Asturian cuisine

Asturian cuisine refers to the typical dishes and ingredients found in the cuisine of the Asturias region of Spain.

Asturias is especially known for its seafood, such as fresh squid, crab, shrimp and sea bass. Salmon are caught in Asturian rivers, notably the Sella; the first fish of the season is called "campanu" (Asturiano for "campana", a bell tolled to signal the first catch).

The most famous regional dish is Fabada Asturiana, a rich stew made with large white beans ("fabes"), pork shoulder ("lacón"), morcilla, chorizo, and saffron ("azafrán").

Apple groves foster the production of the traditional alcoholic drink, a natural cider ("sidra"). It is a very dry cider, and unlike French or English natural ciders, uses predominantly acidic apples, rather than sweet or bittersweet. The proportions are: acidic 40%, sub-acidic 30-25%, sweet 10-15%, bittersweet 15-20%, bitter 5%. [Museo de la Sidra, Nava (Asturias), Spain. http://www.museodelasidra.com/]

Sidra is traditionally poured in by an expert server (or "escanciador"): the bottle is raised high above his or her head to oxygenate the brew as it moves into the glass below. A small amount (~120ml) is poured at a time (called a "culín"), as it must be drunk immediately before the sidra loses its carbonation. Any sidra left in the glass is poured onto a woodchip-strewn floor or a trough along the bottom of the bar.

Asturian cheeses, especially Cabrales, are also famous throughout Spain and beyond; Cabrales is known for its pungent odour and strong flavour. Asturias is often called "the land of cheeses" ("el pais de los quesos") due to the product's diversity and quality in this region.

Other major dishes include faba beans with clams, Asturian stew, "frixuelos", and rice pudding.

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