Top Spanish food that you cannot miss

One of the many reasons Spain is so attractive to Expats is its impressively large range of gastronomy. Whether you plan to live permanently or only stay for several months, you can always find an opportunity to savor the most popular food in this country. Restricted by the length of the article, we cannot sweep off all Spanish culinary pearls. Rather, these are only examples for you to understand where to start. We would encourage you to also try whatever other dishes that attract your attention. You might be amazed to find your favorite dish around the corner!

 

1. Paella and the variations

2. Jamón and other embutidos

3. Olives and olive oil

4. Tapas/Pinchos (Pintxos)

5. Fabada Asturiana

6. Pulpo a la gallega

7. Advice from Adeslas

 

 

1. Paella and the variations

 

Paella is one of the symbolic Spanish dishes that cannot be missed. Most scholars believe that Paella originated from the city of Valencia, where the plentiful seafood met the Roman irrigation system and the rice brought by the Moorish. Nowadays, you can find paella easily in nearly every Spanish restaurant, especially in coastal autonomous regions like Valencia and Catalonia. But some people argue that the best paella still comes from Valencia.

 

Paella is not only about seafood. Paella with meat and other veggie versions have also gained momentum in the last few years. Some people believe that this variation can be attributed to the Islamic Andalusian way of making paella by mixing rice, different vegetables, seafood, and even meat.

 

 

Less known to tourists, Fideuà is another beloved variation of paella. But instead of putting rice in the pot, pasta is the key protagonist in this rival dish of Paella. This dish is popular in Catalonia and Valencia.

 

 

2. Jamón and other embutidos

 

Jamón, or curated ham, is one of the most recognized Spanish food. The best and the most expensive among all jamón products is the Iberian black pig ham 100% fed with acorn (Jamón Ibérico 100% de Bellota). It can best interpret the meaning of gourmet. You can also find other tasty variations like normal Iberian ham (jamón ibérico) and jamón serrano.

 

Apart from Jamón, there exist other beloved embutidos (curated meat) products that are worth trying: paleta, lomo, chorizo, sachichón, etc... We would highly recommend you try as much as you can, as they are so different in texture and flavor. They are all unique.

 

 

 

3. Olives and olive oil

 

Another star product of the healthy Mediterranean recipe is olives and of course, olive oil. Spain produces almost half of the world´s supply of olive oil, and Spanish olive oil is the most awarded in the world. Usually, Andalusia is considered the best place for olive oil for its superior climate and production techniques. Olive oil is known as the ¨liquid gold¨, it´s a daily pleasure and healthy option to add extra virgin olive oil to your daily salad, vegetables, pasta, bread, or toast.

 

 

4. Tapas/Pinchos (Pintxos)

 

Tapas or Pinxhos is another part of the unmissable Spanish gastronomic culture. Tapas means “a portion of food served”. It is not a single dish, but rather a range of dishes served in small portions. Tapas are a good option to try different food and save money. Famous tapas include: olivas (olives), patatas bravas (potatos), calamar a la romana (fried squid), tortilla de patatas (potato omelette), pimiento del padrón (small Green peppers). Seafood tapas are another typical choice for coastal cities and are good choices for the aperitif, such as ostras (Oysters), Almejas (clams), Percebes (goose barnacles), Vieras (Scallops), croquetas (croquette)

 

 

Pinchos are similar to Tapas, but it is normally served on a piece of bread with a cocktail stick. They are the traditional food of Northern Spain and are especially popular in the Basque Country, Navarre, La Rioja, Cantabria, and Asturias.

 

 

5. Fabada Asturiana

 

As indicated in the name, the Fabada Asturiana is typical of Asturia. It is a rich Spanish bean stew dish, which contains fabes de la Granja (Spanish white beans), Lacón (shoulder of pork), panceta(pancetta), bacon, morcilla (blood sausage), chorizo (spicy pork sausage), olive oil, pimentón (sweet paprika) and ajo (garlic). This is a very rich plate with typical Asturian ingredients, a great choice for meat lovers.

 

 

6. Pulpo a la gallega

 

Galicia is another seafood-rich autonomous region, and the most representative plate is pulpo a la gallega (Galicia-style octopus). It is a seemingly simple dish with octopus, potatoes, and sweet paprika. If you are a seafood lover that prefers the natural flavor of fresh seafood, you shouldn’t miss this emblematic plate.

 

 

7. Advice from Adeslas

 

Spain is a foodie-friendly nation, where you can enjoy the richness of tasty food with a balanced diet and high-quality ingredients. If you want to have a carefree stay in Spain, we highly recommend taking a look at our medical insurance, which will have you fully covered for any illness or mishaps that might occur and ensure you a safe and joyful gastronomic journey.

 

If you like to know more about living in Spain, click one of these blogs below: 

• The best places to live in Spain for Expats with different needs
• Curious facts you need to know before moving to Spain
• Cost of living: Is it cheap to live in Spain?
• Reside in Spain: live a unique Mediterranean life

 

Our content will be updated according to the most recent legislation. Last update: 17/07/2023