Paella
Often eaten: Lunch or dinner
Known for: Valencia, especially the rice-growing lands around the Albufera
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Photo: Dina Said (CC BY-SA 4.0)
4 dishes to discover
Food of Spain
Spain is famous for its delicious food that brings people together. The country's cuisine includes a variety of flavors and ingredients, such as fresh vegetables, seafood, and meats. There are many regional dishes that reflect Spain's diverse culture and history.
Featured Dishes
Meal Culture
In Spain, meals are times to gather with family and friends. People enjoy talking and taking their time when they eat. Lunch is the biggest meal and may last a couple of hours, often followed by a short rest called a 'siesta.' Dinner is usually later than in other countries, often around 9 PM or later.
Eating Etiquette
It is polite to keep your hands on the table but not your elbows. Before starting to eat, people often say 'buen provecho' to each other, which means 'enjoy your meal.'
When People Eat It
Tortilla Española
Often eaten: Any meal or as a tapa
Known for: Popular across Spain, with especially strong associations in central and northern home cooking
everydayrustic
Gazpacho
Often eaten: Lunch or as a starter
Known for: Andalusia, especially Seville and Cordoba, where cold soups are a summer staple
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Churros
Often eaten: Breakfast or snack
Known for: Enjoyed across Spain, especially in Madrid and other cities as a cafe breakfast or snack
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Make It Yourself
👩🍳 Cook together! Always ask a grown-up to help with hot or sharp steps.
PaellaPaella
Makes 6 servingsIngredients
- 2 cups (400 g)Short-grain rice
- 1 lb (450 g)Chicken pieces
- 1/2 lb (225 g)Shrimp and mussels
- 1 cup eachBell pepper and peas
- a pinch, 1 tspSaffron and paprika
- 4 cups (950 ml)Chicken broth
How to Make It
- 1Ask a grown-up to brown the chicken in a wide paella pan, then set it aside.
- 2Cook the pepper and paprika in the same pan for a minute.
- 3Add the rice and stir for 1 minute.
- 4Pour in the warm broth with the saffron and return the chicken. Do not stir from here.
- 5Lay the shrimp, mussels, and peas on top and simmer for about 20 minutes.
- 6Rest for 5 minutes so a golden crust forms on the bottom, then serve from the pan.
Tortilla EspañolaTortilla Española
Makes 6 servingsIngredients
- 4 potatoesPotatoes, thinly sliced
- 1 onionOnion, sliced
- 6 eggsEggs
- 1/2 cup (120 ml)Olive oil
- 1 tspSalt
How to Make It
- 1Ask a grown-up to gently cook the potatoes and onion in olive oil until soft, then drain.
- 2Beat the eggs with the salt in a big bowl.
- 3Stir the warm potatoes and onion into the eggs.
- 4Pour the mixture into a hot, oiled pan and cook on low until the bottom sets.
- 5Ask a grown-up to flip the tortilla onto a plate and slide it back to cook the other side.
- 6Cool slightly, then cut into wedges — great warm or cold.
GazpachoGazpacho
Makes 4 servingsIngredients
- 6 tomatoesRipe tomatoes
- 1 cucumberCucumber
- 1 pepperRed bell pepper
- 1 sliceBread, soaked
- 3 tbsp, 1 tbspOlive oil and vinegar
- 1 cloveGarlic
How to Make It
- 1Roughly chop the tomatoes, cucumber, and pepper.
- 2Put them in a blender with the soaked bread and garlic.
- 3Blend until smooth.
- 4With the blender running, pour in the olive oil and vinegar.
- 5Add a pinch of salt and chill for at least 1 hour.
- 6Serve cold in cups — a refreshing chilled soup for hot Spanish summers.
ChurrosChurros
Makes 16 churrosIngredients
- 1 cup (240 ml)Water
- 2 tbsp (30 g)Butter
- 1 cup (125 g)Flour
- 1 eggEgg
- 1/2 cup (100 g)Sugar
- 3 cups (700 ml)Oil, for frying
How to Make It
- 1Ask a grown-up to boil the water and butter, then stir in the flour until it forms a ball.
- 2Let it cool a little, then beat in the egg until smooth.
- 3Spoon the dough into a piping bag with a star tip.
- 4A grown-up heats the oil to 350°F (175°C) and pipes in strips, snipping them off.
- 5Fry until golden, then drain on paper towels.
- 6Roll in sugar and dip in thick hot chocolate — a Spanish breakfast treat.
Vocabulary
While Spanish food shares similarities with other Mediterranean cuisines, its special ingredients like saffron in paella make it uniquely flavorful.