Andalusian cuisine

Andalusian cuisine is the regional cuisine of Andalusia, Spain. Notable dishes include gazpacho, fried fish (often called pescaíto frito in the local vernacular), the jamones of Jabugo, Valle de los Pedroches and Trevélez, and the wines of Jerez, particularly sherry. Culinary influences come from the historic Christian, Muslim, and Jewish traditions of the region. The oldest known cookbook of Andalusian cuisine, Kitab al tabij fi-l-Maghrib wa-l-Andalus fi `asr al-Muwahhidin, li-mu'allif mayhul, dates from the 13th century.

Frying in Andalusian cuisine is dominated by the use of olive oil, produced mainly in the provinces of Jaén, Córdoba, Seville, and Granada. Málaga, Almería, Cádiz and Huelva produce olive oil too, but in smaller amounts. The foods are dredged in flour a la Andaluza (meaning only flour, without egg or other ingredients, but may include flour from the chickpea especially for use in batters). They are then fried in a large quantity of hot olive oil.

Andalusia's coast has unique access to both the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. With five coastal provinces, the consumption of fish and shellfish is high: white shrimp from the Bay of Cádiz; prawns; murex; anchovies; baby squid; cuttlefish; "bocas de la Isla", a dish found in San Fernando that uses a local crab that can regenerate its claw; flounder; etc. Another important fish to the region is tuna which is caught during their Atlantic migration.

Andalusian desserts are heavily influenced by Arabic medieval Andalucian cuisine. Notable dishes include pestiños (a deep-fried pastry bathed in honey), ' (a form of almond macaroon) from Medina Sidonia, polvorones (almond cookies of Estepa), lard bread, wine doughnuts, torrija and calentitos.