Spain is filled with the most incredible tastes and flavors, but what are some of the best meals found across the nation? It’s time to take a journey through the most popular Spanish dishes once and for all.
Huevos rotos
Huevos rotos is a great way to incorporate eggs into a main dish as the entire thing is topped with an egg that’s been fried in olive oil. This comes over cured ham and fried potatoes, with most preferring to eat the dish while it’s still warm as it means you can spread the yolk over all the other ingredients. Huevos rotos also usually comes with a side of bread rolls.
Patatas bravas
Potatoes come in all shapes and sizes. In patatas bravas, they are cut into irregular shapes and fried in olive oil for extra crunch. These are then topped with salsa brava, which consists of hot sauce. However, this has been adapted across Spain, as some now use alioli which is a type of mayonnaise with added olive oil and garlic.
Pan con tomate
This popular Spanish dish is commonly found in Barcelona and is oh-so-simple to prepare. You simply need a piece of crusty bread, garlic, a ripe tomato, olive oil, and a sprinkling of salt. All you do is rub garlic over the bread, rub the entire thing with half of the tomato, and sprinkle over olive oil and salt to complete the dish. It’s a simple yet popular tapas or starter now served across Spain.
Croquetas
Simply put, croquetas are nothing more than a type of fried dumplings. However, they are so much more than that as they’re served with béchamel sauce. Croquetas also have a host of fillings and can be vegetarian, sweet, or meat-filled. Tuna, chicken, cured ham, and cheese are popular fillings for this dish that’s usually served as tapas.
Paella
When it comes to the most popular Spanish dishes, paella is one of the most famous of them all. It’s a traditional meal that’s incredibly versatile and starts with rice and stock. The original recipe calls for rabbit and chicken that’s cooked over a wood fire. However, variations now include a host of seafood, such as mussels, squid, octopus, and shrimp. Whatever the case, paella is traditionally made in a shallow, wide pan.
Tortilla
One of the most popular dishes in Spain is none other than tortilla, a dish that has roots across the nation. It can be eaten at any time of the day and is served in restaurants, bars, and at home. It’s a simple recipe that incorporates potatoes and eggs cooked into an almost omelet-like dish. However, several regions also add a host of other ingredients, with the most popular being sausage, pepperoni, ham, and cheese.
The most popular Spanish dishes just go to show that the nation is filled with so many flavor options and combinations that often use the same ingredients as the base. Thankfully, no meal is ever short of a flavor explosion when it comes to Spanish food.
