In America, many of the Mexican-American dishes that we know of are derived from a combination of Spanish, Latin-American, and indigenous peoples' recipes. In some respects that means that truly authentic Spanish dishes have fallen by the wayside in the American culinary tradition. This doesn't mean that they're impossible to find, however. Plenty of restaurants serve up authentic Spanish cuisine. Find one today and allow your taste buds to sample one of the following delicious dishes.

Turrón

It seems like every European country has their own take on a holiday season nougat treat and Spain is no exception to the rule. This sweet confection consists of nougat combined with egg white and honey. It has a crisp, sweet, and almost refreshing flavor due to the presence of a light amount of honey. It can be found in two variations. The first, and most common, is jijona, which is smooth and easily digestible. The second form is chock-full of almonds, giving it a harder texture which sits on the stomach a bit more.

Gazpacho

This might be the Spanish dish that most Americans are familiar with. Although many people assume that it is "just" tomato soup, this is not the case. Gazpacho must be constructed from the reddest and ripest tomatoes and then combined with garlic, peppers, olive oil and cucumber. This mixture is then blended until it is incredibly smooth. This mixture is then chilled and served in a bowl or glass with a side of dipping bread. There is also a thicker version that utilizes ham in its base which is known as salmorejo.

Pisto

Pisto is a dish that is often favorably compared to ratatouille and can largely be found south of Madrid in La Mancha. Pisto is a dish that takes a considerable amount of time to prepare. Garlic, peppers, onions, courgettes, and tomatoes are slowly fried and drizzled with olive oil throughout the cooking time. Although often times served as an appetizer, pisto can make for a great entree as well, especially when served with something hearty, like chorizo and fried egg.

As you can see, Spanish dishes run the gamut from the sweet to the refreshing to the hearty and filling. Although not widely known throughout the United States, Spanish cuisine is becoming increasingly popular as people discover that it is a varied – as well as delicious – tradition. If you're not ready to venture into these dishes yet, check out Melting Pot Pizza for something more familiar and flavorful.