The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Spanish Foods. If you manage to be in an Spanish restaurant or you are visiting Spain, I recommend the following:
1. Paella
It is probably the most famous Spanish dish in the world. However, it’s important to get the good stuff. Ask your hotel concierge or any local person you meet to recommend places where you can try good paella. It is revered in Valencia, the place of its origin. The best version of this rice dish is flavoured with saffron and comes packed with prawns and mussels mixed with vegetables. You’ll also find varieties that include chicken or rabbit, and some that include black rice thanks to the squid ink colouring.
2. Croquetas
Although they originate from France, in our country it is also very typical to eat a good portion of croquettes. Whether they are made with ham, meat, tuna, cheese or whatever you like. What’s more, they are very easy to make at home. They are made with a base of béchamel sauce accompanied by the star ingredient of the croquette (whether it is cheese, ham, tuna, the options are endless). Once the dough is ready, all you have to do is let them cool, shape them, coat them in batter and they’re ready to eat in the pan.
3. Pisto
The pisto manchego is a dish based on vegetables from the garden (tomato, courgette, peppers, onion) cut into cubes and cooked in a frying pan. It is usually served with a fried egg or as a side dish. There are many variations and they all revolve around the same base of tomato and green pepper. The other ingredients are added, which makes this recipe one of the most versatile in our gastronomy.
4. Pulpo a la Gallega
For seafood lovers, this is a must! It is one of the most famous dishes in Spain. It is cooked octopus that is cut into small pieces. The octopus is drizzled with a little olive oil and seasoned with a touch of cayenne pepper. You’ll find it on almost every menu and once you try it, you’re likely to order it continuously throughout your trip.
5. Tortilla Española
It is, par excellence, Spain’s most typical dish. And probably one of the Spanish people’s favourites. A freshly made tortilla always goes down well at any time of the day. The tortilla is made with potatoes and eggs. Look for places that are well known for their tortillas and you won’t regret it. It can come in a variety of forms so you can have fun trying them all.
6. Patatas Bravas
This dish contains chunks of fried potatoes that are covered with a red brava sauce made from tomatoes and cayenne. It’s a little spicy, but nothing you can’t handle. The sauce is what makes it amazing. It goes great with late afternoon cocktails and plenty of friends to share it with.
7. Gambas al Ajillo
This intensely popular Spanish dish sounds ordinary, but don’t let that stop you because it is truly extraordinary. It is a dish of garlic prawns that is often served in tapas form, especially in the southern regions of Spain. Shrimp and garlic are combined with olive oil, dry sherry, fresh lemon juice, sweet paprika and fresh parsley. The sauce alone is something you will do everything you can to collect every last drop. Every shrimp dish you have after this will pale in comparison.
8. Fabada
Fabada is a traditional dish made with fabes (large beans) with black pudding, chorizo and bacon. It is a very hearty dish that is very strong in the stomach. Because of its consistency, it is very typical to eat in winter.
9. Leche Frita
Fried milk is a very typical dessert of Spanish gastronomy that basically consists of milk that after a simple procedure we make it a little thicker, after adding a flavour to make it tastier, it is coated in sugar and cinnamon and fried for a few minutes to give it a golden colour and a crunchy consistency.
10. Gazpacho
Gazpacho is the Spanish cold soup you may have heard of. It consists of tomatoes, olive oil, vinegar, cucumbers, onions, carrots and garlic. Every region of Spain has its own version of gazpacho. If you like it during your travels in Spain, ask for it in every region you visit. It’s fun to discover the subtle differences that each region imparts on this iconic Spanish soup.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional European Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.