20 Spanish Dishes for All Seasons
Explore 20 Spanish dishes, from summer soups to hearty stews, and learn what to order in Spain.
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1. Paella2. Puntillitas3. Gazpacho4. Churros con chocolate5. Patatas bravas6. Horchata con fartons7. Salmorejo8. Croquetas9. Migas10. Morcilla11. Chorizo/Jamón12. Potaje13. Gambas al ajillo14. Cocido15. Calamares a la romana16. Flan17. Fideuà18. Empanadas19. Pulpo20. Tortilla de patatasSpain is so full of amazing food that it was hard to narrow this list down to only 20 dishes. It took many late night dinners and taste tests, but we have compiled our favourite 20 dishes that are classics in Spain.
1. Paella
Paella originated in Valencia. A traditional Valencian version combines rice with chicken, rabbit, green beans, garrofó (a large white bean), and often saffron. Ingredients vary among recipes, and the bean is not found only in Valencia.
Paella from a Spanish restaurant is amazing, but if you can somehow score paella made by a Spanish “abuela” (grandmother), you’ve hit the jackpot.
2. Puntillitas
Puntillitas are small squid, often served fried as a bite-sized tapa.
3. Gazpacho
With all of the heat in Spain, you’ve gotta have something cool and refreshing to eat. Gazpacho is a cold soup that is basically just blended tomato, bell pepper, onion, garlic, cucumber, olive oil, and vinegar. A version made only with vegetables is vegan, but check the ingredients and toppings if you have dietary restrictions.
4. Churros con chocolate
Fried dough sticks served with thick hot chocolate; some versions are sprinkled with sugar. What more could you ask for? These are typical in late winter, but can be eaten at any time throughout the year. That’s good news for us, because there’s a chance you might get addicted.
5. Patatas bravas
This is one of the most typical tapas in Spain. For those of you who don’t know, tapas are small dishes of food that are generally meant to share. These fried potatoes are served with a spicy salsa brava. Some places add alioli, a garlic sauce, but it is not required.
6. Horchata con fartons
Valencian horchata de chufa is a sweet, milky-looking drink made from tiger nuts. Its name does not mean “golden darling.” It is often served with fartons, soft, elongated sweet buns made for dipping.
7. Salmorejo
Like gazpacho, salmorejo is served cold. It is thicker: the base is blended tomato, bread, olive oil, garlic, and salt. Chopped hard-boiled egg and ham are common toppings, not ingredients that must be blended into the soup.
8. Croquetas
Croquetas have a creamy filling, usually based on béchamel, coated in breadcrumbs and fried. Common fillings include jamón (cured ham), bacalao (salt cod), and mushrooms.
9. Migas
Migas makes use of stale bread, moistened and cooked with olive oil, garlic, and often paprika. Ingredients vary by region; some versions include chorizo or other meat.
10. Morcilla
Morcilla may not be for the squeamish, as it is a sausage made from pork blood. Its very dark purple/almost black colour may put you off a bit, but put that out of your mind for a moment and take the plunge. It’s actually quite delicious!
11. Chorizo/Jamón
Chorizo is a paprika-seasoned pork sausage that may be mild or spicy. Jamón is cured ham, often served on its own or in a bocadillo (sandwich). These are different foods, so the list groups them here only for convenience.
12. Potaje
Potaje is a broad name for a hearty legume stew. Chickpeas, beans, or lentils can be cooked with vegetables; some recipes include meat, while others do not.
13. Gambas al ajillo
Gambas al ajillo are shrimp cooked with garlic and olive oil, often served as a hot tapa.
14. Cocido
Cocido is a family of stews with regional versions. Chickpeas, vegetables, and meat are common ingredients. In some versions, the broth is served first as a soup, followed by the chickpeas, vegetables, and meat.
15. Calamares a la romana
This is a dish that you’ve probably tried, or at least heard of. Calamares a la romana are squid rings coated in batter and fried, often served with a lemon wedge. Excellent when paired with an ice-cold Spanish beer.
16. Flan
Flan is a familiar dessert in Spain, though you will not find it in every home. Flan is a sort of custard dessert that can be eaten plain, or flavoured with things like coffee or caramel.
17. Fideuà
This dish is similar to paella, but made with small thin pasta instead of rice. It usually includes seafood such as squid. A dark version, fideuà negra, uses squid ink. Trust us on this one.
18. Empanadas
These can be found at almost any bakery in Spain, which means you’ll have to find a way to resist buying them at every street corner when passing by bakery windows. Empanadas are pastry pies with fillings that vary by region and bakery. Options can include meat, fish, vegetables, or cheese. Check the ingredients before assuming a vegetable-looking filling is vegetarian; some contain tuna.
19. Pulpo
Pulpo means octopus, not squid. One Galician preparation, pulpo á feira, serves cooked octopus with paprika, olive oil, and salt. A pulpería is a place specializing in octopus.
20. Tortilla de patatas
Spanish omelette, or “tortilla de patatas”, is a dish that you can find in almost any Spanish restaurant—and with good reason! It is an egg-and-potato omelette; onion is a common but optional addition, and may just be the definition of bliss.
If you’re headed to Spain, feel free to use this list as a sort of “Spanish bucket list” of foods you have to try while you’re in the country. But be warned: after trying all of this amazing food, you might not want to leave.
Traveling to a Spanish-speaking destination soon? This might help!
