5 Popular Spanish Foods You Must Try in Spain

2024-11-26
فهرست مطالب

Traveling to Spain for the first time is not only about visiting historic cities, sunny beaches, and beautiful streets; it is also about discovering new flavors. Spanish cuisine is one of the most exciting parts of the journey, offering everything from crispy tapas to rich rice dishes and flavorful local meals. For Iranian travelers, many popular Spanish foods can feel both new and familiar, with warm flavors, fresh ingredients, and a friendly dining style.

In this article on Sepehran Blog, we introduce 5 Popular Spanish Foods that first-time travelers should try during their trip. These dishes are among the best choices for anyone who wants to explore Spain’s food culture and enjoy the real taste of the country. Whether you are looking for what to eat in Spain or simply want to try something different, this guide will help you choose the right dishes.

Before your trip, add these must-try Spanish foods to your travel list and get ready for a delicious experience in Spain.

Must-Try Spanish Foods:

  • Patatas Bravas
  • Smoky Spanish Chicken
  • Chicken Roll
  • Pesto Manchego
  • Paella Valenciana
 5 Popular Spanish Foods
5 Popular Spanish Foods

Patatas Bravas: A Must-Try Spanish Tapas Dish

One of the most famous and delicious Spanish dishes is “Patatas Bravas,” which is considered a type of appetizer but can also be served as a full meal. Due to the abundant use of spices, it is locally known as “Angry Potatoes.” The preparation of this tasty dish is as follows: first, fry the potatoes until golden. Then, add the onions and sauté the mixture for 5 minutes. After the onions are fried, add the chopped chili, grated lemon peel, and crushed garlic along with a little vinegar. In a separate pan, cook the tomatoes and parsley over medium heat for 10 minutes until the tomato juice evaporates. Finally, combine all the ingredients in a baking dish and bake for 30 minutes in the oven until it thickens and cooks through. Patatas Bravas should be served with hot sauce and is usually enjoyed alongside various drinks.

Smoky Spanish Chicken: A Flavorful Spanish Dish to Try

Saute the onion in plant-based butter for 5 minutes until it is soft and slightly changes color. Then, add the garlic and briefly saute. Gradually add the milk while stirring continuously until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon with a thin layer. Add salt and chili sauce as needed, then turn off the heat.

In a dish, arrange the smoked chicken in a single layer about the thickness of a finger. Sprinkle the chopped parsley and sauce mixture over the chicken.

Next, Place thin slices of potato on top of the chicken and brush them with melted butter. Place the dish in the middle rack of the oven for 20 minutes until the potatoes are golden and crispy. Finally, pour the mixture prepared earlier over the potatoes and return the dish to the oven until the milk mixture puffs up and the dish is ready to serve.

popular spanish food
5 Popular Spanish Foods

Chicken Roll: A Simple Spanish-Inspired Food

First, place the chicken in a freezer bag and gently pound them with a rolling pin until their thickness reaches about 3 millimeters. After this, carefully remove the bag from the chicken, sprinkle salt and pepper on it, and brush it with oil using a brush. Next, fill the flattened chicken with carrot, egg, peas, and potato, then roll them up and secure them with kitchen twine or toothpicks. Place them in the oven at 180°C for 40 minutes, allowing them to roast and become ready to serve. Chicken roulade is a popular Spanish dish often enjoyed as a light meal for a snack or dinner.

Read More from Spain:

Spanish Food Culture and Cooking Traditions

Pesto Manchego: A Creative Spanish Cheese Dish

This vegetarian dish is quite common in central Spain, especially in La Mancha, and is considered to have Moroccan roots. Its preparation is simple, and its taste is both delightful and flavorful. To prepare Pisto Manchego, first, sauté the onion and garlic in oil for about 5 minutes until they become soft. Then, remove them from the pan and fry the eggplant and cumin in the same oil until the eggplant absorbs the oil and becomes soft. After this step, add the tomatoes and lower the heat to let the tomato juice evaporate. Once this is done, add the sliced zucchini, bell peppers, thyme, salt, and pepper, and let the zucchini soften. Then, add a bit of vinegar and turn off the heat, allowing the dish to be ready to serve.

Popular Spanish Foods
5 Popular Spanish Foods

Paella Valenciana: Traditional Spanish Food from Valencia

Valencia is the region in Spain where rice cultivation first began, and as a result, dishes made with this product, including various types of rice dishes, are very common and diverse. The preparation of these dishes is similar to their Iranian counterparts, so using a pot is essential.

To prepare this delicious rice dish, first, saute the chicken in oil for about 10 minutes until it turns golden brown on all sides. Then, add bell pepper, tomato, paprika, saffron, and a pinch of salt along with chicken broth to the pan, and let it cook on low heat for about 15 minutes.

Next, add rosemary, white beans, and peas, and finally, add the rice. Mix all the ingredients together and let the rice cook on low heat until it is fully cooked. If you like a crispy bottom (tahdig), you can increase the heat for 5 minutes at the end to create a crispy crust at the bottom of the rice.

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