Castile and Leon is known as the "land of the roasts".  The favourites are roast suckling pig and roast lamb.  The meat is seasoned with aromatic herbs and after a long cooking process on a spit over hot charcoal or in  an earthenware dish it becomes meltingly tender. The animal has to be very young and milk fed  to produce the superb flavour and tenderness.  In some restaurants around the south of the area the suckling pig is cut with a plate.

Along with the roast meat specialties another staple is the casserole.  The basic ingredients are usually meat or sausage and vegetables with the addition of either beans or chickpeas.  Chickpeas are used as a thickener in nearly all the casseroles and stews in the area.

Trout is another staple of Castile and Leon cuisine and trout can be found on the menus of many restaurants in the area.  Being landlocked seafood is shipped in from the neighboring  regions of Galicia, Cantabria, Asturias and the Basque Country.  With modern road links, fresh fish arrives in the region's supermarkets on a daily basis.  In earlier times before the advent of the refrigerated lorry and decent road links, seafood was rarely found and most fish reaching the region was salted.  Bacalao or salted cod became part of the staple diet in Castile and Leon and despite the availability of fresh fish today it is still a firm favourite.  One of the most common methods of serving salt cod is bacalao al ajo arriero which is a garlic flavoured stew.

Castile & Leon produces a number of excellent cheeses made from sheeps milk.  The two main breeds found in the area are the Churra and the Castilian and the resulting cheeses  vary depending on which breed the milk comes from.  Many cheese manufacturers use a blend from both varieties to achieve a particular taste

Air cured ham is eaten all over Spain and whole legs are available from most supermarkets.  The region of Extramadura is one of the main producers,  this region is famous for the free range black Iberico pigs which feed on acorns. Spanish cured ham is availabale to buy online in the U.S from a number of specialists food importers.    

If you live in the U.K, you can buy a large range of authentic Spanish food from Iber Gourmet.   Iber Gourmet stock some excellent Spanish cheeses,  hams and a variety of products you're unlikely to find in the supermarket, all with delivery straight to your door.  To see what's available Click Here 

Castile & Leon Food

The Regional Food Of  Castile & Leon Spain