The Land of Tapas, Churros and Overflowing Wine
Gastronomy in Spain is wide-ranging with countless ways of preparing the same ingredients. With new and exciting dishes at nearly every meal, my tastebuds were never bored.
The Spaniards are die-hard foodies, and to find one not knowing how to cook is a rarity. This culinary passion was what kept my stomach full and happy throughout my recent Spanish trip, and you should experience it for yourself.
To aid you in this journey, we’ve put together a list of 10 delicious foods you have to eat in Spain.
1. Torrija
Out of the mountain pile of food I consumed in Spain, this tops my list of favourites. Torrija is a typical Spanish dessert of Lent and Holy Week. It is bread soaked in milk before being dipped in batter and fried.
Torrijas are often topped with glazed honey and caramel, and served with generous dollops of fresh cream. Once I took my first bite, nothing could stop me from devouring the entire thing!
Recommended Restaurant
Restaurante Ambigú
Address: Calle Cervantes, 7, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
Opening Hours: 12pm – 12am
2. Chochinillo (Roasted Suckling Pig)
Like Singapore and many other countries, Cochinillo (roasted suckling pig) is a celebratory dish in Spain. The piglet is fed only its mother’s milk before being roasted, so there won’t be any of that strong, distasteful pork flavour.
Cochinillo is one of the best pork meals I’ve had in my life. The outer-layer is crispy and golden, the meat is so juicy and tender, and there is not much fatty meat.
Chefs and restaurant owners make it a point to chop the pig up themselves whenever there is a special occasion. According to Spanish tradition, a porcelain plate is used to chop the pig up, then flung onto the ground to be smashed. I had the privilege of witnessing this ceremony and being part of the thunderous applause that came after.
Recommended Restaurant
Restaurante Mesón De Cándido
Address: Plaza Azoguejo, 5, 40001 Segovia, Spain
Opening Hours: 1:00–4:30 pm | 8:00–11:00 pm
3. Churros
They look a little like you tiao, but they are authentic Spanish churros! Most Singaporeans are no strangers to this sweet treat – you’ve all probably tasted some pretty good ones locally. But trust me, none of them can compare to those I had in the country of its conception.
Spanish churros are amazing. The ones I had were fresh, golden and crispy, giving that perfect crunch.
The high-quality chocolate that usually comes with any order of churros was warm, velvety and rich, but not to the point where it was too much to take. It made for such a delectable tea-time snack!
Recommended Cafés
Chocolatería Valor
Address: Calle Libreros, 14, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
Chocolatería San Gines
Address: Pasadizo San Ginés, 5, 28013 Madrid, Spain
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours
4. Rabo de Toro (Oxtail)
Traditionally, Rabo de Toro was prepared with the tails of bulls after bullfights. Today, oxtail remains a fine delicacy in Spain with a wide variety of preparations, and it’s one of the finest meats you will ever taste.
Rabo de Toro is extremely savoury. Just look at how tender that meat is! Many chefs in Spain come up with their own unique oxtail creations. One of the restaurants I dined at served this dish up with tangy mango sauce and sweet potato crisps, making for a tasty combination.
Recommended Restaurant
Nuevo Almacén Bar & Grill
Address: Calle Nueva, 7, 45001 Toledo, Spain
Opening Hours: 8am – 12.30am
5. Tortilla Española (Spanish Omelette)
This can be found in nearly every Spanish breakfast spread, and it’s really a sort of comfort food that appeals to everyone – an egg omelette filled with potatoes and fried in vegetable oil.
It’s a traditional Spanish dish that was born due to a scarcity of meat among the poor. What used to be a scorned upon dish has now evolved into a Spanish favourite, as people start to appreciate its simplicity and tastiness.
Recommended Restaurant
Las Carboneras Tablao
Address: Calle Conde de Miranda, 1, 28005 Madrid, Spain
Opening Hours: 7.30pm – 12am
6. Croquetas (Croquettes)
Nearly all Tapas bars and restaurants serve this creamy and delicious appetiser. Many restaurants in Spain give interesting twists to this classic dish. Some croquettes I had were stuffed with bits of jamón, octopus and cheese.
The croquettes I had were so good, with crispy batter on the outside and creamy mash and fillings on the inside. The creaminess is not overwhelming, and one will not be enough!
Recommended Restaurants
Las Tapas de Gonzalo Restaurant
Address: Plaza Mayor, 23, 37002 Salamanca, Spain
Opening Hours: 9am – 2am
Gourmet Experience at El Corte Inglés Department Store
Address: Calle de Raimundo Fernández Villaverde, 79, 28003 Madrid, Spain
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm
7. Pulpo (Octopus)
I never knew that seafood was common in Spain, so I was pleasantly surprised to find octopus on so many menus we dined at.
Some restaurants served a whole tentacle, while others had the octopus chopped up into bite-sized pieces. Regardless of its method of preparation, the octopuses I had in Spain were thick, juicy, and delicious when accompanied with savoury sauces!
Recommended Restaurants
Nuevo Almacén Bar & Grill
Address: Calle Nueva, 7, 45001 Toledo, Spain
Opening Hours: 8am – 12.30am
Restaurante Ambigú
Address: Calle Cervantes, 7, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
Opening Hours: 12pm – 12am
8. Migas
Migas simply refers to bread crumbs, and was originally a traditional breakfast dish made with leftover bread as a means of saving money.
Today, migas is a fashionable dish served as a main meal or as tapas. Many restaurants in Spain serve up their own unique versions of migas. The bread crumbs are fried till they’re a crispy, golden brown, and they are often served with meats, vegetables, and grapes to balance the savouriness.
Recommended Restaurant
Plademunt. The Imaginary Restaurant
Address: Junto Al Parking de la Paloma, 28801 Alcala De Henares, Spain
9. Steak
The Spaniards really know how to cook their beef. All the steaks I had were so tender, tasty, and easy to chew. They were always perfectly seasoned and accompanied with savoury sauces and sides.
The Spaniards are very careful about their steaks and only choose meats of the highest quality from older animals. If you ever get the chance to feast on steak in Spain, it’s going to be a treat for your tastebuds!
Recommended Restaurants
Gourmet Experience at El Corte Inglés Department Store
Address: Calle de Raimundo Fernández Villaverde, 79, 28003 Madrid, Spain
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm
Parador de Avila. Restaurante Piedras Albas
Address: Calle Marqués de Canales y Chozas, 2, 05001 Ávila, Spain
10. Jamón (Ham)
Jamón is thinly sliced, dry-cured Spanish ham. It’s a signature tapas dish of Spain, and boy does it taste good!
There are many different types of jamón, but my favourite is jamón ibérico which is ham from the black Iberian pig. It is fine, flavourful, and you won’t stop once you start.
Recommended Restaurants
Gourmet Experience at El Corte Inglés Department Store
Address: Calle de Raimundo Fernández Villaverde, 79, 28003 Madrid, Spain
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm
Las Tapas de Gonzalo Restaurant
Address: Plaza Mayor, 23, 37002 Salamanca, Spain
Opening Hours: 9am – 2am
BONUS: Sangria
This is not a type of food, but it deserves a special mention as it’s just so good and refreshing! A mixture of wine, chopped fruits, sweetener, and a tiny shot of brandy, Sangria is a typical Spanish beverage.
I’ve had Sangria in Singapore, but it had a pretty heavy flavour which didn’t appeal to me. I thought the Sangria in Spain would taste similar, but I was wrong.
The authentic Sangria I had was flavourful, citrusy, and sweet. It’s mixed so well that the flavours of the wine and brandy were still prominent, adding that much needed kick.
Sangria can be found anywhere in Spain, from busy markets to chilled-out bars to fancy restaurants.
Go Forth, Travel and Eat!
Now it’s time to embark on your own Spanish gastronomical adventure! We hope that this article has given you a better understanding of Spanish cuisine, and inspired you to explore this beautiful country to have a taste of its scrumptious food and wine.
If you’ve been to Spain and are dying to share some of your favourite dishes we’ve missed, feel free to do so in the comments below!
This post was brought to you by the Spain Tourism Board.