A Breakdown of European Food
European food is diverse. There is no one way you could define it to cover all of Europe despite many of the common ingredients that are used in the various culinary traditions of the continent. Let’s break down some of the most popular European recipes by country to examine what makes each of them distinct.
French Recipes - French food hasn’t only influenced many European recipes but has a global standing. French bread and wine are known in every corner of the planet, for example. One of the factors that makes French food stand out is the cooking methods used. Alongside roasting and baking, which are carried out all over Europe, French dishes tend to call for techniques such as flambéing and sautéing. The former uses set-alight alcohol, while the latter is a high-temperature frying technique with little fat. French dishes often use garlic and wine, such as coq au vin, for example.
Spanish Recipes - Spanish food is influenced by the Americas and North Africa. Rice and seafood are both common ingredients in Spanish cuisine, such as this paella-style prawn dish which features a typically Spanish ingredient, chorizo. Spiced potatoes, known as patatas bravas, is an iconic Spanish dish. Saffron is widely used in Spanish cuisine for colour and flavour enhancements.
