Culture is defined by so many aspects but one aspect that I love the most is the food. Not because I am a huge foodie, but because there are so many ingredients in the world yet every culture has its own take. For example, in Vietnam, we have a sandwich called Banh Mi, it is stuffed with pate, butter, pork, and various herbs/veggies/meats. Similar to this is the Bocadillo from Spain. In a Bocadillo, there is usually some meat and cheese stuffed in it (in the picture below, there's bacon and cheese). There is also a popular bocadillo tourists always try, the Bocadillo de Calamares (calamari). If you love the crunch/saltiness of calamari with some soft bread, this is the treat for you. This is usually eaten during lunch or a quick grab and go. Continue reading to see the gastronomy of Spain.
Tortilla Espanola: This is a Spanish omelet that can be served any time throughout the day. It is considered a tapa (a snack or appetizer). My host mom would make it for dinner all the time. It is traditionally made with onions, potatoes, and eggs. But at this small cafe we stopped by, they also include peppers which added more flavor to the dish. This tortilla espanola was eaten at A-Z cafe near Retiro Park. So if you are hungry after a boat ride at the park or tired from walking around, this is a cute little cafe you can stop by for some vino (wine) and delicious tortilla espanola.
Patatas Bravas. These are so addicting and you may not even realize you are finishing up the plate. Patatas bravas are fried potatoes topped with a delicious spicy sauce. This dish is also a tapa and the picture you see here is taken from a popular bar named El Tigre, famous for its cheap drinks and food. For every drink you purchase, you and your party receive large plates of tapas like patatas bravas (left photo) and croquetas.
Croquetas. Anyone that knows me knows that I am in absolute love with croquetas. This tapa dish is creamy, warm, crunchy, and comes in a variety of flavors. Because I loved it so much, I made it a mission to try them almost everywhere I went in Spain. Check out my Croquetas Adventures here. For now, you can enjoy a picture of a spinach croqueta from Mercadona, a Spanish supermarket chain. Mercadona has a hot meal section where you can get on the go meals such as croquetas and it won't hurt your wallet.
Morcilla: Another tapa that can also be eaten with other foods like scrambled eggs, morcilla (blood sausage). This is definitely an acquired taste. A lot of my friends weren't able to handle this, but I enjoyed it very much. This dish is from Tapas 44. It was delicious and was served with a piece of dried bread and some caramelized onions. I would recommend trying this at least once to see if you like it. As mentioned before, morcilla is used in various dishes like croquetas and as a sauce to dip bread in.
Salmoreja: The orange sauce you see to your left is salmoreja. This is a puree that originated in Cordoba. It is usually eaten cold. This puree was paired with fried zucchinis which was delicious. But when I had Salmoreja as a soup in Cuenca, it was very difficult to finish. I would still suggest trying it for the experience.
Huevos Rotos, this directly translates to broken eggs, but it really is just that. This dish is my host mom's favorite and I can see why. It is fairly simple to assemble. The bottom layer is fried potatoes and then it is topped with fried eggs and Iberico ham (jamon iberico). Make sure the eggs are cooked sunny side up so when you slice into them, the yolk runs all over the dish. This adds so much flavor. When you first dig in, make sure your fork is has a potato, a piece of the egg, and some ham. Truly a delicious combination and thinking about it is making my mouth water.
Chocolate con Churros: If you are a sweet tooth like I am and love chocolate, this is the treat for you. This picture right here might make you think of dessert, but in Spain, this is breakfast. Churros can be eaten in different forms. Similar to my croquetas adventure, I wrote more about churros here. Check it out!
Sangria: This is a traditional sweet wine mixed with fruits. On a nice hot day, un vaso de sangria (a cup of sangria) really refreshes you. This sweet wine has to be my favorite drink ever and if you are a sweet tooth or a wine lover, I definitely recommend you try it in Sapin. Here you can see a jar of sangria from Cuevas de Sesamo. Cuevas is the best place for sangria and its ambience is so relaxing. After a tough day at work or school, it's the perfect place to unreel and sip some delicious sangria.
Paella: Saving the best for last. There are many delicious rice dishes around the world. Spain has paella and I am telling you this is a must-try. Paella is originally from Valencia, but now is served all over the country. There are a variety of options from vegetarian paella to meats and seafoods. It's served directly on a pan, so the dish always comes out steaming hot. The creaminess and savory items in the dish will put you in your happy place.
There are so many more dishes I didn't have the chance to try in Spain, but these were some that I didn't know about until I got to Spain. What is your favorite Spanish food? What did I miss that you recommend for next time?