Book review: James Martin's Spanish Adventure

Like many celebrity chefs, James Martin has had the pleasure of eating at spectacular locations around the globe, but in his latest book admits that Spanish cuisine is something he once knew very little about.

This was the trip he was most looking forward to, he states in the introduction to James Martin’s Spanish Adventure, which ties in with his latest 20-episode TV series.

Over a six-week trip he delves into all corners of the region to explore Spain’s culinary diversity. Beginning in San Sebastián in the north east, he moves on to La Rioja, Bilbao, Asturias, Galicia, journeying inland to Castile and León, stopping off for fried squid and churros in Madrid, before working his way through Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, Andalusia and Catalonia.

This detailed journey sees Martin searching out ingredients, sampling fine dining as well as rustic eateries, all while researching recipes, which are split into light bites, shellfish, fish, poultry and game, meat, and pudding cakes.

The book features Spanish classics such as chorizo and white bean soup; black rice with squid, monkfish and octopus; calamari with salsa and aioli; and burnt Basque cheesecake, but chefs will revel in the fact that the majority of recipes are lesser-known dishes or ideas taken from the simplicity of quality Spanish produce.

Take the Riojan dish of blacken barbecued leeks, dressed with a warm hazelnut dressing and lardons, or a hearty dish of Vigo pork and beef with turnip tops and chickpeas. His two chapters dedicated to shellfish and fish feature beautiful photography of typical markets and thoughtful recipes such as escabeche, which is found throughout Spain, Portugal and Latin America. In his version he barbecues mackerel and slices of Seville orange and serves with a sauce made from tomatoes, garlic, sherry vinegar, crushed peppercorns, star anise, thyme and smoked paprika.

For anyone dreaming of sunnier climes during the dark depths of winter, James Martin's Spanish Adventure will surely put some sunshine back on the menu.

James Martin's Spanish Adventure by James Martin (Quadrille, £27)