28 Spanish Recipes That Will Transport You Straight To Spain (2024)

FAQs

What are the 10 most common foods in Spain? ›

Paella is considered the national dish and originates from Valencia. According to the traditional recipe, paella is prepared with rabbit meat and vegetables. Today, however, there are countless variations: with fish and seafood, with meat and fish or even vegetarian.

Spanish people's love for food's also seen in the 5-6 meals they've in a day – breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, merienda (evening snack), tapas, or dinner. To help you navigate the Spanish way of eating throughout the day, we're sharing all you need to know about food in Spain.

Menú del día is traditionally a three-course meal, starting with a primer plato, or "first plate", mostly vegetable-based, followed by the segundo plato, or "second plate" (usually meat or fish) and finished with a postre, or dessert.

From Padron peppers to patatas bravas, and turrón to tapas, Spain knows how to pull out the stops when it comes to delicious food. Spanish food is simple and uses fresh, local ingredients, so it's no wonder dishes like paella and tapas have rightfully put the country on the world foodie map.

Paella: A Spanish Rice Delight

Widely regarded by tourists as Spain's national dish, paella is always a crowd-pleaser and family favorite. While it's now a staple in households and restaurants throughout Spain, the dish originally hails from the country's Valencia region.

Spain: The birthplace of churros, Spain offers the traditional long and twisted churro, often served with a thick, rich hot chocolate for dipping. In some regions, they may be thinner or thicker, and they are typically dusted with sugar and cinnamon.

Spice Level

Mexican cuisine is generally spicier compared to Spanish cuisine. Mexican dishes often feature a variety of chili peppers, both fresh and dried, adding heat and complexity to the flavors. Spanish cuisine tends to have more subtle and balanced flavors, using herbs and spices like paprika and saffron.

A tapa (Spanish: [ˈtapa]) is an appetiser or snack in Spanish cuisine. Tapas can be combined to make a full meal, and can be cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or hot (such as chopitos, which are battered, fried baby squid, or patatas bravas).

First, they place very little importance on breakfast and lunch is their biggest meal of the day, followed by a large dinner. Their day starts at 8:00 am and lunch is at around 2:00 – 3:00 pm.

What is Spain's national drink? ›

Sangría. Sangría is Spain's national drink, so of course it belongs on this list! Spain is famous for it's wine, which is the base of this drink. Lots of fresh fruit and a bit of sugar and cinnamon give this drink a sweet taste that you'll fall in love with at first sip.

Rice, for instance, claims the throne as one of the most consumed staple foods worldwide due to its versatility, affordability, and high caloric yield, making it a reliable source of sustenance for billions.

Pimentón, saffron and garlic. These are the three defining spices of Spain.

Festivals and holidays. Traditionally, most holidays in Spain have been religious in origin. At the national level the most important of these are Holy (or Maundy) Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Corpus Christi, the Feast of Saint James (July 25), and All Saints' Day (November 1).

Valencia in Eastern Spain is the undisputed home of paella. It is one of the largest natural ports in the Mediterranean and has been one of the most important rice-producing areas in Spain since rice was introduced by the Moors over 1200 years ago.