Spanish cooking requires a basically well-equipped kitchen to cook the mouthwatering and scrumptious Spanish cuisine. This blog will give an insight to all the newbies, dying to set-up their Spanish kitchen, about the Spanish kitchen essentials.

A few must-haves in a Spanish kitchen are:

1. Colander

To drain pasta and vegetables, colander is used. It is important to use the colander of the right size to rinse the amount of food you want. It comes in different types of materials ranging from copper, aluminum, and plastic but what really matters is the size of the equipment.

2. Cutting board

A hefty wooden board is a quintessential tool in a Spanish kitchen. It can serve many basic purposes like everyday cutting, chopping, and even serving cheese at a party. A large board can be used for simultaneously placing different items to be chopped at different corners during the various stages of preparation of a meal.

3.  Food Processor

This is one equipment without which it is practically impossible to survive in a Spanish kitchen. You can chop, whip, slice, grind and mix food with this gadget. 

4. Garlic press

Garlic is an essential ingredient in Spanish food and it is used in a lot of dishes. A cast aluminum press can be used to mash large or small cloves. You could also use a non-porous mortar and pestle to mash the garlic.

5. Cazuelas

These are clay baking dishes which have the capability to retain heat for a long time and hence are used for slow cooking. These come in various sizes. Individual ramekins can hold personal size flan servings which is a delicious Spanish custard.

6. Sangria pitchers

Sangria is a Spanish beverage and the special pitchers used to hold it are called Sangria pitchers.

7. Earthenware and wooden cookware

A Spanish kitchen makes use of earthen cookware as well. Earthenware Spanish mixing bowls are called as Lebrillos. Another clay cookware used is the Cuenco. This has a small base with straight sides rising to a wide edge. A wooden trough generally used for kneading dough and salting hams is a must-have in a Spanish kitchen. It is called as Artesa.

8. Caldereta

This is a pot-bellied metal vessel that has three legs and can be used to cook fish, rice as well as arroz caldoso; a Spanish specialty.

9. Puchero or Olla

It can be found as earthenware in central parts of Spain that has a bulbous body, a narrow neck and two handles. In other areas, another version of the pot can be seen that is upright, loop handled, and metallic in built.

10. Paella pan

This is a must have in a Spanish kitchen. The authentic version has a dimpled base and is quite thin in built. It can come in various sizes suitable to the number of servings to be cooked. A two-handled version of the pan is also available that can be used to deep fry fish and prepare stews.

Image Credits: ifood.tv, the terracottapotshop.co.in