Pimientos de Padrón

These are mild, green peppers from the Padrón region of A Coruña, Galicia. They're tasty, and really easy to find. They are sautéed in olive oil then drizzled with rock salt afterwards. In a sea of ham and eggs, you'll thank your lucky stars for a splash of green, trust!

Gazpacho & Salmorejo

Gazpacho originally comes from Andalucía where it's hot AF like all the time, so yeah, a cold, fresh tomato soup makes perfect sense! It's usually served in a glass if it's done traditionally, or a bowl topped with fresh cucumber and diced green and red pepper. I may or may not drink it by the liter during July and August. No judgment!

Salmorejo is another cold tomato based soup; but it is made with bread, olive oil, and garlic. It's usually topped with boiled egg and bits of jamón because, Spain. So, if you prefer the creamy salmorejo to the lighter gazpacho, ask them to hold the egg and ham. You may get a few looks, but it's worth it.

Espinacas con Garbanzos

This is basically spinach and chickpeas. The key is fresh spinach, high-quality garlic and olive oil. Simple pleasures, friends. How are you feeling? More optimistic, I hope!

Berenjenas con Miel

Everyone loves eggplant, right! How about lightly battered eggplant with honey drizzled on top? Have I got your attention yet! This dish also originates from Andalucía, and fortunately for us, it's made its way throughout the peninsula.

Champiñones al Aljillo

Garlicy, salty, mushroomy goodness! Garlic and olive oil will become your best friend while living in Spain, real talk. This dish is also very easy to find, but I'd make sure that they don't add ham to it just in case! The experience is that much better without having to stop every 4 seconds to pick out a bacon bit!

Emergencies only: Patatas Bravas

If you find yourself in a vegan desert... you can always rely on the tried and true patatas bravas. They are diced potatoes served with a spicy (but, not really) sauce on the side. This is a risky choice as some times the potatoes are over or even under cooked. The sauce is usually not very spicy, at least by the hot sauce guzzler's palate. In short, it's pretty basic. That said, with the other options on the list, you should be set!

Buen provecho!

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