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Thali

🇪🇸 The food of Spain

109 dishes from Spain, best known first, across 60 cities and regions.

Spanish cooking is shaped by its regional variety and a long history of outside influences, from Roman olive oil and wheat to New World tomatoes and peppers. Olive oil, garlic, and fresh produce are central, while tapas culture and a blend of Mediterranean and Atlantic traditions set Spain apart from its neighbors.

  • Spain is the world's largest producer of olive oil.
  • Tapas are a central part of Spanish eating culture.
  • Paella uses rice and saffron, both introduced by the Moors.
  • Lunch is the largest meal, usually eaten after 2 p.m.
  • Tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers came from the Americas.

The cooking of Spain

Spanish cuisine is marked by its diversity across regions, drawing from Mediterranean and Atlantic influences. Olive oil is at the heart of most dishes, often forming the base for vegetable sauces called sofritos. Herbs like parsley, oregano, rosemary, and thyme are common, as is garlic. Meals feature a mix of meats such as chicken, pork, lamb, and veal, alongside regular use of fish and seafood. The tradition of tapas—small plates or snacks—reflects a social approach to eating. Spanish cooking has absorbed ingredients and techniques from ancient Romans, Moors, Jews, and the Americas, resulting in a cuisine that values both local produce and global flavors.

Staple foods in Spain

Wheat, grapes, and olives are the historic foundation, providing bread, wine, and olive oil. Rice, introduced and expanded by the Moors, is key in dishes like paella. Potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers from the Americas are now essential. Pork, chicken, lamb, and veal are the main meats, with fish and seafood also important. Legumes and vegetables, such as borage and thistle in Aragon, are widely used.

Breakfast in Spain 17 dishes

Breakfast is light and may be eaten at home or before work. Typical choices include coffee, milk, or hot chocolate, paired with biscuits (especially Marie biscuits), magdalenas (small sponge cakes), toast with oil, tomato, or butter, and churros. Because lunch is late, many people have a mid-morning snack.

Lunch in Spain 56 dishes

Lunch is the main meal, usually starting around 2 p.m. and lasting over an hour. It often has several courses: soup, salad, a meat or fish dish, and dessert like fruit or yogurt. Tapas may be served before or during lunch. At home, meals are simpler, with one or two courses.

Dinner in Spain 52 dishes

Dinner is eaten late, between 8:30 and 11 p.m., and is lighter than lunch. It usually consists of a single course and dessert. The long gap between lunch and dinner means an afternoon snack is common.

Snacks and street food in Spain

Tapas and pinchos are the most recognizable snacks, served in bars and cafes. These can include croquetas, marinated mussels, meatballs, and small sandwiches. Tapas may be complimentary with drinks. Eating olives as a snack is also widespread.

Sweets and drinks in Spain

Spanish sweets include churros for breakfast and desserts like frutas de Aragón (candied fruit in chocolate). Drinks range from coffee and hot chocolate to regional wines, sherry, and brandy. Chocolate was first sweetened with sugar in Spain after its arrival from the Americas.

From region to region in Spain

Each region has its own specialties. Andalusia is known for olive oil, cold soups like gazpacho, and fried fish. Aragon features roast lamb, pork dishes, and unique vegetables like borage. Cured meats and cheeses vary by area. The Mediterranean coast uses more olive oil, while butter is traditional in the northwestern regions like Galicia and Asturias.

At the table in Spain

Meals are social events, often lasting a long time. Lunch is followed by sobremesa, a period of conversation at the table. Businesses may close for a long lunch break, though this is changing. Tapas culture encourages sharing and trying many small dishes. Afternoon snacks (merienda) are common due to the late dinner hour.

Festival and religious food in Spain

Festive foods reflect religious and local traditions. Jewish communities historically prepared special stews like adafina for the Sabbath. Moorish influence brought pastries and preserved dishes for celebrations. Regional specialties often appear during festivals and holidays.

Where this page comes from

The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Spanish cuisine", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

Cities and regions of Spain

Andalusia 8Galicia 8Valencia 8Catalonia 7Basque Country 4Extremadura 4La Mancha 4Murcia 4Aragón 3Asturias 3Ibiza 3Madrid 3Valencian Community 3Balearic Islands 2Cádiz 2Canary Islands 2Cantabria 2Castile and León 2Granada 2Majorca 2Segovia 2Valladolid 2Alboraya 1Alicante 1Almagro 1Almería 1Alt Urgell 1Aragonese Pyrenees 1Aranda de Duero 1Arévalo 1Ávila 1Bilbao 1Bizkaia 1Burgos 1Castellón de la Plana 1Cerdanya 1Córdoba 1El Puerto de Santa María 1Entzia 1Fuerteventura 1Gandia 1Gipuzkoa 1Girona 1Goierri 1Gorbea 1Gran Canaria 1Guijuelo 1Herbón 1Jabugo 1Jerez de la Frontera 1Jijona 1La Rioja 1León 1Liébana 1Lleida 1Los Pedroches 1Lugo 1Madrid region 1Málaga 1Mallorca 1
MealBreakfastLunchTea timeDinnerSupperSnacks
KindMain dishStreet foodSoupStew or curryRice dishNoodle or pasta dishDumplingBreadGrill or roastSandwich or wrapPie or savoury pastrySalad or sideCheese or dairy foodSausage or cured foodSauce, pickle or fermentSweet or dessertDrink
DietVegetarianVeganFish and seafoodMeat
Hot chocolate 🇲🇽 Mexico and 5 moreA warm drink made from chocolate or cocoa, milk or water, and sugar Drink, Breakfast, Snacks MarzipanVegetarian 🇩🇪 Germany and 5 moreSweet almond paste shaped or used in cakes, especially at Christmas and weddings Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time Cheesecake 🇬🇷 Greece and 5 moreA chilled dessert of sweetened soft cheese on a crumb or pastry base Sweet or dessert, Snacks Churrochurros 🇪🇸 Spain and 5 moreRidged, deep-fried dough sticks often eaten hot with chocolate or coffee Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Snacks Chocolate cakeVegetarian 🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreCake made with chocolate or cocoa, often layered or topped with icing Sweet or dessert, Tea time, Snacks MadeleineVegetarian 🇫🇷 France and 1 moreShell-shaped French sponge cakes from Lorraine, often served with tea Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Tea time HorchataVegan 🇪🇸 Spain and 5 moreSweet plant-based drink made from rice, tiger nuts or seeds Drink, Snacks King cake 🇫🇷 France and 5 moreA festive sweet bread or pastry with a hidden token, eaten for Epiphany and Carnival Pie or savoury pastry, Snacks, Tea time TurrónVegetarian 🇪🇸 Spain and 5 moreHoney and nut nougat, shaped into bars or cakes, enjoyed at Christmas in Spain and Italy Sweet or dessert, Snacks MacaroonVegetarian 🇫🇷 France and 5 moreSweet biscuit or small cake made from nuts or coconut and egg whites Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time Buñuelo 🇪🇸 Spain and 5 moreCrisp or fluffy fried dough, sweet or savory, enjoyed across Spain and Latin America Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Breakfast Alfajor 🇦🇷 Argentina and 4 moreSweet biscuits or pastry joined with a filling, often dulce de leche or honey and nuts Sweet or dessert, Snacks AjoblancoVegan 🇪🇸 SpainChilled Andalusian soup of almonds, bread, garlic and olive oil Soup, Lunch, Dinner Polvorón 🇪🇸 Spain and 4 moreCrumbly Spanish shortbread made with flour, sugar, milk, and nuts Pie or savoury pastry, Snacks Ensaïmada 🇪🇸 Spain and 2 moreSweet, coiled bread from Mallorca made with flour, eggs, sugar and pork lard Bread, Breakfast, Snacks CocadaVegetarian 🇧🇷 Brazil and 5 moreChewy coconut sweets baked and served at room temperature Sweet or dessert, Snacks PanelletsVegetarian 🇪🇸 Spain and 1 moreSmall marzipan cakes, often rolled in pine nuts, for All Saints' Day in Catalonia Sweet or dessert, Snacks Natillas 🇪🇸 Spain and 5 moreA sweet, creamy custard dessert enjoyed across Spain and Latin America Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Snacks Mona de PascuaVegetarian 🇪🇸 Spain and 1 moreA sweet cake with eggs, given at Easter in Catalonia, Valencia and Murcia Sweet or dessert, Snacks Pão de LóVegetarian 🇵🇹 Portugal and 3 morePortuguese sponge cake made with eggs, sugar and flour, known for its airy texture Sweet or dessert, Tea time, Snacks

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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