Spanish Cooking Tools

Spanish cooking is a delicious art form. Most Spanish recipes have been carried down for generations, the food is not just about flavor, it’s also about tradition. If you want to make old-world dishes, with the authentic flavors of Spanish cuisine, you will need to have the tools of the trade.

It might seem that you could cook Spanish food with the same tools and utensils that are used in any other cuisine, but Spanish is different.  There are many special dishes that require special equipment. If you want to experience the rich, vibrant tastes of Spain, try these: 

Mortar and pestle

Made from stone, the mortar and pestle is used to mash herbs, garlic, and spices.  The essence of the food is captured when using the mortar and pestle, which releases the natural oil and flavors.

Paella pan

A paella pan, is probably the most used pot in any Spanish kitchen. It's a large lidded metal pan, primarily used to cook Spain’s most popular dish, paella. Most paella pans are made from polished carbon steel, but they also come in aluminum, non-stick, and copper.

Cazuela 

A cazuela is a versatile terracota casserole dish, used for cooking and serving Spanish cuisine.  Cazuela’s don’t usually have lids, but the they hold heat and will keep food warm for quite a while. 

Pucheros

Pucheros are similar to cazuelas, but they have a lid. Used to cook and serve casseroles, soups and stew, pucheros are a kitchen essential. They are deep and constructed of solid terracotta.  The heavy lid prevents moisture from evaporating, making it perfect for cooking beans, which require liquid to become tender.

Plancha 

A plancha is a hot plate made from cast iron.  Ridged on one side and smooth on the other, planchas are great for cooking meat, fish, and poultry.  The handles make it easy to carry from the stove to the table.