One of the most compelling aspect of travel is trying new food. Whether it’s good or bad, exploring somewhere through food is part of a trip. As someone obsessed with food, I picked two places with notoriously good food for my first trip to Europe. We started with Spain, where everything we ate was memorable. But there are a few dishes to eat in Spain that are absolute musts to try while you’re there.
Spanish cuisine varies by region, but a few dishes are served throughout the country. Whether you’re in Barcelona, Madrid, or beyond, here is what to eat in Spain.
What to Eat in Spain :: 7 Dishes to Eat
1. Ham :: Jamón Ibérico
Spain is famous for ham. And not just any ham, cured Iberian ham made from black Iberian pigs who spend their lives eating acorns and olives, which is actually reflected in the pork’s flavor. The ham is dried for two weeks, rinsed, dried for another 4-6 weeks, then cured for a year. The melt-in-your-mouth, slightly salty, juicy slices of pork are often served with cheese and other charcuterie and can be found all over Spain.
2. Tomato Bread :: Pa Amb Tomàquet
I anticipated eating jamón ibérico before heading to Spain but had never heard of Pa amb tomàquet before. The dish is simple but deliciously satisfying. Bread, sometimes toasted, is rubbed with garlic, then tomatoes until they are crushed, then topped with olive oil and salt. It often accompanies charcuterie plates or served as an appetizer; found mostly in the Catalonia and Majorca regions.
3. Spicy Potatoes :: Patatas Bravas
Patatas bravas, or fried white potatoes topped with a spicy tomato or aioli sauce, are another staple in Spanish cuisine. Originally from Madrid, the potatoes are popular in many regions in Spain. But the sauce varies depending on local cuisine. (In Valencia patatas bravas is topped with a red pepper and paprika sauce.)
4. Paella
Paella is another well-known Spanish dish that originates from the Moorish residents of Spain in the 15th Century. Since then, the dish has spread throughout the country with each region putting a local spin on the dish. Ingredients vary widely, but the main component is rice and vegetables flavored with saffron and paprika, cooked over an open flame and served in the cooking pan. Seafood, duck, chicken or rabbit is usually added.
5. Blood Sausage :: Morcilla
I didn’t know blood sausage was a thing in Spain and having promised myself I’d never touch the stuff, I unknowingly ordered morcilla in Madrid. Instantly overwhelmed with how delicious whatever it was I was eating, I later learned I’d just fallen for blood sausage. Which is exactly what it sounds like: cooked pork blood added to rice, onions, fat and salt and stuffed into a casing. It tasted like a rich sausage with a hint of sweetness. Like most dishes, different regions change the additions to the blood, adding potatoes, breadcrumbs or nuts instead of rice.
6. Huevos Estrallados
Fried eggs topped a multitude of dishes in Madrid. Turns out, huevos estrallados, fried eggs over fried potatoes, is a classic Madrid dish. Served with sliced meat or sausage (like chorizo), what seems like a breakfast dish to Americans makes a great dinner dish in Spain.
7. Anything with Seafood
Spain consumes the highest amount of seafood in all of Europe. Before I visited, I didn’t equate seafood with Spanish cuisine, but every restaurant we went to had a plethora of ocean-dwelling creatures on the menu. Octopus, squid, shrimp, anchovies, clams and other seafood dishes were a main part of our Spanish diets and all of it was amazingly, deliciously fresh. So wherever you are in Spain, order a seafood dish. It won’t disappoint!
What else to eat in Spain
Other dishes not to miss: gazpacho (from the Andalucia region), churros with chocolate (from Madrid), Anguilla or baby eels (another Madrid favorite; pictured at top), burrata in Toledo, Manchego cheese and croquetas, fried balls of dough stuffed with everything from vegetables to pork (found throughout Spain).
Related :: A 17-course dinner in Barcelona, the world’s oldest restaurant in Madrid, and how to decide what to do in Madrid.
Instructive for the first timers. Traveling abroad demands some basic knowledge of the particular culinary experience your about to discover. Assuming that burgers are out of the question, Spain offers great deal of unique treats. Try them and enjoy.
Love all of the above – except seafood. The bread with tomato is actually called pan con tomate restregado. The name you used isnt even Spanish. One important tapa found throughout Spain that you missed, is Ensaladilla Rusa. Amazing!
That’s the Catalan name for it. They also call it pan tumaca.
I agree about the ensaladilla rusa.
The cold soups, gazpacho and salmorejo, are delicious also and many other dishes.
I am stunned, why Barcelons?? Jamon Iberico might be found all over Spain, but it comes from Extremadura. Paella is indigenous to Valencia, the picture you have is ARROZ MARINERO from Andalucia. The Spanish cuisine is diverse and oh so delicious, it is a shame you failed to give credit to other regions.