Summer is officially over and we already miss it.

In this post, we’re taking a stroll down memory lane to honor our favorite season by remembering the most delicious Spanish foods.

Our love for Spanish food goes back to 2012 when we first visited Spain. The early encounters with Spanish food were modest – we went out for a beer and tapas. Soon, we discovered that this Mediterranean cuisine is so much more than tapas! Juicy empanadas on the way to the beach, light paellas for dinner by the sea, shopping for chorizo every single day, exploring seafood at the fish market… This summer we went back to Spain and discovered even more delicious foods & drinks we’d like to share with you.

DISCOVER GREAT RECIPES, TIPS & IDEAS!

Note: The time we spent in Spain taught us that, when it comes to food, Spanish people like quick and easy meals (so that they have enough time for the afternoon siesta, we assume :)). No Spanish housewife will spend hours in the kitchen cooking heavy, meat-based meals, especially during the summer. They’re more into vegetables, rice, potatoes, pasta, and seafood. Most of the meals on the list reflect that ease and lightness.

Top Quick and Easy Spanish Foods

Paella

If you are invited to a Spanish home, the chances are your hosts will treat you to a paella.

This rice-based dish is considered Spain’s national dish. It originated in Valencia, the city steel deemed to make the best paellas.

The traditional version is made in special pan (see pic), by combining rice (ideally the calasaparra or bomba varieties, known for absorbing flavors very well), chicken or rabbit meat (or both, usually sold as a ‘paella mix’ in the supermarkets), beans and other vegetables, as well as saffron. Seafood is also commonly used (mussels, calamari, clams, scampi, prawns, or even fish).

Less usual varieties are made with duck or eel. Arroz negro (black rice) uses black octopus ink to color the rice, whereas fiduea replaces rice with small pasta.

Easy Paella Recipe

Gazpacho

This tangy, refreshing tomato soup is usually served as an appetizer and sometimes drunk straight from a cup or bowl! The authentic recipe is made the reddest, ripe, full-flavored tomatoes, combined with peppers, cucumber, olive oil, onions, garlic, and herbs, all blended until smooth, and chilled before serving. Gazpacho is served with bread, cheese, ham, or egg slices on top, depending on the region.

Garden Gazpacho

Empanadas

Empanadas are edible dough envelopes filled with…well, whatever you like. In Mallorca, we found a great bakery that sold empanadas and bought three different types – two savory (tuna & onion, beef & potatoes; these two were quite flavored and required plenty of water afterward, just so you know J), and one sweet (banana & chocolate).

Zesty Empanadas

Spanish tortilla

Most of you must have tried Mexican tortilla, a thin flatbread made from finely ground maize and wrapped around a filling to form a taco or burrito. Well, the Spanish version is something completely different. It is actually a potato omelet.

There are many flavors and preparation techniques but one thing is for sure – tortilla is one of the top Spanish foods. The basic recipe is made with onions and potato sautéed in olive oil, after which beaten eggs are added. The mixture rises into a thick cake-like meal.

Note: add ham, chorizo, spinach, or anything else you like to additionally enrich this quick meal. Or squeeze the omelet between two bread slices to obtain a bocadillo sandwich!

Spanish Tortilla (Spanish Omelet)

Tostas de tomate y jamón – Tomato and ham toasts

This Spanish food is so simple and tasty you’ll probably think “Why didn’t I come up with this?” after you try it.

Jamón is one of the famous cured meats of Spain, together with chorizo. The popular Iberico version is made from black pigs fed with acorns to give the special marbled ham with nutty flavor.

To make the simple tostas, start by rubbing the toast pieces with tomato (garlic rub is optional, along with the tomato). Then, pour some olive oil, top with jamón and serve for breakfast or as a snack. You can also include jamón in various salad recipes like this one:

Fig, Melon, and Spinach Jamón Salad with Basil

Pan con tomate

This is basically bread with tomato (or Pa amb tomàquet in Catalan). It is very simple but tastes amazing, just like the best pizza crust with a hint of tomato. In Catalonia, especially in Barcelona, you’ll often see it as a base for tapas. However, pan con tomate also pairs beautifully with other Spanish foods such as tortilla and jamón.

Pan Con Tomate

Amazing Spanish Desserts

Churros

This is another Spanish food which has a familiar Mexican counterpart. Churros are donut-type pastries which appears in two main varieties in Spain – knotted & thin or long & thick (also known as porras).

The Spanish say you haven’t really been in Spain until you’ve had churros for breakfast (they do have a thing for sweet breakfasts). Dip them in hot chocolate or champurrado (chocolate-based atole). The porras pair beautifully with hot coffee, dulce de leche, or café con leche. Don’t forget to sprinkle with sugar on top and forget about counting calories!

Cinnamon Churros with Chocolate Dulce le Leche

Polvorones

The name of these rich and crumbly cookie comes from the word ‘polvo’, which means ‘dust’. This is connected to their delicate structure; if you don’t handle them carefully, they may turn into dust! Polvorones are so soft, they literally melt in your mouth. They are especially popular during the Christmas period but we got lucky; our host made them for us in the middle of June!

Polvorones Recipe

Top Spanish Drinks

The first time we went to Spain we stayed in Mallorca. The humidity and temperatures were impossible to bear. And while we were drinking gallons of water, our hosts opted for cerveza, a light, low-alcohol beer flavored with lemon. As you can imagine, it didn’t take us too long to get accustomed to sipping cold cerveza all day long!

DISCOVER GREAT RECIPES, TIPS & IDEAS!

The Spanish have a habit of drinking at every meal, be it beer or wine. Those who don’t drink during meals, usually drink after meals, choosing coffee or brandy. Coffee is also a must in the morning (usually combined with churros or other sweet treats).

When it comes to wine-based drinks, there are two favorites – tinto de verano or ‘summer wine’ (red wine and lemon soda) and rebujito or white sangria (white wine with lemonade and fresh mint on top).

Super Sangria

I’m in love with food and everything about food! Blogging is my way of celebrating that love and MyGreatRecipes made it all happen. If you, too, are into great food and interesting reads, you will enjoy reading my posts!