Guiso facts for kids

Gurupina, a traditional guiso from Granadan cuisine.

Guiso "potatoes with blood", served like a tapa.

Guiso is a delicious Spanish dish. It's often made with meat that is first fried or roasted. Then, it's cooked slowly in a sauce. This cooking method is called braising. Guiso is usually served hot and is a comforting meal. Many different ingredients can be used to make guiso. This depends on the region, the season, and what's available.

The Story of Guiso

Guiso has a long history in Spanish cuisine. One of the first cookbooks about Spanish food mentioned guiso. This book was called El Libro de los Guisados. A chef named Robert de Nola wrote it in 1525. It shared many recipes from the 15th century around the Mediterranean Sea. These old recipes included some of the first ways to make guiso.

The word "guiso" itself became popular later. In the 1700s, a Spanish dictionary called Diccionario de autoridades defined it. It said guiso was a dish made with broth, spices, and other things that were roasted or fried. Today, a person who cooks guiso is sometimes called a guisandero.

What Makes a Guiso?

The name "guiso" suggests how it's made. It usually starts with ingredients that are fried first. This step is called rehogado. Then, these ingredients are cooked in a tasty sauce. Guiso can have many different kinds of ingredients. There are no strict rules for what to include.

You might find dishes similar to guiso in other parts of the world. Some examples are ragout from France or locro from South America. Even ossobuco from Italy is cooked in a similar way.

Common Guiso Ingredients

Most guisos begin with a meat base. This meat can be beef, pork, turkey, or even fish. Sometimes the meat is chopped into pieces. Other times, it might be soaked in a special liquid called brine.

Besides meat, guiso can have many other items. It often includes cereals, starchy foods like potatoes, and legumes such as beans. Noodles and various vegetables are also common additions. While guiso is known for its rich sauce, some recipes might even use wine in the broth for extra flavor.

See also

In Spanish: Guiso para niños