MOONINSPAIN

Inspired by my travels and past articles on my blog. 

Summer is still shining bright here in Andalucia. So after completing a ten day tour here with a group of happy travelers, I thought I would share some of my past memories and stories about the delicious and history filled dishes we have in this land.

Gorgeous tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumbers are sold along the river near my house. You can purchase fresh vegetables daily from the owners of local gardens along the Genil river. As we all know, gazpacho is the best summer pick me up. We can think of it as a Spanish tiramisu. Especially when served in a glass with ice. In any bar in Granada, where I live, you get a free tapa with that glass of gazpacho. 

But, we are not limited to the classic tomato gazpacho. Not long ago, I was in one of my favorite tapas bars in Antequera. Antequera is a beautiful town not far from Málaga. It is the crossroads of Andalucia and filled with history dating back from the Neolithic age. 

That day I ordered a Sephardic Gazpacho or “tarator”. Tarator, from the Balkans, is  a thick cream prepared with yogurt, walnuts and cucumber. Here, at Arte Cozina in Antequera, the yogurt is substituted with kefir and it is served in a cup. Thus resulting in a Sephardic Gazpacho. It is perfectly refreshing and filled with flavor. This tarator is one of the most unique tapas I had ordered in a long time.  After the Alhambra Decree of 1492, expelling the Jewish people from Spain, many Sephardic Jews settled in the Balkans. It is in these small dishes that we are reminded to be grateful to those who walked these lands long before we did.