Glossary A
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Amanida Catalana refers to salad of lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, olives, carrots, onions topped with slices cured sausage and dried sausages (cahrcuteria/embutits), ham, cheeses, eggs, tuna, anchovies, or whatever is preferred. It is either dressed by mayonnaise or an oil and vinegar dressing vinaigrette ) . Amanida Catalana is usually served as first course or starter.
Generally, salads are served as a side dish to complement a dish, however, in Catalonia in Spain they are more of a feature meal than just a side dish and an Amanida Catalana also called Catalan Salad is a very substantial dish of a selection of meats and cheeses with a mixed salad, and often with at least two (2) varieties of olives.
In Catalonia, usually, each resturant has their own "signature mixture/combination" and good quality oil which is often used for dressing the salad. In a way, this "mixture" becomes the basis of the restaurants reputation. Somehow, a mark of a good restaurant is a good Amanida Catalana.
In Catalonia, a good Amanida Catalana must contain good quality ingredients and not just scraps of different salad ingredients and an olive oil with a good quality for its dressing
Amaro is the Italian word for bitter. It also refers to bitter liqueur, usually based on herbs.
Amazonia is name commonly used for Brazil's Amazon Basin.