Store Cupboard Essentials That Should Become Your Christmas and New Year's Resolution

Many of us want to eat more healthily following the excesses of Christmas, and maintaining a balanced and varied diet is a great way to build immunity against winter colds and flus.

According to the NHS a healthy balanced diet should include at least two portions of fish a week, with one of those being an oily fish, like anchovies, salmon, mackerel or sardines. 

Oily fish aren't only high in omega-3 fatty acids, but they also provide a good source of Vitamin D (actually, the only supplement that GPs recommend we take). Shellfish like mussels, oysters and clams are low in fat and a source of essential minerals like selenium, zinc, iodine.

In fact, preparing some delicious dishes made using fish over the Christmas season sounds like a fun and nutritious idea. 

Tinned seafood from Spain is sustainable, delicious, convenient and nutritious. The expertly preserved contents are highly sought after by international chefs and high-end delis. Fish and shellfish preserving techniques were employed along Spain's Iberian Peninsula over 2,000 years ago to meet inland demand.

The convenience of tinned seafood means you can stack them up in a store cupboard and have year-round inspiration for nutritious, great value meals. Such is the quality of Spanish tinned seafood that the ingredients often taste equally good preserved as they do fresh. Valued for their versatility, many home cooks will never be without a tin of anchovies, known as the bacon of the sea, for the umami hit that they bring to every dish.

As with any product of designated origin you can be assured of the quality of these treasures of the sea from Mejillon de Galicia DOC (Mussels), Caballa de Andalucia IGP (mackerel) to the tuna family: Melva de Andalucia IGP, Mojama de Barbate IGP and Mojama de Isla Cristina IGP.

Other prized ingredients that will be the perfect addition to your store cupboard include Pulpo de Galicia - (octopus), Boquerones de Galicia (whitebait), Almejas de Galicia (clams), Cantabrian Anchovies and Bonito del Norte tuna - all widely available in Spanish delis and specialist online stores.

Such is the heritage of this fantastic produce that there are hundreds of recipes where tinned seafood is used to elevate and add substance to each dish - from stews to salads to simple sardines on toast. Many dishes are passed down through the generations whilst others have been created more recently, such as these delicious Ventresca Pinxtos by Owen Morgan of the Bar 44 Tapas Group,  which make an eye-catching canapé or healthy snack.

To learn more and to get some recipe inspiration please visit https://www.foodswinesfromspain.com.