La Rioja is renowned for its fantastic wines which are exported worldwide but the local cuisine of the area also deserves a mention. Vegetables play an important part in the gastronomy of La Rioja. The rich fertile soil produces a wide variety of vegetables, including peppers, artichokes, tomatoes and aubergines. Trout are caught in the streams and rivers of La Rioja and the region's restaurants sell dishes like trucha a la Riojana and trucha con jamón which are fried trout stuffed with ham.
Simple meat and vegetable dishes are probably the most notable of the region's specialities. Chorizo sausage is popular and a combination of chorizo cooked with potatoes, patatas con chorizo and patatas a la Riojana with added peppers and meat are amongst some of the most popular dishes. Quail dishes are common in the Rioja region, pochas con codornices are quail cooked with white beans red peppers and tomatoes.
Patatas a la Riojana
Buy Rioja Wine Online In The U.S
Wine from the region of La Rioja is exported worldwide. Rioja wines are on the wine lists of all the best restaurants and have become one of Spain's most important exports. The most popular Rioja's are the reds, especially the oak aged crianzas. These full bodied wines are the ideal partner to a wide range of meat, cheese air cured ham and poultry, they go particularly well with the Spanish national dish paella. We have listed a range of Rioja wine opposite which you can buy online in the U.S. Rioja wine would make an excellent addition to a Spanish food gift basket
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Seafood
Before the introduction of refrigerated vehicles the only seafood available in La Rioja was salted cod imported from the coastal regions. Bacalo (salted cod) is popular all over Spain, Bacalo Rioja style is salt cod which has been soaked in water overnight, and cooked with a combination of tomato garlic and red pepper on top of the stove in an earthenware dish. Having no ready supply of fresh seafood La Rioja developed its own version of Paella which substituted the fish element with snails, chicken and a variety of beans. Nowadays supermarkets get daily deliveries of fresh fish.
Cheese
La Rioja is not a prolific producer of cheese, Camerano is the most noteworthy cheese of the region and is only available locally. Ironically, the wines of La Rioja make the perfect accompaniment to Spanish cheese. All Spain's most poopular cheeses are available in the supermarkets.
Ham
Spanish air cured ham is popular all over Spain and pigs are bred on many of the region's farms. Locally sourced ham and chorizo are available in La Rioja but the region isn't one of the major ham producers.
Buy Spanish Ham Online In The U.S
Spain is renowned for the quality of the air cured ham it produces. Up until recently, it was almost impossible to buy authentic Spanish ham in the U.S but thanks to the internet, there are now a number of speciality food importers supplying a large variety of Spanish food to the U.S market. Opposite, we have listed a range of Spanish hams from the Amazon pages of two of the largest suppliers, La Tienda and Igourmet. For a fantastic taste experience, try some slices of Iberico ham with some Manchego cheese and a glass of red Rioja wine.
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Buy Spanish Cheese Online In The U.S
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Spain is a prolific cheese producer, Spanish supermarkets offer a huge array of cheeses from across Spain. The majority of Spanish cheese comes from the lush northern regions of Asturias, Galicia Cantabria and the Basque Country but the majority of regions have their own varieties. Manchego, Spain's most famous cheese is made from sheep's milk in the region of Castilla La Mancha. Up until recently it was difficult to find a Spanish cheese supplier in the U.S but today there are a number of online food importers who stock an excellent variety of cheese from all over Spain.
Buy Spanish Tapas Online In The U.S
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Tapas bars have sprung up all over the world and Catalonia, especially in cities like Barcelona have some of the best tapas bars in the whole of Spain. Spanish food importers are catering for the upsurge in the popularity of tapas and have a variety of ingredients and other products for anybody wanting to re create the tapas experience at home. We have listed a selection of tapas kits and speciality products from some of the internet's top importers here.
Buy Spanish Gift Baskets Online In The U.S
If you have any aspiring gourmands in the family, a Spanish food basket would make the ideal gift. There are a number of specialist Spanish food importers supplying a variety of gift baskets with products ranging from air cured ham to rare cheeses, herbs, spices and Spanish wines. These hard to find ingredients are perfect for creating a taste of Spain at home. We have listed a nice selection from two of the largest suppliers, La Tienda and Igourmet. Click photos for full details.
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Buying Spanish Food Online In The UK
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
