Gibraltarian cuisine
Encyclopedia
Gibraltarian cuisine is the result of a long relationship between the Andalucian Spaniards
and the British
, as well as the many foreigners who made Gibraltar
their home over the past three centuries. The culinary influences include those from Malta
, Genoa
, Portugal
, Andalusia
and Britain
. This marriage of tastes has given Gibraltar an eclectic mix of Mediterranean and British cuisine
.
Below are some examples of typical Gibraltarian dishes.
origin consisting of penne
in a tomato sauce
with beef or occasionally pork, mushrooms and carrots (among other vegetables depending on family tradition) and topped with grated "queso bola". The origin of its name is unknown, however, one theory is that it comes from the Italian
arrosto (roasting) as similar dishes are eaten in Italy using roast pork instead.
mqarrun il-forn which consists of macaroni, bolognese sauce
, and various other ingredients including egg and bacon that vary according to family tradition. The macaroni is usually topped with a layer of grated cheese or béchamel that melts during the baking process and aids in binding. Even though the dish's main ingredient is macaroni, the name fideos al horno is actually Spanish for 'baked noodles'.
. It is made with chickpea flour, water, olive oil
, salt and pepper. The word calentita comes from the Spanish word caliente, meaning hot or warm and has an oily texture. It was probably first given this name during the early 1900s when street vendors would shout out "Calentita!", informing people that it was fresh out of the oven. The last calentita street vendor, Paloma, is still remembered locally by the older generations. Calentita is considered to be Gibraltar's national dish
.
-like dough is set, it is cut into small strips and fried in olive oil.
hornazo. It is made with self-raising flour, sugar, eggs, butter or margarine
and aniseed. Bollos de hornasso are eaten around Easter just as in Spain, but in Gibraltar they are also popular during Christmas. Gibraltarian hornassos can normally be distinguished from the original Spanish hornazo as they do not tend to be decorated with hard-boiled eggs (however, Gibraltarian families of Spanish descent may still decorate them in this manner). It usually glazed with beaten egg and sometimes decorated with hundreds and thousands.
. Its main ingredients can include lard
, margarine, sugar, self-raising flour, blanched almond
s, raisin
s, sultanas
, pine nut
s, candied peel, eggs, aniseed and anisette
among others. It is sometimes decorated with hundreds and thousands just like the bollo de hornasso.
Pan dulce is a staple food in Mexico and other Latin American countries. In the early 1800s the French introduced crispy rolls, baguettes, and rich pastries to Mexico. The French occupation of Mexico ended at the battle of Battle of Puebla
(Cinco de Mayo
) but the Mexican love of French bread remained. As the demand grew for this new bread, Mexican bakers quickly adopted the French techniques to make their own varieties. Everyone in Mexico seems to have a favorite, and there are many to choose from. It is said that the varieties of pan dulce number in the thousands, and they often have fanciful names. Some are the same shapes as you would find in France today but with a Mexicanized name. Since bread is inexpensive and filling, pan dulce has since become a key ingredient of the Mexican merienda
.
filled with a custard
-like cream. Japonesas are usually enjoyed at teatime or as a snack
. They are traditionally coated in syrup or granulated sugar. The origin of its name is unknown but resembles the Japanese dorayaki
.
Andalusian people
The Andalusians are the people of the southern region in Spain approximated by what is now called Andalusia. They are generally not considered an ethnically distinct people because they lack two of the most important markers of distinctiveness: their own language and an awareness of a presumed...
and the British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
, as well as the many foreigners who made Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
their home over the past three centuries. The culinary influences include those from Malta
Maltese cuisine
Maltese cuisine refers to the dishes identified as Maltese. Reflecting Maltese history, it shows strong Sicilian and English influences as well as influences of Spanish, Maghrebin and Provençal cuisines.-History:...
, Genoa
Italian cuisine
Italian cuisine has developed through centuries of social and political changes, with roots as far back as the 4th century BCE. Italian cuisine in itself takes heavy influences, including Etruscan, ancient Greek, ancient Roman, Byzantine, Jewish and Arab cuisines...
, Portugal
Portuguese cuisine
Portuguese cuisine is characterised by rich, filling and full-flavored dishes and is closely related to Mediterranean cuisine. The influence of Portugal's former colonial possessions is also notable, especially in the wide variety of spices used. These spices include piri piri and black pepper, as...
, Andalusia
Andalusian cuisine
Andalusian cuisine is rather varied, corresponding to a region that is itself extensive and varied. Notwithstanding that, the cuisine of Andalusia is characterized by gazpacho, fried fish , the jamones of Jabugo, Valle de los Pedroches and Trevélez, and the wines of Jerez, particularly...
and Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. This marriage of tastes has given Gibraltar an eclectic mix of Mediterranean and British cuisine
British cuisine
English cuisine encompasses the cooking styles, traditions and recipes associated with England. It has distinctive attributes of its own, but also shares much with wider British cuisine, largely due to the importation of ingredients and ideas from places such as North America, China, and India...
.
Below are some examples of typical Gibraltarian dishes.
Rosto
Popular local pasta dish of ItalianItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
origin consisting of penne
Penne
Penne is a type of pasta with cylinder-shaped pieces. Penne is the plural form of the Italian penna, deriving from Latin penna . In Italy, penne are produced in two main variants: "penne lisce" and "penne rigate" , the latter having ridges on each penna...
in a tomato sauce
Tomato sauce
A tomato sauce is any of a very large number of sauces made primarily from tomatoes, usually to be served as part of a dish...
with beef or occasionally pork, mushrooms and carrots (among other vegetables depending on family tradition) and topped with grated "queso bola". The origin of its name is unknown, however, one theory is that it comes from the Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
arrosto (roasting) as similar dishes are eaten in Italy using roast pork instead.
Fideos al horno
A baked pasta dish very similar to MalteseMalta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
mqarrun il-forn which consists of macaroni, bolognese sauce
Bolognese sauce
Bolognese sauce is a meat-based sauce for pasta originating in Bologna, Italy. It is traditionally used to dress tagliatelle and is one of the two sauces used to prepare "lasagne alla Bolognese"...
, and various other ingredients including egg and bacon that vary according to family tradition. The macaroni is usually topped with a layer of grated cheese or béchamel that melts during the baking process and aids in binding. Even though the dish's main ingredient is macaroni, the name fideos al horno is actually Spanish for 'baked noodles'.
Bread
Calentita
This is a locally baked bread-like dish, similar to the Italian farinataFarinata
Farinata, socca, or cecina is a sort of thin, unleavened pancake or crêpe of chickpea flour originating in Genoa and later a typical food of the Ligurian Sea coast, from Nice to Pisa.-Names:...
. It is made with chickpea flour, water, olive oil
Olive oil
Olive oil is an oil obtained from the olive , a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin. It is commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and soaps and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps...
, salt and pepper. The word calentita comes from the Spanish word caliente, meaning hot or warm and has an oily texture. It was probably first given this name during the early 1900s when street vendors would shout out "Calentita!", informing people that it was fresh out of the oven. The last calentita street vendor, Paloma, is still remembered locally by the older generations. Calentita is considered to be Gibraltar's national dish
National dish
A national dish is a dish, food or a drink that is considered to represent a particular country, nation or region.A dish can become a national dish for a variety of reasons. It can be the national dish because it is a staple daily food for the majority of the population. It can also be the national...
.
Panissa
A bread-like dish similar to the calentita. Sharing its Italian origins, it is a descendant of the Genoese dish with the same name - "panissa". Unlike calentita the ingredients are first cooked in a pan to form a paste which is then left to set. When the polentaPolenta
Polenta is a dish made from boiled cornmeal. The word "polenta" is borrowed from Italian.-Description:Polenta is made with ground yellow or white cornmeal , which can be ground coarsely or finely depending on the region and the texture desired.As it is known today, polenta derives from earlier...
-like dough is set, it is cut into small strips and fried in olive oil.
Bollo de hornasso
A sweet and dry bread similar to the SpanishSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
hornazo. It is made with self-raising flour, sugar, eggs, butter or margarine
Margarine
Margarine , as a generic term, can indicate any of a wide range of butter substitutes, typically composed of vegetable oils. In many parts of the world, the market share of margarine and spreads has overtaken that of butter...
and aniseed. Bollos de hornasso are eaten around Easter just as in Spain, but in Gibraltar they are also popular during Christmas. Gibraltarian hornassos can normally be distinguished from the original Spanish hornazo as they do not tend to be decorated with hard-boiled eggs (however, Gibraltarian families of Spanish descent may still decorate them in this manner). It usually glazed with beaten egg and sometimes decorated with hundreds and thousands.
Pan dulce
A sweet fruit and nut bread eaten at Christmas time. The term pan dulce means "sweet bread" in Spanish, but its origins lie in Italy with its ancestor being the panettonePanettone
thumb|200px|right|A non-traditionally shaped panettone loaf.Panettone is a type of sweet bread loaf originally from Milan , usually prepared and enjoyed for Christmas and New Year in Italy, Malta, Brazil, Germany and Switzerland, and is one of the symbols of the city of Milan. Maltese nationals are...
. Its main ingredients can include lard
Lard
Lard is pig fat in both its rendered and unrendered forms. Lard was commonly used in many cuisines as a cooking fat or shortening, or as a spread similar to butter. Its use in contemporary cuisine has diminished because of health concerns posed by its saturated-fat content and its often negative...
, margarine, sugar, self-raising flour, blanched almond
Almond
The almond , is a species of tree native to the Middle East and South Asia. Almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree...
s, raisin
Raisin
Raisins are dried grapes. They are produced in many regions of the world. Raisins may be eaten raw or used in cooking, baking and brewing...
s, sultanas
Sultana (grape)
The sultana is a type of white, seedless grape assumed to originate from the Turkish, Greek, or Iranian area...
, pine nut
Pine nut
Pine nuts are the edible seeds of pines . About 20 species of pine produce seeds large enough to be worth harvesting; in other pines the seeds are also edible, but are too small to be of great value as a human food....
s, candied peel, eggs, aniseed and anisette
Anisette
Anisette is an anise-flavored liqueur that is consumed mainly in France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. It is colorless and, unlike some other anise-based liqueurs, contains no licorice.True anisette is produced by means of distilling aniseed...
among others. It is sometimes decorated with hundreds and thousands just like the bollo de hornasso.
History of pan dulce
Pan dulce is a staple food in Mexico and other Latin American countries. In the early 1800s the French introduced crispy rolls, baguettes, and rich pastries to Mexico. The French occupation of Mexico ended at the battle of Battle of Puebla
Battle of Puebla
The Battle of Puebla took place on 5 May 1862 near the city of Puebla during the French intervention in Mexico. The battle ended in a victory for the Mexican Army over the occupying French forces...
(Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo is a holiday held on May 5. It is celebrated nationwide in the United States and regionally in Mexico, primarily in the state of Puebla, where the holiday is called El Dia de la Batalla de Puebla...
) but the Mexican love of French bread remained. As the demand grew for this new bread, Mexican bakers quickly adopted the French techniques to make their own varieties. Everyone in Mexico seems to have a favorite, and there are many to choose from. It is said that the varieties of pan dulce number in the thousands, and they often have fanciful names. Some are the same shapes as you would find in France today but with a Mexicanized name. Since bread is inexpensive and filling, pan dulce has since become a key ingredient of the Mexican merienda
Merienda
Merienda is a light meal in Southern Europe , Latin America, and the Philippines. Usually taken in the afternoon or for brunch, it fills in the meal gap between lunch at noon and dinner, or between breakfast and lunch...
.
Rolitos
A thin slice of beef surrounding breadcrumbs, bacon, eggs, olives, vegetables and herbs. These can be baked, fried or cooked in wine. Rolitos is another dish of Maltese origin, similar to braġjoli. It is also known as beef olives in English, even though some families prefer making them with pork or even chicken. The word rolito comes from the Spanish word rollo meaning 'roll', as the meat is rolled to hold the other ingredients inside.Japonesa
The japonesa is a sweet fried doughnutDoughnut
A doughnut or donut is a fried dough food and is popular in many countries and prepared in various forms as a sweet snack that can be homemade or purchased in bakeries, supermarkets, food stalls, and franchised specialty outlets...
filled with a custard
Custard
Custard is a variety of culinary preparations based on a cooked mixture of milk or cream and egg yolk. Depending on how much egg or thickener is used, custard may vary in consistency from a thin pouring sauce , to a thick pastry cream used to fill éclairs. The most common custards are used as...
-like cream. Japonesas are usually enjoyed at teatime or as a snack
Snack
A snack is a small portion of food eaten between meals. The food might be snack food—items like potato chips or baby carrots—but could also simply be a smaller amount of any food item.-Snacks and health:...
. They are traditionally coated in syrup or granulated sugar. The origin of its name is unknown but resembles the Japanese dorayaki
Dorayaki
is a type of Japanese confection, а red bean pancake which consists of two small pancake-like patties made from castella wrapped around a filling of sweet red bean paste....
.
See also
- Andalusian cuisineAndalusian cuisineAndalusian cuisine is rather varied, corresponding to a region that is itself extensive and varied. Notwithstanding that, the cuisine of Andalusia is characterized by gazpacho, fried fish , the jamones of Jabugo, Valle de los Pedroches and Trevélez, and the wines of Jerez, particularly...
- English cuisine
- Italian cuisineItalian cuisineItalian cuisine has developed through centuries of social and political changes, with roots as far back as the 4th century BCE. Italian cuisine in itself takes heavy influences, including Etruscan, ancient Greek, ancient Roman, Byzantine, Jewish and Arab cuisines...
- Maltese cuisineMaltese cuisineMaltese cuisine refers to the dishes identified as Maltese. Reflecting Maltese history, it shows strong Sicilian and English influences as well as influences of Spanish, Maghrebin and Provençal cuisines.-History:...
- Mediterranean cuisine
- Portuguese cuisinePortuguese cuisinePortuguese cuisine is characterised by rich, filling and full-flavored dishes and is closely related to Mediterranean cuisine. The influence of Portugal's former colonial possessions is also notable, especially in the wide variety of spices used. These spices include piri piri and black pepper, as...