Food news
HeritageThe National Museum of the Philippines Iloilo capped off its 2026 ‘Magbasá Kita: A Reading Program for Young Learners’ with an immersive storytelling session at the museum’s Book Nook on September 23, 2026. The activity introduced the localHeritage21st Sunchang Jangryu Festival to Welcome the World With K-Food and Cultural ExperiencesHeritage21st Sunchang Jangryu Festival to Welcome the World With K-Food and Cultural ExperiencesStreet foodMan dead, 3 in custody after shooting outside Piada Italian Street Food in Mayfield HeightsStreet foodBrick-and-Mortar Restaurants Need to Stop Blaming Street VendorsFarm and marketYour guide to Harvest Fair 2026 at Wisconsin State Fair ParkFarm and marketOct. 3 Harvest of Harmony Parade available to view in livestream broadcast during paradeFarm and marketSouthington Apple Harvest Festival kicks off tonightWorldBon Appétit editor-in-chief explores food’s role in culture, media at MSUFarm and marketDetroit Harvest Fest adds movies, more food trucks in year 6HeritageThe National Museum of the Philippines Iloilo capped off its 2026 ‘Magbasá Kita: A Reading Program for Young Learners’ with an immersive storytelling session at the museum’s Book Nook on September 23, 2026. The activity introduced the localHeritage21st Sunchang Jangryu Festival to Welcome the World With K-Food and Cultural ExperiencesHeritage21st Sunchang Jangryu Festival to Welcome the World With K-Food and Cultural ExperiencesStreet foodMan dead, 3 in custody after shooting outside Piada Italian Street Food in Mayfield HeightsStreet foodBrick-and-Mortar Restaurants Need to Stop Blaming Street VendorsFarm and marketYour guide to Harvest Fair 2026 at Wisconsin State Fair ParkFarm and marketOct. 3 Harvest of Harmony Parade available to view in livestream broadcast during paradeFarm and marketSouthington Apple Harvest Festival kicks off tonightWorldBon Appétit editor-in-chief explores food’s role in culture, media at MSUFarm and marketDetroit Harvest Fest adds movies, more food trucks in year 6
Thali

🇪🇸 The food of Spain

96 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 16 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 48 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 44 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

Galicia 8Valencia 8Andalusia 7Catalonia 7La Mancha 4Murcia 4Aragón 3Asturias 3Basque Country 3Extremadura 3Ibiza 3Madrid 3Valencian Community 3Balearic Islands 2Cádiz 2Canary Islands 2Cantabria 2Granada 2Majorca 2Segovia 2Alboraya 1Alicante 1Almagro 1Almería 1Alt Urgell 1Aragonese Pyrenees 1Arévalo 1Ávila 1Bilbao 1Bizkaia 1Castellón de la Plana 1Castile and León 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 1Medina Sidonia 1Minorca 1Navarre 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
AjoblancoVegan 🇪🇸 SpainChilled Andalusian soup of almonds, bread, garlic and olive oil Soup, Lunch, Dinner Chicharrón 🇪🇸 Spain and 6 moreCrispy fried pork belly or skin, enjoyed as a snack or dish in many countries Street food, Snacks, Lunch Polvorón 🇪🇸 Spain and 4 moreCrumbly Spanish shortbread made with flour, sugar, milk, and nuts Pie or savoury pastry, Snacks RomescoVegan 🇪🇸 SpainCatalan sauce of roasted tomato, nuts, peppers and oil, often served with seafood Sauce, pickle or ferment BotifarraMeat 🇪🇸 Spain and 6 moreA family of pork sausages central to Catalan and Latin American cooking Sausage or cured food, Lunch, Dinner Ibérico hamMeat 🇪🇸 Spain and 1 moreCured leg of Black Iberian pig, prized in Spain and Portugal Sausage or cured food Twelve GrapesVegan 🇪🇸 Spain and 5 moreA Spanish New Year’s Eve custom of eating twelve grapes at midnight Sweet or dessert Idiazabal cheeseVegetarianIdiazabal gazta 🇪🇸 SpainAged sheep’s milk cheese with a firm texture from Spain’s Basque Country Cheese or dairy food Tetilla cheeseVegetarianqueixo tetilla 🇪🇸 SpainSoft, conical cow’s milk cheese from Galicia in northwest Spain Cheese or dairy food EscalivadaVegan 🇪🇸 Spain and 1 moreCharred eggplant, peppers and other vegetables dressed with olive oil Salad or side, Lunch, Dinner Ensaïmada 🇪🇸 Spain and 2 moreSweet, coiled bread from Mallorca made with flour, eggs, sugar and pork lard Bread, Breakfast, Snacks Migas 🇪🇸 Spain and 2 moreA dish of leftover bread or tortillas, cooked with savoury ingredients Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch EscudellaMeat 🇪🇸 SpainCatalan and Valencian soup with meat, vegetables, and a large spiced meatball Soup, Lunch, Dinner Tuna potFish or seafood 🇪🇸 Spain and 1 moreBasque and Cantabrian stew of tuna, potatoes, peppers and tomato Stew or curry, Lunch, Dinner Polbo á feiraFish or seafood 🇪🇸 SpainOctopus boiled and dressed with olive oil, salt, and paprika, served hot Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Squid (as food)Fish or seafood 🇯🇵 Japan and 5 moreSquid prepared and eaten in many ways around the world Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Padrón peppersVegan 🇪🇸 Spain and 1 moreSmall green peppers from Galicia, Spain, often fried and served as tapas Street food, Snacks Squid sandwichFish or seafoodbocadillo de calamares 🇪🇸 SpainFried squid rings in a crusty bread roll, a bar favorite in Madrid and beyond Sandwich or wrap, Lunch, Snacks PistoVegan 🇪🇸 SpainSpanish vegetable stew with tomato, peppers, and olive oil Stew or curry, Lunch, Dinner SobrassadaMeatsobrasada 🇪🇸 Spain and 2 moreSoft, cured sausage from the Balearic Islands made with pork and paprika Sausage or cured food Coca 🇪🇸 Spain and 3 moreCatalan pastry with sweet or savoury toppings, eaten open or filled Pie or savoury pastry Gofio 🇪🇸 Spain and 5 moreFinely milled roasted grain flour from the Canary Islands, used in many ways Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch Papas arrugadasVegan 🇪🇸 SpainSmall potatoes boiled in salty water and served with mojo sauce in the Canary Islands Street food, Lunch, Dinner Leche fritaVegetarian 🇪🇸 SpainSpanish sweet of thickened milk dough, fried and dusted with sugar and cinnamon Sweet or dessert CaldeiradaFish or seafood 🇵🇹 Portugal and 2 morePortuguese and Galician fish stew with potatoes and mixed seafood Stew or curry, Lunch, Dinner PanelletsVegetarian 🇪🇸 Spain and 1 moreSmall marzipan cakes, often rolled in pine nuts, for All Saints' Day in Catalonia Sweet or dessert, Snacks SumaghiyyehMeatالسماقية 🇵🇸 Palestine and 3 moreA tangy Palestinian stew with sumac, chard, beef and chickpeas Stew or curry, Lunch, Dinner FideuàFish or seafood 🇪🇸 SpainSeafood and noodle dish from the Valencian coast, cooked in a wide shallow pan Main dish, Lunch, Dinner ChistorraMeat 🇪🇸 SpainThin, bright-red sausage from Navarre, often fried and served as a tapa Sausage or cured food, Snacks, Lunch TrinxatMeat 🇪🇸 Spain and 1 moreMashed potato, cabbage and pork from the Pyrenees Main dish Natillas 🇪🇸 Spain and 5 moreA sweet, creamy custard dessert enjoyed across Spain and Latin America Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Snacks Roasted chestnutsVegan 🇮🇹 Italy and 5 moreChestnuts cooked over heat and sold as a warm street snack in autumn and winter Street food, Snacks Cocido madrileñoMeat 🇪🇸 SpainChickpea stew from Madrid, served in separate courses Stew or curry, Lunch, Dinner MazamorraKaguyjy 🇪🇸 Spain and 10 moreTraditional corn-based dessert or drink found across Spain and Latin America Drink, Breakfast, Lunch MatóVegetarian 🇪🇸 Spain and 1 moreCatalan fresh cheese, usually served as a dessert with honey Cheese or dairy food Café con leche 🇪🇸 Spain and 1 moreEspresso mixed with hot milk, a classic Spanish and Latin American coffee drink Drink, Breakfast TombetVegetarian 🇪🇸 SpainMajorcan dish of layered fried vegetables topped with tomato sauce Main dish Torta 🇪🇸 Spain and 5 moreA word for cake, pie, flatbread, sandwich or omelette, depending on the country Bread EsqueixadaFish or seafood 🇪🇸 SpainCatalan salad of hand-torn salt cod, tomato, and vegetables Salad or side, Lunch, Dinner Moros y Cristianos 🇨🇺 Cuba and 1 moreCuban rice and black beans cooked together with vegetables and spices Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Bocadillo 🇪🇸 Spain and 1 moreA Spanish sandwich made with a baguette or similar bread, filled with meats or omelette Sandwich or wrap, Lunch, Dinner Mona de PascuaVegetarian 🇪🇸 Spain and 1 moreA sweet cake with eggs, given at Easter in Catalonia, Valencia and Murcia Sweet or dessert, Snacks XuixoVegetarian 🇪🇸 SpainDeep-fried Catalan pastry filled with crema catalana and rolled in sugar Pie or savoury pastry, Breakfast, Tea time Bacalao al pil pilFish or seafood 🇪🇸 SpainSalted cod gently cooked in olive oil with garlic and a silky emulsion sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Caldo galegoMeat 🇪🇸 SpainHearty Galician soup with greens, potatoes, beans and pork Soup, Lunch, Dinner ZarangolloVegetarian 🇪🇸 SpainMurcian scrambled eggs with zucchini, onion, and sometimes potato Main dish, Lunch, Dinner 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 HornazoMeat 🇪🇸 SpainA Spanish meat pie filled with pork, chorizo, and hard-boiled eggs Main dish, Lunch, Snacks
PreviousMore dishes

Photo credits on this page

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

The weekly plate

Every Monday: seven dishes you may not know, what the world is cooking this week, and one way of eating.