Spain: Recipes and Cuisine

The cuisine of Spain is less well known than that of other Mediterranean countries, but Spanish cooking has the Mediterranean emphasis on fresh local ingredients, strong regional traditions and high quality artisanal products.

Seafood is abundant on the long coasts. Hearty cocido stews warm up cold winter nights on central plain. Rice dishes are popular around Valencia. Piquillo peppers flavor food in the Basque region.

Small dishes called tapas have become popular around the world. Famous Spanish food includes serrano ham, chorizo sausage, Manchego cheese and rioja wine.

Typical Spanish Dishes

A list of typical Spanish dishes and foods. Use it to help you plan a Spanish-style meal, party or festival.

Tapas (Appetizers)

• Aceitunas Aliñadas (Marinated olives)
• Buñuelos de Bacalao (Salt cod fritters)
• Empanadas (Stuffed pastries)
• Mejillones Fritos (Deep-fried mussels)

Sopas y Guisados (Soups and Stews)

• Caldo Gallego (Soup with vegetables and greens)
• Fabada Asturiana (Bean stew)
• Gazpacho (Chilled tomato-cucumber soup)
• Sopa al Cuarto de Hora (Seafood soup)
• Sopa Juliana (Vegetable soup)

Pollo y Aves (Poultry)

• Arroz con Pollo (Chicken with rice)
• Pichones Estofados (Stewed squab)
• Pollo Chilindrón (Chicken with tomatoes and peppers)

Carne (Meats)

• Chorizo (Spicy pork sausage)
• Cocido Madrileño (Meat, garbanzo and vegetable stew)
• Cordero a la Navarra (Lamb chops in tomato sauce)
• Empanadas Gallegas (Stuffed pastries)
• Lacón con Grelos (Pork and greens)
• Riñones al Jeres (Kidneys with sherry)

Mariscos (Fish and Seafood)

• Almejas a la Marinera (Clams in white wine sauce)
• Angulas al Ajillo (Eels with garlic)
• Arroz Negro (Black rice with squid)
• Bacalao al Pil Pil (Salt cod in spicy garlic sauce)
• Calamares en su Tinta (Squid in ink sauce)
• Gambas al Ajillo (Shrimp sautéed with garlic)
• Pulpo a Feira (Octopus with potatoes)
• Truchas a la Navarra (Pan-fried trout)
• Zarzuela de Mariscos (Spanish seafood stew)

Vegetales y Frijoles (Vegetables and Beans)

• Fabada Asturiana (Bean stew)
• Habas a la Catalana (Catalan-style fava beans)
• Habas con Chorizo (Fava beans with spicy sausage)
• Judías Verdes con Tomate (Green beans with tomatoes)
• Patatas en Salsa Verde (Potatoes in parsley sauce)
• Tortilla de Patatas (Potato omelet)

Pan y Granos (Breads and Grains)

• Arroz con Pollo (Chicken with rice)
• Arroz Negro (Black rice with squid)
• Migas (Stale bread simmered with garlic and pork)
• Paella Valenciana (Rice with sausage and seafood)
• Pan de Horno (Basic baked bread)

Salsas y Condimentos (Sauces and Condiments)

• Ali-oli (Garlic mayonnaise)
• Mayonesa (Mayonnaise)
• Mojo Picón (Canarian spicy olive oil sauce)
• Romescu (Pepper-almond sauce)

Postres (Desserts)

• Arroz con Leche (Rice pudding)
• Brazo de Gitano (Rolled spongecake)
• Churros (Deep-fried pastry dough)
• Ensaimadas (Mallorcan pastries)
• Flan de Leche (Caramel custard)
• Queimada (Caramelized brandy)
• Quesada (Cheesecake)
• Turrón (Nougat)

Bebidas (Beverages)

• Anís (Anise-flavored liqueur)
• Cava (Sparking wine)
• Horchata de Chufa (Tiger nut beverage)
• Sangría (Fruited wine)
• Te de Manzanilla (Chamomile tea)
• Vino (Wine)
• Xeres (Sherry)

Spanish Recipes

Try these recipes from Spain.

Tortilla Española de Patata 
(Spanish open-faced potato omelet)

Tortilla Española de Patata 
(Spanish open-faced potato omelet)

Paella Valenciana 
(Spanish meat, vegetable and rice dish)

Paella Valenciana 
(Spanish meat, vegetable and rice dish)

Arroz con Leche 
(Latin rice pudding)

Arroz con Leche 
(Latin rice pudding)

Sofrito 
(Latin flavoring base)

Sofrito 
(Latin flavoring base)

Aceitunas Aliñadas 
(Spanish marinated olives appetizer)

Aceitunas Aliñadas 
(Spanish marinated olives appetizer)

Judías Verdes con Tomate 
((Spanish green beans and tomatoes)

Judías Verdes con Tomate 
((Spanish green beans and tomatoes)

Salsa Romesco 
(Spanish, Catalan roasted pepper and nut sauce)

Salsa Romesco 
(Spanish, Catalan roasted pepper and nut sauce)

Gazpacho 
(Spanish chilled tomato-cucumber soup)

Gazpacho 
(Spanish chilled tomato-cucumber soup)

Fabada Asturiana 
(Spanish sausage and bean stew)

Fabada Asturiana 
(Spanish sausage and bean stew)

Arroz con Pollo 
(Latin chicken with rice)

Arroz con Pollo 
(Latin chicken with rice)

Sangría 
(Spanish fruited wine)

Sangría 
(Spanish fruited wine)

Sopa de Ajo 
(Spanish garlic and bread soup)

Sopa de Ajo 
(Spanish garlic and bread soup)

Flan de Leche 
(Latin caramel custard)

Flan de Leche 
(Latin caramel custard)

Habas con Chorizo 
(Spanish fava beans simmered with spicy sausage)

Habas con Chorizo 
(Spanish fava beans simmered with spicy sausage)

Empanadas 
(Latin savory stuffed pastries)

Empanadas 
(Latin savory stuffed pastries)

Puchero 
(Spanish meat and chickpea stew)

Puchero 
(Spanish meat and chickpea stew)

Sopa de Lentejas 
(Spanish red lentil stew)

Sopa de Lentejas 
(Spanish red lentil stew)

Mejillones Fritos 
(Spanish batter-fried mussels)

Mejillones Fritos 
(Spanish batter-fried mussels)

Pollo Chilindrón 
(Spanish chicken with tomatoes and peppers)

Pollo Chilindrón 
(Spanish chicken with tomatoes and peppers)

Horchata de Chufa 
(Spanish tiger nut beverage)

Horchata de Chufa 
(Spanish tiger nut beverage)

Zarzuela de Mariscos 
(Spanish seafood stew)

Zarzuela de Mariscos 
(Spanish seafood stew)

Migas 
(Portuguese, Spanish leftover bread dish)

Migas 
(Portuguese, Spanish leftover bread dish)

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