The Galician culture - between traditions, legends and mythology II

The Galician traditions can not only be heard, but especially tasted! The culinary consumption of Galician cuisine is known all over Spain, you can find restaurantes gallegos in many places that delight you with traditional dishes.

One of the most popular dish is the pulpo a la gallega (Galician: pulpo á galega or polbo á feira). Freshly cooked octopus, cut into pieces (with scissors) doused with hot olive oil, floured with paprika and sometimes also served with boiled patatoes.The maritime climate of Galicia make sure that they eat a lot of fresh fish and seafood (marisco). One of my favorite dishes (almost all of them are my favorites) is chipirones en su tinta for example served with rice.You have to get used to eat this because as you know you eat with your eyes first, and the small squids are served in their own dark blue almost black ink; but the taste is special and unique!

The traditional meat-dishes are churrasco (grilled meat) and cocido gallego,  it's a mix of meat (also pig ear for example) and different sausages and of course chorizo (spanish sausage) served with vegetables as chikpea, savoy cabbage or the tipical regional vegetable from Galicia grelos.

Also empanada (filled dumplings) usually filled with fish (codfish or tuna) or meat belongs to traditional Galician food and you can find them in every bakery or supermarket. Galicia has also delicious cheese to offer, such as the famous queixo tetilla (shaped as a tit) or queixo arzúa-ulloa. They are both soft in taste but you can eat it for example with dulce de membrillo (similar to jam) on top. There is a cheese festival in the town of Arzúa every year, where you can try several types of cheese from all over the world, for free!

The Galician type of pancakes filloas (like crêpe) enjoy great popularity either sweet or salty or plain. There is also a filloas festival once a year to honor them - festa da filloa de Lestedo. The most famous and traditional cake is the tarta de Santiago a round almond cake which is floured with powdered sugar and centered with the Cruz de Santiago (Cross of Saint James).

Spain is known for fiesta and also the Galicians like to celebrate and to party, so they have special dishes and desserts for carnival, christmas and other festive days.

Accompanied with their meal and dinner, Galicians likes to drink regional white wine such as albariño from the region Rías Baixas or ribeiro from the region Ribeira. The Galician beer estrella galicia is also popular and it is available in different varieties (Red Vintage 1906 is one of the best). For those who prefer "harder" drinks there are a range of homemade liquors. The traditional ones are licor de café and crema de orujo; all of them have the same basis called aguardiente de orujo (pomace brand).

But one of the most beautiful folksy tradition is queimada. This is the embodiment of Galician mystic customs and traditions. Quemida is a kind of punch and consists of agurdiente de orujo mixed with fruits like lemon and orange peel (if you prefer also with apple or other fruits), coffeebeans you add sugar and then you burn the whole mixture in a traditional bowl. While it burns (quemar means to burn) the ritual starts by saying the conxuro ,kind of incantation which release from evil spiritis. link to read the conxuro: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/305259680966688911/ 

Bo Proveito (Galician) ¡Que aproveche! (Spanish) – Enjoy your Meal!