Enjoying delicious Mediterranean food around Spain
Food in Spain is not just about a basic human need – it’s a way of living. The local cuisine is famous around the globe for its bold flavour combinations and tasty Mediterranean recipes. Let’s also not forget the incredible locally-produced wines.. As in every country, however, each region in Spain will serve different types of foods, or at least have unique variations of the most popular local meals. If you are planning to travel around Spain and try the most authentic, delicious dishes, here’s what you need to know about the cuisine differences in the different regions of the country.
Northern Spain
Seafood is one of the key ingredients in most Mediterranean food and if that’s your cup of tea, you are in luck. Many of the most popular traditional Spanish meals will either be seafood-based or include it as a part of the ingredients. This includes different types of dish, crab, oysters, clam, shrimp and so on. Northern Spain is where most of the seafood comes from, particularly such regions as Asturias and Galicia, so you will find many seafood dishes and restaurants there.
Additionally, Northern Spain is also known for its sauces. These are typically served as a side dip with your meal or as an ingredient in other dishes. Some of the most popular sauces include romesco, alioli, mojo rojo, mojo verde and almond salsa.
Eastern Spain
Eastern Spain is particularly known for many rice-based dishes, particularly the delicious and world-famous paella. The Autonomous Community of Valencia in this region has its own variation of the dish called Paella Valenciana, which is loved by the locals across the country.
The Catalonia region, located at the North-East of Spain has a slightly different cuisine too. Here, they serve hearty casseroles and mouth-watering cazuelas – both of which are full of unique flavours.
Southern Spain
The Andalucía region, which occupies much of Southern Spain has a staple dish of its own – pescaíto frito, or fried fish. While it may sound like nothing special, this dish is unique and attracts many intrigued visitors every year. It typically includes multiple types of fish that are combined together, coated in flour and deep-fried in, you guessed it, lots of olive oil.
The other thing that you will often hear about the Andalucía region is its tapas. While tapas is served pretty much anywhere you go in Spain, in Andalucía, most restaurants will not serve you a drink without a small tapas on the side.
Central Spain
For all the meat lovers out there, Central Spain is the place to be. This region is home to the infamous roasted and smoked meats, such as chorizo, which managed to perfectly accompany nearly any Spanish meal. Due to the variety of meats available, Central Spain will also serve different types of stews, or cocidos, which are commonly eaten by the locals all year round.
The Pyrenees
The Pyrenees mountain range, located on the border of Spain and France, deserves a separate mention for its cuisine options. This region is most popular for chilindrones, which is a tomato-based dish with onions and sauteed peppers as its main ingredients. Typically combined with chicken, this stew dish is typically together with other regional foods.
