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Food Management
10 ways for food service chefs to fire up the flavors of Spain
Tara Fitzpatrick Aug 31, 2020

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Take it outside

San Diego State University’s foodservice team has long leaned on outdoor gatherings to provide their wow factor. This paella brings the drama and it’s easy to serve outside.

Pimenton vs. paprika
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Is Hungarian paprika the same as Spanish pimenton? The short answer: No. The two spices both used dried peppers but are made differently (Hungarian peppers are air dried to make paprika and Spanish peppers are smoked over burning wood for two weeks). This makes pimenton smokier than paprika, important to note for smoke-forward Spanish recipes (like Galacian octopus).

Mussel mania

Boston College’s Best Concept-winning tapas station features this dish, mussels bathed in a flavorful Spanish broth with plenty of fresh parsley, a signature herb for Spanish seafood dishes.

In your pantry already
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A great thing about Spanish recipes is their simplicity. And you may have key ingredients on hand already. Bay leaves add an extra punch to the slow-cooked stews of northern Spain.

Bayou flair up north

At Purdue University, this paella adds crawfish for a shell-sucking addition to paella.

Saffron substitutes?
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Saffron is what traditionally gives paella its characteristic golden-orange color. But its high price tag makes it more splurge than staple. According to the food blog Spanish Sabores, cooks can substitute ground nora pepper for flavor, and if you’re looking for color, turmeric will work in a pinch.

Clammed up

Make paella part of a fall clam bake, should you find yourself with a surplus of shellfish, as shown here by Xavier High School’s Flik dining team.

Spanish tortilla
Olives from Spain

Tortilla means frittata when you’re in Spain. This recipe features olives, another key pantry item to enlist for Spanish cooking.

Helado de aguacate: Avocado ice cream
Olive Oil from Spain

Cool and refreshing, avocados are an unexpected ice cream ingredient, but it’s worth a try!

Spanish gazpacho
Olives from Spain

And finally, a chilled-out gazpacho is a great tribute to summer in Spain.

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