Nestled between the Mediterranean Sea and mountains, those who opt to start a life at Residential Resort Cumbre del Sol will enjoy picturesque beaches, over 300 days of sunshine and unparalleled, natural scenery along the Costa Blanca. We mustn’t forget, though, that this area is also tourist favourite due to its exceptional gastronomy! There’s no better time than the present to learn to cook your favourite Spanish dishes and travel Spain by way of your palate! Don’t miss out on our suggestions below!

The Valencian Community is famous for its rice dishes, including Spain’s renowned paella dish. The one thing they all have in common is, of course, Valencian rice. Each dish highlights the way this region is rich with flavour-packed ingredients.

There are two types of paella: paella Valenciana made with chicken and rabbit and paella de marisco made with seafood. Both have a few shared key ingredients: saffron, paprika, peppers and tomatoes. For the first one, you’ll need green and broad beans, rosemary and artichokes. Meanwhile, the seafood paella has a sofrito base, which is made by sautéing peppers, onion, garlic, tomatoes with some olive oil and spices. The star ingredient of this dish can be prawn, mussels, squid and oysters, take your pick! Fish stock is also used to cook the rice. It should take about an hour to make and the divine flavour will be fully worth the effort!

Baked rice, or Arròs al Forn, is usually cooked in a clay pot in the oven, as its name suggests. It has humble origins, as it was originally created to make the most of leftover stews and other ingredients, but these days it is considered a delicacy by all. It usually contains ingredients such as chickpeas, chorizo, black pudding (morcilla), potatoes, tomatoes and garlic. Rich with Mediterranean flavour and a traditional home-cooking staple, it’s definitely worth trying to make at home.

Arròs a Banda originates even closer to home as it is a typical Alicantean dish. It also has humble beginnings, originally made by fishermen out of the leftover fish that they couldn’t sell. The dish is packed with flavour thanks to the fact that the rice is cooked in a rich fish broth and served with regional rockfish. It’s usually served with a side of aioli.

Lastly, there’s the striking Arròs negre, or black rice. Its distinctive colour comes from its star ingredients: cuttlefish or squid ink. Depending on how you choose to make it, your rice will contain cuttlefish or squid as well as the ink. The rice is also cooked in seafood stock, but if that’s not enough for you, you can also add other seafood, such as prawns, clams or mussels to your rice. It takes under an hour to prep and cook, which makes it the perfect simple dish to wow your family with!

Another option is stuffed squid, a seafood lovers’ delight! Add a list twist to your rice dishes by making this quick and easy meal. There’s no end to the ingredients you can use for the stuffing; everything from chorizo to prawn pairs wonderfully with squid. You can cook the rice, onion, garlic, tomato and other vegetables with wine before stuffing the squid and finishing it all off in the oven. It’s a simple recipe with restaurant-quality results.

No meal is complete without dessert, which is why we recommend coca llanda, also known as coca boba. All you need for this recipe are eggs, milk, sugar, oil, baking powder, cinnamon and a squeeze of lemon and orange juice! These ingredients are probably sitting in your pantry right now, so there’s no reason to not give baking a try with this aromatic delight.

You can pair your meal with a nice regional wine and dessert with a glass of horchata. Make the most of your time at home and enjoy the richness the local produce and gastronomy has to offer. Don’t forget to follow us on our social networks and keep up to date with our latest news on our blog.

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