppers from Padrón are tasty and green in color. Galician Teat or Cow cheese is very soft and because of its softness, it is known as Galician Teat. Some of the other tasty cheeses are made of goat, sheep or cow milk. As a dessert, St James cake is one of the best known cakes in Galicia.
All over Galicia, numbers of parties are celebrated with particular pomp every year. Different festivities, fiestas and holidays that are celebrated in Galicia points out the best of this region, integrated by a sentiment and empathy which links all the people to this land strengthening the culture that upholds the ancient rituals and myths. Tradition, religion, gastronomy or just a party to enjoy, represent the peculiarity of the Galician people in the different sign.