Gambas con gabardina facts for kids
The dish before being cooked
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| Course | Appetizer |
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| Place of origin | Spain |
| Main ingredients | Shrimp, batter (flour, egg, beer and cornstarch) |
Gambas con gabardina (which means "shrimp in a trenchcoat") is a yummy and popular Spanish tapa. A tapa is a small snack or appetizer often served with drinks in Spain. This dish became well-known in the 1950s.
It is made by coating shrimp in a special mix called a batter. This batter usually includes flour, egg, beer, and cornstarch. After being coated, the shrimp are then deep fried in olive oil until they are golden and crispy. The shrimp tails are usually left on. This makes them easy to hold and eat with your hands. Sometimes, the batter has a yellow color. This comes from adding a spice called saffron. The dish gets its funny name because the batter wraps around the shrimp, just like a trenchcoat covers a person!
Contents
History of Gambas con Gabardina
This tasty dish became very popular in the 1950s. It was even included in a cookbook called Manual de Cocina. This cookbook was published by an organization called the Sección Femenina. During a time in Spain's history known as the Francoist dictatorship, this cookbook was given to all Spanish housewives. They received it after completing a special service for their community. This helped the recipe spread across the country.
How Gambas con Gabardina is Made
Making Gambas con gabardina is quite simple. First, you prepare the batter. This is a smooth mix of flour, egg, beer, and cornstarch. The beer helps make the batter light and crispy. Next, you dip fresh shrimp into this batter. Make sure each shrimp is fully covered. Then, the coated shrimp are carefully placed into hot olive oil. They are cooked until the batter turns a beautiful golden brown. The shrimp inside becomes tender and juicy.
Variations of the Dish
There is a fun variation of this dish that is popular in a region of Spain called Murcia. This version is known as caballitos, which means "little seahorses." For caballitos, the shrimp are peeled before cooking. A toothpick is often used to shape the shrimp. This makes it look a bit like a seahorse. The toothpick also makes it easy to pick up and enjoy this delicious snack.
See also
In Spanish: Gambas en gabardina para niños
