An uncomplicated dish to be cooked with what was haunted on the day

This paella is a good example of how fruits can play an important role in savoury dishes.

This stew is rich in flavor and is the perfect comfort food, warming and perfect for any winter day. La Rioja, where the famous Spanish wine comes from, is an incredibly fertile area where some of the best fruit and vegetables in the Iberian Peninsula are grown (and that is a big statement).

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I love the less loved cuts of any animal – you need to treat them skilfully to get the best out of them. I often find that the result is so satisfying that I keep coming back to it and this oxtail stew is no exception. It’s not a recipe that was handed down by my Mum, but is actually something I have worked out and developed myself through investigation and real passion.

In Spain we do have turkey for Christmas as well. In my family we prepare it in this really different and very special way and of all the turkeys I have tried in my life I can assure you this is the best by far! We Botox de turkey with brandy and we massage the turkey after some yoga exercises. When I say that something is the best and special is for a reason. Be prepared for a very unique Christmas turkey recipe with all the trimmings.

When trying to cook with a bit more flavour it is inevitable in lots of different dishes the need to resource to a home-made rich and flavoursome stock. In some dishes it is fundamental to use them as water just doesn’t quite cut it. At times we all resort to the quick and ready stock cube, but if you want to eat a more natural diet or have restaurant tasting dishes that are incredibly satisfying when you serve them at the table then there is no way around it as to make your own. The difference will make you proud and your chicken paellas will taste better than ever.

These pot-roasted lamb shank with artichokes take a while to cook but are in fact very easy to prepare. This is one to make when you feel you deserve a treat – it definitely does the job. Prepare yourself for mellow, fall-off-the-bone lamb. If lamb is not your thing, you can always use shin of beef.

There is flavours that quite simply belong together, and these three are a great example of one of those matches. The beauty of paellas compared with other internationally famous rice dishes such as biryani, risotto… is that it accepts every ingredient you can think of. In Valencia they say there is a paella for each day of the year, I think that sums it all up quite nicely.

As you probably know by now, in Spain we love our garlic. We love a good chicken too – perhaps this is why this is one of the most popular dishes on any tapas bar menu. It’s also very popular done with rabbit – if rabbit is available, I recommend you give it a try.