Instead of photos of grand landscapes, today I tempt your taste buds…with delectable Spanish food. I was in Spain for three weeks this summer and had the opportunity to eat at high-end and rustic places. I even learned how to cook Spanish food for myself. Spain is full of regional food specialties; however, on this trip, I was only in Valencia and Barcelona, but both were packed with food options. So, pull up a chair, tuck the napkin into your collar, pick up a fork, and join me for this photo feast!
Table of Contents
Paella
Valencia is known for its paella. A traditional rice dish normally made with meat, vegetables, or seafood is made in a special paella pan. A very, very big pan.
Tapas
Tapas are part of the Spanish way of life. Whenever you go to a bar and buy a drink, you’ll be served small portions of food – anything from a few nuts or a bowl of olives to a mini gourmet meal. I went on a Tapas tour of Barcelona provided by Viator Tours and learned a bit about the tapas culture in Barcelona. I was able to taste a few, too!
Learn how to order and enjoy pintxos in San Sebastian, Spain
The word tapa means ‘lid’ or ‘covering,’ and according to tradition, the first tapas were slices of ham placed over a glass to keep the flies out. Now, they’ve turned into an artistic presentation of a variety of foods that you nibble with your glass of wine to hold you over until dinner time.
Spanish Food Specialties
Pork from the Iberian Pig
I fell in love with the cured pork called Jamón ibérico (cured ham leg from the black Iberian pig). I ate it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Tomatoes
Gazpacho – a cold tomato soup. Mmmmm – so fresh!
Salted Cod
The flavor is magnificent! You soak the cod and remove the salt before serving, leaving a flavorful fish feast!
Drinks
And, of course, you have to have something to wash all of that yummy food down with.
Horchata (orxata de tufa) is a Spanish drink made from tiger nuts, water, and sugar. In the summer, it’s served with ice and a little pastry for dipping!
Or if you are looking for alcohol, then you must have a Mojito while in Spain!
Bottom’s up and bon appetit!
What’s your favorite Spanish food? Please share in the comments!
Disclosure: Oh Barcelona Apartments is hosting my accommodation in Barcelona. My trip to Valencia and surrounding areas was provided by Tour Spain and Valencia Tourism. However, all of the opinions expressed here though are my own – as you know how I love to speak my mind!
By Ian Pinchen October 21, 2011 - 8:03 am
Don’t know what it’s called but there is a fabulous Galician restaurant in Barcelona which does a beautiful dish (something like a casserole) based on beans, sausage and an olive oil/tomato sauce. Fantastic with a local wine or beer.
By MUGS October 21, 2011 - 8:48 am
Nice post, its made me hungry allready! nothing like travelling & eating local delights. I do have a little more info for you. Tapas and pinchos. there’s a slight difference. Pichos are tipically from the basque country, Very well prepared and expensivish. tapas on the other hand is a typical spanish dish. But where it really originates from is the south, Andalucía and Almería, the only two reagons in Spain where you will get served a HUGE & FREE plate to acompany your drink. Tapas in Barcelona on the other hand (i’ve lived here for more than 7 years) arent really “tapas”. They are basque “pinchos” desguised as “tapas” just to grab the tourist’s attention. One way or another… they are mouth watering
By Sherry October 21, 2011 - 3:00 pm
Thanks for all of the extra info…I love it!
By MUGS October 21, 2011 - 8:50 am
GRANADA IS TAPAS COUNTRY! IF anyone has the chance to go, I recommend it!
By Sherry October 21, 2011 - 3:00 pm
I hope to make it there next time! This was my first trip to Spain, so many things to see…and EAT!
By MUGS October 21, 2011 - 11:11 am
Maybe IAn is thinking of “pote gallego” or Fabada asturiana… YUM!
By RenegadePilgrim October 21, 2011 - 1:25 pm
Currently in northern Spain in La Rioja in a small town called Santo Domingo de la Calzada. They serve pinchos here…although I think the correct term is actually raciones, but I could be wrong. What I am describing is a small piece of bread with something on top of it. We have had ham, olives, cheese, shrimp and a variety of other items in various combinations on top of the bread and they have been delicious!
In Galicia, I love pulpo gallego and caldo gallego. In Basque country, I love cidre to drink. In La Rioja, I love their wine and patatas de riojana. All one has to do is walk the Camino de Santiago to experience the different cuisines of Northern Spain!
By Sherry October 21, 2011 - 2:59 pm
I’ve only been to Valencia and Barcelona so far – but there are so many places I want to go and the Camino is def. on my list for next year!!
By fotoeins | Henry October 21, 2011 - 2:28 pm
Why does Spain rock so much? See the present post by Sherry …
I think a series of posts about the comparing and contrasting different styles of tapas from madrileño to north and south would be so much fun to try, eat, photograph, and write. 🙂
By Sherry October 21, 2011 - 2:59 pm
Ha – one would have to do lots of research for that article…such a burden…:)
By fotoeins | Henry October 21, 2011 - 3:19 pm
One heckuva great burden, one which I’m sure we’d all like to partake and share. 🙂
I forgot to mention I’ve only visited Madrid, Granada, and Sevilla. It is definitely very interesting and so very tasty to try tapas in Andalucía, but a “tapas tour” led by a friend in Madrid was great fun, too.
By RenegadePilgrim October 26, 2011 - 1:39 am
Sherry, whenever you decide to do the Camino, let me know. I would be happy to help you with your planning. I am going to walk the Portugues Route next year from Porto to Santiago de Compostela, then Finisterre, finishing in Muxia. Cannot wait to get back walking…
By Sherry October 27, 2011 - 5:02 am
Thanks! I’m considering it for this coming spring! Sounds like you have lots of experience with it!
By RenegadePilgrim October 28, 2011 - 12:04 pm
Here is a new blog post I wrote about doing the Camino. It’s basic, but a good place to start. Feel free to email with any questions.
http://bit.ly/rQfqo2
By Ian Pinchen October 21, 2011 - 3:16 pm
The food all sounds fantastic – I want to get on my bike and head south now – food and photography; but like Sherry, I’ll have to wait till next year when I hope to do El Camino and, I hope, Salamanca. What a beautiful country…
By Nancy & Shawn Power... Inspiring YOU to Travel! October 21, 2011 - 5:43 pm
You’re right … now we are hungry. Salted fish, we thought that was only a Newfoundland thing- we love it in a dish called “Fish and Bruise”.
Yum, gotta go have a meal now.
Bye.
Nancy & Shawn
By Kiera October 21, 2011 - 8:55 pm
I agree with Mugs on tapas vs Pinchos, although I thought they’re spelled Pinxtos. Or at least in Basque region they are. Love love love Jamon Iberico. And what about Sangria? I had that everywhere!
By Lauren (Spanish Sabores) October 25, 2011 - 6:13 pm
Spanish food is amazing and tapas are the best way to experience a variety in a short time. My favorite cold tomato soup is not the better known gazpacho, but rather its thicker counterpart, salmorejo. Salmorejo is thicker– it includes bread and hard boiled egg- and people like to top it with jamón serrano. I could eat it every day in the summer. Spain is all about the quality of its products and I really appreciate that. Great post and hopefully you’ll come back soon! Andalucía has great homestyle cooking (and is dirt cheap).
By Sherry October 27, 2011 - 5:03 am
Oh my Salmorejo sounds SO good. Now I’m upset I didn’t have any when I was there. Sounds like a must!
By An Expat in Spain October 26, 2011 - 2:33 pm
Argh! This was such a great post until you put mojitos on the list. Mojitos are from Cuba and, until about 10 years ago, were not common in Spain (except around beach areas). In general, Spain doesn’t have a tradition of cocktails (sangría being a notable exception).
By Lauren (Spanish Sabores) October 26, 2011 - 5:28 pm
I know that everyone has a different experience as an expat in Spain but I’d like to defend the author by saying that she never said Mojitos are Spanish! I’ve lived in Spain for a few years and despite their lack of cocktail culture, I’ve found that most bars make a version of the mojito and the caipirinha. Now, I’ve had some pretty awful ones, but I’ve also had some of the best (compared to the US, not Cuba). Since Spain has no signature cocktail (I wouldn’t include sangría since I’ve never met a Spaniard who drinks it…) I’d say the mojito is pretty much their adopted cocktail and to definitely enjoy one while here!
By An Expat in Spain October 26, 2011 - 6:16 pm
Hmm. I’m actually very happy that cocktail culture has come to Spain. Just like I’m happy that, unlike ten years ago, I can now find pretty good sushi here. But I don’t think Cubans and Japanese would want to see those placed in an entry on “Spanish Food Specialties.” Though I’ll concede that it is lovely to drink a good mojito, anywhere.
There is actually a local cocktail in Valencia called “agua de Valencia,” an orange juice mimosa-like drink. And locals drink it. If you haven’t tried it, I encourage you to do so the next time you come through here.
By Sherry October 27, 2011 - 5:01 am
Regardless – I love the conversation happening here…and quite frankly all this talk about mojitos has made me thirsty for one! True – Mojitos are not naturally Spanish, but they are certainly served all over Barcelona and Valencia. Thanks for all of your input and I’ll be sure to try the agua de Valencia next time I’m there!
By Mark H October 31, 2011 - 5:04 pm
Maybe not so much in North America with Mexico’s influence, but Spanish cuisine is greatly underrated in Australia. You highlight so many reasons why Spanish food should be so much more popular.
By Clare November 2, 2011 - 1:16 pm
Nice post and some fab pics. Having lived in Spain for 3 years until recently, we fell in love with spanish food. As many have said – great ingredients, simply cooked and delicious. In Madrid the fish selection was amazing (some call it the main port of Spain!) we adore jamon, have learnt to appreciate a good tortilla. My children’s favourites are croquetas and cazon/bien mesabe (a kind of shark, marinated and deep fried). MMmmmm feeling rather peckish now!
By Deb November 2, 2011 - 11:24 pm
Mmmm Yummy! Throw any thoughts of being Vegan out the window when visiting Spain. Cute little porky there is the star of the dinner table:) I’m hungry.
By Pol November 4, 2011 - 12:33 am
Looks great 🙂 ¡La comida española está muy rica! That’s why we have a several michelin star restaurants and we used to have one or the best restaurant in the world, El Bulli. Congrats for the blog
By Bret November 4, 2011 - 9:55 am
Note to self: No more using SU before breakfast. Great post!
By Drina Murphy November 4, 2011 - 1:08 pm
Great post! I love tapas, particularly patatas bravas and gambas. I am not too keen on gazpacho though although your pic makes it look very appealing:)
By Eveline November 8, 2011 - 10:35 am
Loved the post! I’m just back from Seville and the tapas there are amazing as well! We tried 15 restaurants in 3 days in a nice marathon of tapas:). Best tapa chosen: chipirones fritos and jamón de bodega, of course.
PS: I’m adding the link of the post in my blog for Brazilians.
By hi November 5, 2012 - 2:21 pm
ill cook it
By www.stylight.nl August 29, 2016 - 5:20 am
Awesome blog! Do you have any reecommendations for aspiring writers?
I’m planning to start my own websit soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
Woulpd you recommend starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many options out there that I’m totally overwhelmed ..
Anny recommendations? Cheers!
By Sherry August 29, 2016 - 11:49 am
To start out – then use the wordpress free option as you should make sure you like it first before you start sinking money into it. Also recommend a few different courses like this one – Superstar Blogging – it’s pretty awesome and a great way to get started and not waste time on things that aren’t important. Hope that helps!