Time for my favorite subject: food! Spanish food to be exact. My first introduction to Spanish cuisine was in the Basque Country, where I studied abroad. I loved stuffing my face with the pintxos (Basque for tapas) in San Sebastian. Of course, you can’t go to Spain without eating Paella so I also ate many plates of that. When I moved back to Spain to teach English, I branched out and tried a lot of regional and traditional dishes.
Every list of things to eat in Spain typically contains the usual suspects – paella, tapas, patatas bravas, tortilla española, gazpacho…. Those are great, but there are so many other delicious things to eat around the country. I want to show you some mouth-watering dishes from different regions of Spain. Here is a list of 5 dishes to eat in Spain that will leave you wanting more.
6 Dishes To Eat in Spain Besides Paella and Tapas
Rabo de Toro
Rabo de Toro literally means ‘tail of the bull,’ but sometimes the chefs replace the bull’s tail with oxtail. Doesn’t matter because it is still delicious! Rabo de Toro is my absolute favorite Spanish dish. It’s a rich, hearty stew with minimal ingredients and braised bull tail (or oxtail.) It is believed to have originated in Andalusia. If you’revisiting Madrid, go to Casa Salvador – the Rabo de Toro there is the best I’ve tried.
Pulpo a la Gallega
Galicia, a community in northwest Spain, is the best place to eat seafood in Spain. No questions asked. Spaniards agree too. With an abundance of rivers and a long coastline, the region has long relied on fishing for its economy. That’s how seafood became their specialty. Pulpo a la Gallega, slices of octopus seasoned with paprka, olive oil, and salt, is one of the most popular dishes.
If you’re in the capital, Santiago de Compostela, head to Rua Franco, a street in the center, and you’ll be overwhelmed by the number of seafood restaurants to choose from. You can get a mariscada, an assortment of mostly shrimp, crab, razor clams, and lobster, with some marinara-like sauce.
What I like about Galician food, and Spanish food in general is the simplicity. There are mainly two ingredients used in their cuisine – salt and olive oil. I’m generally a spicy food girl, but it’s nice to take a break from that sometimes.
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Solomillo al Whisky
Solomillo is Spanish for sirloin. In this case, we’re talking about beef sirloin. A specialty of Sevilla, Solomillo al Whisky, as the name suggests, is roasted beef sirloin in a whisky sauce. It’s normally served with potatoes. I was skeptical at first, but gave it a try. It was so freaking good!
Image courtesy of Andalusianrecipes.com
Bacalao al Pil Pil
A staple of Basque cuisine, Bacalao, or cod, is a must-try. Bacalao al Pil Pil is cod that is simmered in olive oil and garnished with garlic and some herbs. Like Galicia, the Basque Country is has excellent seafood. The Bay of Biscay is to the north of the region so they continually get fresh catches.
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Cochinillo Asado
This is a roasted suckling pig and my second favorite Spanish dish. The outside is crispy while the inside is moist. This dish is always cooked to perfection at El Botin in Madrid, the world’s oldest restaurant. You have to make a stop there!
Image courtesy of yelp.com
Fabada Asturiana
This bean stew comes from the community of Asturias, to the east of Galicia. It is a heavy stew made with large beans, chorizo (Spanish sausage), black pudding, and some pork. You can buy canned fabada asturiana at any grocery store, but, of course, it doesn’t come close to one served at a restaurant.
Have you tried any of these dishes? Comment below. If you liked this post, please share. Sharing is caring!
Other Posts in the Spain Bucket List Series
- A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Barcelona
- 9 Experiences You Must Have in Spain
- 10 Travel Tips You Need To Know Before Visiting Spain
