When visiting a country, we necessarily get to know its culinary traditions and offerings, which complete our idea of the visited destination.
Food is an expression of traditions, visions of life and taste for it, of connections and borrowings from other cultures, of history and contemporary relationships, as well as the peculiarities of the territory.
Spain is no exception to the rule and has a lot to show for it. Here are the culinary masterpieces of Spanish cuisine that you should not miss out on.
1. Cocido madrileño is a hearty dish made with meat and vegetables, most popular in winter, but served all year round in some restaurants. The name of this dish literally means stew from Madrid and is a three-course meal of soup, chickpeas, vegetables and meat. The name alone does not determine what goes into the mix. Chickpeas are essential. Potatoes, carrots and cabbage are usually added, but sometimes leeks, turnips and green beans are also included.
2. Huevos rotos is a dish consisting of several fried eggs on fries. The dish is often accompanied with slices of chorizo, slices of Iberian ham, seafood or other types of meat or fish. Huevos rotos involves eggs fried in a large amount of olive or other fat. In Madrid, the dish is based on a pan-fried egg with a runny yolk, accompanied by fries, some kind of meat - usually ham, bacon or a sausage such as chorizo or chistorra. The dish is served hot, immediately after its preparation.
3. Bocadillo de calamares in English means calamari sandwich and consists of rolled into flour calamari and fried in olive oil. The basic version of this hot sandwich only includes fried calamari and fresh crispy bread, although there are certain styles that pour the sandwich with either tomato and red pepper puree or homemade garlic mayo.
4. Jamon Ibérico - black Iberian meat - this Spanish food is made from cured ham that comes from black pigs raised on the Iberian Peninsula. It is an unique ham that must contain, according to official Spanish rules, at least fifty percent black Iberian pig of local origin. This cured ham has a smooth texture and a rich and spicy flavor.
5. Tostada Con Tomate - fresh tomato and olive oil on toast - a Spanish dish commonly served for breakfast, especially in the Andalusia region. It's just toast that's topped with fresh tomatoes, olive oil and a little salt for seasoning. It is a classic Spanish tapas that is very easy to prepare and allows you to make an appetizing meal with just plain bread and simple ingredients.
6. Tortilla De Patatas - Potato Frittata or Spanish Omelet with Eggs and Potatoes - Spanish Tortilla Tortilla de patatas is as distinctive as it is traditional in Spanish cuisine. This egg and potato omelet is usually served at room temperature as a tapas. Another version of this dish is with onions. The addition of onions is quite unusual because it calls into question the quality of the tortilla. It is known in Spanish-speaking countries as tortilla de patatas.
7. Callos A La Madrileña - Traditional Madrid Stew - Callos a la Madrilena is a rich stew that is enjoyed all over Spain, even though it was first made in Madrid. There are a number of ingredients: beef, chickpeas, blood sausage, peppers, chorizo sausage, onion, tomato sauce, garlic, paprika, bay leaves, parsley, saffron, breadcrumbs, vinegar and garbanzo beans. With all these savory ingredients, Madrid stew is naturally on tourists' list of must-try dishes when visiting Spain.
8. Chocolate churros - this is a dessert offered in restaurants in Madrid that consists of two components: an long pastry lightly coated with sugar and served on a plate and melted chocolate served in a glass. Each piece is dipped in the melted chocolate and the combination of pastry and chocolate reveals its great taste.
9. Garlic Soup - Perfect Bread Soup - Garlic soup is a traditional Spanish soup and perfect for dipping bread in. In Castilian culture it's called sopa de ajo and it's made with Spanish bread, poached egg in chicken broth and sherry.
10. Gazpacho and salmorejo - nutritious cold soups with vegetables - there are several differences that distinguish the two different types of cold soups. Gazpacho is often made with vegetables such as onions and peppers. This soup is characterized by the fact that it is drunk from a glass. Salmorejo soup usually contains only tomatoes and sometimes a clove of garlic. Salmorejo is eaten from a bowl.
11. Spanish Tortilla - egg and potato omelet served at room temperature. Tortilla española, or Spanish omelet, is a widely available dish in most Spanish-speaking countries. Well-fried potatoes, olive oil, beaten egg and salt are used to make this omelet, which is usually served at room temperature as a tapas. Some versions include minced onion, although this addition is controversial among tortilla española purists.
12. Patatas Bravas - the best Spanish food - Patatas bravas, also called patatas a la brava, translates as spicy potatoes. It's made with diced white potatoes that are fried twice until crispy, then topped with a spicy tomato sauce consisting of onion, garlic, chili powder and paprika. The dish originated in Madrid and is traditionally served as tapas in bars and restaurants in many regions of Spain.
13. Spanish Burgers - Extremely popular in the West, burgers have become even more desirable in other countries where they are not a traditional food, as is the case in Spain. Many varieties of burgers can be found in Madrid, which include ingredients such as beef, pork, ostrich and even exotic offerings such as zebra meat. Finishing off the burger is usually an array of fresh vegetables and flavorful cheeses.
Each of these Spanish dishes has its most popular places to try, which are good to be part of selected food visits, especially if it is a culinary tourism because there the taste is authentic, the recipes are tested and the serving guarantees maximum enjoyment of the taste as well as the most accurate idea of the dish being tried. They are the basis that is needed for comparison when further encountering these dishes in other regions or presented in a local version from a different culture.
See more of our delicious Spanish Desserts suggestions.
