Europe · Traditional

Spanish cuisine

Spanish food is a vibrant celebration of bold flavours and communal dining. Savour tapas, paella, and sangria, crafted with olive oil, paprika, and fresh seafood. Each dish embodies Spain’s lively culture, from bustling markets to seaside tavernas, promising an unforgettable culinary journey that captures the spirit of fiesta in every bite.

Explore recipes Build a Spanish menu Wine pairings

Food history

Why Spanish cuisine is worth exploring

Spanish food reflects Roman agriculture, Moorish influence, Catholic festivals, New World ingredients and fiercely regional cooking. Tapas culture, rice dishes, cured meats, olive oil and seafood all tell different parts of the story.

Why it is famous

Spain is famous for tapas, paella, jamón, tortillas, gazpacho, churros, seafood, paprika, saffron and sherry.

Regional food story

Spanish cuisine is not one single style. Treat the country page as a gateway into regional dishes, local ingredients, family recipes and occasion-led cooking.

How to cook it

Flavours, ingredients and menu ideas

Signature ingredients

Olive oil, garlic, paprika, saffron, rice, tomatoes, peppers, seafood, pork, almonds, citrus and beans are key to Spanish cooking.

Cooking style

The cooking style ranges from simple home dishes to more elaborate food for celebrations. Good Spanish recipes usually balance staple ingredients with texture, seasoning and a clear sense of occasion.

Build a menu

Build a Spanish menu by choosing a light starter, a signature main and a dessert that shows the country’s baking or sweet traditions. Add wine or drink pairings where the dish has enough richness, spice, acidity or sweetness to make the match useful.

Starters Mains Desserts

Cook by course

Spanish recipes

Start with a starter, choose a main, then finish with a dessert to build a complete country-inspired menu.

Starters

Spanish starters

Pan con Tomate

Pan con Tomate is a story-rich Spanish starter that opens the meal with clear regional flavour, simple p…

Starter 15 mins

Tortilla Española

Tortilla Española is a story-rich Spanish starter that opens the meal with clear regional flavour, simpl…

Starter 50 mins

Galician Empanada

Galician Empanada is a story-rich Spanish starter that opens the meal with clear regional flavour, simpl…

Starter 1 hr 15 mins

Salmorejo

Salmorejo is a story-rich Spanish starter that opens the meal with clear regional flavour, simple presen…

Starter 2 hr

Gazpacho

Gazpacho is a story-rich Spanish starter that opens the meal with clear regional flavour, simple present…

Starter 2 hr 15 mins

Main courses

Spanish main courses

Bacalao al Pil Pil

Bacalao al Pil Pil is a classic Spanish main course built around comforting flavour, cultural heritage a…

Main 30 mins

Pollo al Ajillo

Pollo al Ajillo is a classic Spanish main course built around comforting flavour, cultural heritage and…

Main 50 mins

Pisto Manchego

Pisto Manchego is a classic Spanish main course built around comforting flavour, cultural heritage and t…

Main 1 hr 5 mins

Paella Valenciana

Paella Valenciana is a classic Spanish main course built around comforting flavour, cultural heritage an…

Main 1 hr 10 mins

Rabo de Toro

Rabo de Toro is a classic Spanish main course built around comforting flavour, cultural heritage and the…

Main 4 hr

Desserts

Spanish desserts

Churros con Chocolate

Churros con Chocolate is a traditional Spanish dessert with a memorable texture, a sense of occasion and…

Dessert 35 mins

Crema Catalana

Crema Catalana is a traditional Spanish dessert with a memorable texture, a sense of occasion and the sw…

Dessert 40 mins

Tarta de Santiago

Tarta de Santiago is a traditional Spanish dessert with a memorable texture, a sense of occasion and the…

Dessert 50 mins

Wine and drink pairings

What to drink with Spanish food

Rioja and Tempranillo pair with lamb, paprika and roast meat; Albariño is excellent with seafood; Cava suits fried tapas; Fino sherry is superb with salty starters; Pedro Ximénez works with rich desserts.

Red

Rioja / Tempranillo

Spanish red with red fruit, vanilla, leather and spice. Good with garlic chicken, lamb, roast meat, paprika and grilled…

Grape: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano Region: Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Navarra

White

Albariño / Vinho Verde

Fresh coastal white wine with citrus, peach, sea-spray minerality and bright acidity. Excellent with seafood, salt cod…

Grape: Albariño, Alvarinho, Loureiro, Arinto Region: Rías Baixas, Minho, Vinho Verde

Dessert

Sauternes / Botrytised Sweet Wine

Luscious sweet wine with apricot, honey, marmalade and balancing acidity. Good with custards, fruit tarts, blue cheese…

Grape: Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle Region: Sauternes, Barsac, Monbazillac, Tokaj-inspired regions

Dessert

Sweet Muscat

Fragrant sweet wine with orange blossom, grape, peach and honey. Best with pastries, custards, fruit desserts and light…

Grape: Muscat Blanc, Moscatel, Muscat of Alexandria Region: Rutherglen, Beaumes-de-Venise, Setúbal, Asti

Fortified

Pedro Ximénez Sherry

Intensely sweet sherry with raisin, molasses, coffee and fig. Best with churros, chocolate, ice cream, sticky puddings…

Grape: Pedro Ximénez Region: Jerez, Montilla-Moriles

Food stories

Articles linked to Spanish recipes

Explore the wider stories behind ingredients, cooking methods, celebrations and national dishes.

Food story

Spanish Tapas and Dinner Recipes: What to Cook for a Spanish Night In

A Spanish dinner guide for building a relaxed menu from tapas-style starters, bold mains and sweet dishes that feel mad…

Food story

The Best Recipes for Meat Lovers

Meat dishes often carry stories of feasts, preservation, farming, hunting and the Sunday table. Clear user intent and g…

Food story

The Best Recipes for Seafood Lovers

Seafood dishes are often the fastest way to taste a coastline: salt, smoke, lemon, herbs, wine and freshness. Strong in…