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Explore Spanish Cuisine

Saffron rice, smoky paprika and shared plates in bodegas by the sea

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Spain Flamenco dancer performs at a Spanish tablao restaurant

Welcome to Spain

Spanish Cuisine and Recipes: Paella, Tapas and More

Spain’s cuisine brings together saffron rice, olive oil, seafood, cured meats, bright vegetables and the easy joy of dishes made for sharing.

Spanish cooking is generous, social and deeply regional. Olive oil, garlic, tomatoes, peppers, saffron, seafood, rice, cured meats and good bread shape many of its most familiar dishes. Some meals gather around a paella pan. Others unfold through tapas, grilled seafood, tortilla, gazpacho or a simple plate of jamón and olives. The cooking can be rustic, coastal, smoky, bright or slow-simmered. Explore Spain when you want food with color, warmth and a strong sense of place, ideally with a table full of small plates and no one rushing the conversation.

13 cooking style C GR 36

Cooking Style

Grilling, simmering, frying, roasting, rice cooking and tapas-style sharing.

44 basil B GR 36

Signature Flavors

Saffron rice, tapas, seafood, olive oil and smoky regional flavor.

05 D cultural context 36

Food Culture

Spanish food culture values shared plates, late meals, markets, regional pride and relaxed conversation around tapas, rice dishes, seafood and everyday staples.

Traditional Spanish paella with accompaniments

Featured Dish

Partake in Paella

Paella

Paella is Spain’s best-recognized national dish, especially abroad, though it began as a Valencian rice dish. Saffron-tinted rice cooks in a wide shallow pan with ingredients such as chicken, rabbit, seafood, beans or vegetables, often finishing with a prized crisp bottom layer.

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Spanish Recipes

Explore Spanish recipes

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Explore Spanish cuisine through paella, tapas, tortillas, seafood, olive oil and regional dishes made for relaxed meals, markets and lively shared tables.

Traditional Spanish paella with accompaniments

Spanish Paella

A home-style Spanish paella with chicken, shrimp, saffron, and crisp-edged rice, simplified for a regular skillet without losing its character.

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Sizzling Spanish shrimp (gambas al ajillo), crusty bread and red wine

Gambas al Ajillo

A fast, classic Spanish tapas dish of shrimp gently cooked in olive oil with garlic, chili, paprika, and parsley.

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Delicious Spanish meatballs (Albondigas) served with patatas bravas

Albóndigas

Classic Spanish meatballs simmered in tomato sauce, simplified for home cooks but still full of paprika, garlic, and tapas-bar comfort.

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Traditional Spanish gazpacho with side of jamon

Gazpacho Soup

A classic chilled Spanish soup made with ripe tomatoes, olive oil, bread, and fresh vegetables, blended smooth and served cold.

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Delicious crema catalana with fruit and coffee

Crema Catalana

A classic Catalan custard made with milk, citrus, and cinnamon, finished with a thin crackly layer of caramelized sugar.

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More Spanish favorites

Keep exploring Spain through tapas bars, seafood taverns, market counters, bakeries, beachside rice restaurants and neighborhood cafés where simple dishes often shine.

Crispy patatas bravas with garlic aioli

Patatas Bravas

Crisp fried potatoes topped with smoky brava sauce and a little garlic aioli, done the way a proper Spanish tapa should behave.

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Spanish tortilla (Tortilla Española) with fresh salad and coffee

Tortilla Española

Spain’s classic potato omelet, made with eggs, potatoes, onion, and olive oil, cooked until tender and sliced into thick wedges.

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Fresh Spanish churros with chocolate dip and coffee

Churros

Classic Spanish fried dough made with a simple hot-water batter, piped into ridged lengths and served warm with sugar.

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Golden Spanish croquetas with aioli and salad

Croquetas

Classic Spanish ham croquettes with a creamy béchamel center and crisp golden shell, made for sharing as tapas or a starter.

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Delicious Pisto served with egg and crusty bread

Pisto

A classic Spanish vegetable stew of tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, and eggplant, slowly cooked in olive oil until rich and tender.

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Spanish potato salad (Ensaladilla Rusa) con pan y cerveza

Ensaladilla Rusa

A classic Spanish potato salad made with potatoes, carrots, peas, egg, olives, mayonnaise, and a common addition of tuna.

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Looking for something beyond Spain? Browse all recipes.

Regional Flavors

Flavors across Spain

Spain’s regions cook with strong local character, from Valencia’s rice traditions and Basque pintxos to Andalusian cold soups, Galician seafood and Catalan tomato bread.

Best Known Dishes

  • Paella
  • Tortilla Española
  • Gazpacho
  • Patatas Bravas
  • Jamón Ibérico
  • Churros
  • Croquetas
  • Gambas al Ajillo

Food Traditions

How Spain eats

Tapas bars, markets, long lunches and family meals shape daily food life. Bread, olive oil, seafood, cured meats and seasonal produce appear often.

Travel & Dining

Taste your way across Spain

Visitors can taste Spain through tapas bars, seafood taverns, market counters, bakeries, beachside rice restaurants and neighborhood cafés where simple dishes often shine.