With seventeen autonomous regions, Spain is full of diverse landscapes and culture, and as you can imagine, food and wine! Though the country has an eclectic array of cuisine, the foundation of Spanish cooking is simple: it’s all about using fresh local produce to make traditional dishes from old family recipes. From tasty tapas to mouthwatering seafood and traditional stews, Spanish food has won the hearts (and stomachs!) of many.
Here are 7 must-try foods in Spain for your next trip!
Authentic Paella in Valencia
Of course we have to start with paella! We recommend trying it in its birthplace, Valencia! Paella has evolved from a rice dish that was mixed with rabbit, snails and vegetables. Now Spain’s most well-known and colorful meal is enjoyed with fish, seafood, or chicken, and of course lots of sangria!
Learn how to cook authentic Valencian paella with our host Jose while snacking on tapas and drinking sangria! If you would like to taste more of the delicacies that the historic city has to offer, try out a Valencia Traditional Food Tour with host Daniele!
Tortilla Española
Talking about how simple the basis of foods in Span is, Tortilla Española is a perfect example. This Spanish omelet is made out of eggs, potatoes and onions. Seriously that’s it, and yet each one tastes different and everyone insists that their mother makes the best! Perfectly cooked by slow frying the potatoes and onions in lots of olive oil, before mixing in beaten eggs, you cannot visit Spain without trying this delicious dish!
Feast on tortilla Española among other traditional Spanish food from a Spaniard’s family recipes in Madrid. This experience will allow you to fully immerse yourself in the rich culture of Spain!
Jamón Ibérico
The Spanish absolutely love their ham and at the top of the leader board is Jamón Ibérico. This quality ham obtains its distinctive nutty flavor purely from what the black Iberian pigs eat: acorns! It is often enjoyed with pieces of toast covered in garlic, tomato, a drizzle of olive oil, and the flavorful jamón – an exquisite lunch you’ll just have to try for yourself!
Experience a magical Iberian dinner with a local and discover the beautiful city of Madrid in a different light!
Gazpacho
Gazpacho, a refreshing cold tomato soup, originated in the region of Andalusia and now is widely eaten throughout Spain and Portugal, especially in the summer. A perfect dish served al fresco on a hot summer’s day, Gazpacho is refreshingly cool yet has a subtle tartness and acidity that gives you a much needed kick. If you are looking for a food in Spain that will give you a much needed respite from the sun, Gazpacho won’t let you down!
How do the Spaniards cope with the scorching sun? Join a Gazpacho cooking class with a local chef in Benalmádena and find out!
Patatas Bravas
You can’t talk about the foods in Spain without mentioning the most prevalent tapas dish in the country: Patatas Bravas! Although the dish varies around each region of Spain, the components are similar, including chunks of fried potato with a tomato-like sauce. This simple but delicious snack is a tapas that should be on the top of your list!
See first hand the variations that each tapas dish can bring to the table by enjoying a Terrific Tapas Tours in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona!
Gambas al Ajillo
Gambas al Ajillo is a dish that you can find in any Spanish bar. As soon as you see someone receiving the earthenware dish of sizzling prawns, the tantalizing aroma will reach your nose, and you’ll be saying “I’ll have what they are having!” A simple combination of fried garlic, green chilli, and olive oil mixed in with prawns and parsley, this tapas dish couldn’t be any tastier.
Chocolate and Churros
What better way to end our must-try foods in Spain list than with something for the dessert lovers! Perhaps one of the best known desserts in Madrid, and a delicacy all around Spain, chocolate and churros is something that you cannot miss when you travel here.
Warning though, once you try them once, you will be hooked and you will eat nothing else all holiday! Delicious and light doughnut-like sticks sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon, this dish can be enjoyed any time of day. Do as the locals do and dip it in your coffee in the morning or in a hot cup of chocolate and drink the rest!
Try this delicious treat among many other Spanish delicacies in Barcelona's Gastronomy Walking Tour tasting!
So, has this list left you salivating at the thought of trying these delicious creations? If so, step away from the screen and get to Spain to devour its regions! If you don’t know where to start, the best place to begin and discover foods in Spain is with the locals.
At Eatwith, we offer authentic and immersive food experiences all over the world, so pick your city, pick your experience, and surround yourself with food and culture!
