AD | Healthy eating and a Mediterranean diet seem to go hand in hand, don’t they? Granted, when you’re living in a hot country with a plentiful supply of fresh fruit, vegetables, seafood, meat, and dairy products to choose from, reaching for a ready meal doesn’t have the same appeal. But it’s still possible to live that healthy lifestyle at home in the UK. And with that in mind, here are 15 classic Spanish food recipes to give you all the flavours of Spain, no matter the weather.
Why is Spanish cuisine so healthy?
But first, let’s look at why Spanish food is so delicious, healthy, inexpensive, and easy to make. Well, as most Spanish diets are based on fresh vegetables, fruit, fish, olive oil and nuts, they’re low in saturated fats and high in monounsaturated fats.
Spanish cuisine is a diverse and healthy form of cooking that’s rich in nutrients, vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals, low in calories, and high in fibre. And the most popular Spanish recipes are often passed down from generation to generation, so they collect tips and perfect them along the way. Just like these 15 essential Spanish recipes you’ll be glad to bookmark for later.
Easy dishes from Spain – 15 Spanish food recipes
Whether you’re planning the ultimate supper party, a Spanish tapas night with friends, a picnic date in the park, or at the beach with a view of the sea, these delicious recipes from Spain are ones you need to try.
Patatas bravas – Crispy baked potatoes, topped with a smoky paprika tomato sauce and fresh parsley, make this a popular and classic Spanish dish.
Gazpacho – A chilled blend of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, oil, vinegar, and spices that’s perfect for long hot summer days. If you’re gluten-intolerant, skipping the bread that thickens the soup will still give you a delicious soup to serve in a tall glass. Do what the Spanish do and keep a large jug in the fridge for easy top ups.
Ajo blanco – This quick and easy chilled almond soup makes a refreshing starter, or lunch served with some bread. With only four ingredients: almonds, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, and a splash of vinegar, it’s suitable for vegans and vegetarians too.
Garlic prawns with sherry – Few seafood lovers would say no to this delicious tapas-style recipe that’s low fat, healthy, and quick to cook up. Great finger food too, served either hot or cold.
Padron peppers – Perfect as a side dish or starter, and a staple on the tapas menu. Super simple to whip up, they only take a few minutes to cook and go perfectly with garlic mayonnaise…
Aïoli – This garlic mayonnaise sauce originated in Cataluna and traditionally uses olive oil, egg yolks, garlic, salt, and fresh lemon juice. Delicious served with fish dishes, and especially chips!
Sofrito – Your basic Spanish tomato sauce. Tomatoes, onions, garlic, green peppers, and olive oil are fried together to make a luscious, rich tomato sauce that can be eaten with rice or eggs, or used as an ingredient to add colour and flavour in other dishes, such empanadas, and paellas. Master this and you can add the taste of Spain menu to your cooking with ease.
Paella – Almost certainly the internationally best-known Spanish dinner. Originally from Valencia and served as a dish for the midday meal, paellas were cooked in paella pans on an open flame right there in the fields. It also comes in many varieties, with many different paella ingredients. The most usual being seafood paella, mixed meats, or vegetarian.
Spanish rice with chorizo and chicken – one pot – An alternative paella, with the bonus of being able to throw everything into one pot and let it do its thing. Easy Spanish food that’s tasty and healthy too 😊
Tortilla Española – Spanish comfort food at its best, which features on menus in cafes and tapas bars throughout Spain. Similar to an omelette, but better (!), eggs, cooked potatoes, onions, and seasonings are pan fried in olive oil. Once cooked, cut into wedges and serve with a salad or any other Spanish side dishes you like best.
Spanish sardines on toast – A store cupboard staple, and a heart healthy oily fish that’s packed with omega 3. Quick, simple, and delicious.
Crema Catalana – Probably Spain’s most well-known dessert. Traditionally, the egg custard base is chilled, not baked. Not that many of us will have a chef’s blow torch hiding in our kitchen drawer, but a grill on a high heat will get that perfect crunchy top too.
Churros with hot chocolate sauce – Spain’s answer to doughnuts and the perfect finger food. Who could resist the gorgeous rich chocolate sauce, that’s also perfect over ice cream.
Spanish fig and almond balls – A more festive version of Pan de Higo, a dried fig cake that the Spanish traditionally eat with cheese and a drizzle of honey. An alternative to the usual grapes on the cheeseboard too.
Classic Sangria – Get all those perfect summer holiday vibes with this classic Spanish drink. Take a bottle of light, dry red wine, some chopped fruit, a glug of brandy, and top up with lemonade for a refreshingly quaffable thirst quencher. Alternatively, if Sangria isn’t for you, why not try some Sidra (Spanish cider) instead?
Where can I buy Spanish food online?
If you want to recreate any of these delicious Spanish dishes, then here in the UK, The Spanish Hamper should be your first port of call for authentic and gourmet Spanish foods and wines. They stock a delicious range of Spanish food brands, including garlic, paprika, olives, fabadas, and Manchego cheese, available in both cut size and whole wheels.
Other Spanish foods include chorizo, Jamon Iberico, Spanish anchovies, sardines, mussels, and tuna. And one of my favourite Spanish delicacies, Turron, a Spanish style nougat. Any of the Cava, Sherry, Cider and red, white and rose wine selection would accompany your Spanish meal perfectly too. Planning a romantic tapas night for two? Why not curate your own gift box of Spanish goodies. Or, for a ready made picnic feast, order one of their ready made hampers instead.
With so many delicious Spanish dishes to choose from, it was hard to narrow it down to these 15 Spanish food recipes. You may well have others that you prefer, but there’s no denying the Mediterranean diet, and Spanish food in particular, is a great recipe for a healthy lifestyle. As the Spanish saying goes,“Quien come con cordura, por su salud procura”, which translates as, “Who eats with sanity, provides for his health,” meaning, “We are what we eat.” And with that in mind, whichever dishes you choose to try out, I wish you Bon Appetit, or ¡Que aproveche! as they say in Spain 🙂
Are you a fan of traditional Spanish dishes? Does the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle appeal to you? Which of these 15 authentic Spanish food recipes would you like to try first?
* This is a sponsored post but all opinions are my own unless stated otherwise – please see my Disclaimer.
Love Spanish food and some great dishes here. Love all the interesting flavours Spanish get into their food.
Absolutely, it’s the authentic taste of summer holidays!
The Spanish Hamper sound fantastic! I’ll be honest, I LOVE food but Spanish food isn’t something that I’ve tried enough of. It always looks and sounds so fantastic though, I know I’d love it!
I think you would – I know you love olives, so tapas would be right up your street!
These recipes look really yummy and colourful. I have recently gone vegetarian so I will eat a lot of Mediterranean vegetables. So it will easy to still enjoy Spanish dishes. Thank you for sharing these suggestions Lisa.
Lauren
Fresh vegetables make every meal delicious, don’t they? So pleased you love the Mediterranean diet too, Lauren 🙂
Awesome ideas, I would love to try some of these ideas. Thank you for sharing!
You’re welcome, happy cooking!
I love the Spanish culture, especially the food. I would love to make more of the food at home. Thank you for sharing this post and I will definitely try some of these dishes at home.
The food is so delicious, isn’t it? Thank you, I hope you have fun cooking up some of these dishes at home 🙂
The Spanish fig and almond balls sound so absolutely delicious! Love the blend of nut with the fig for a sweet, smooth finish. From the other dishes you mention, paella, garlic prawns with sherry, aioli, and gazpacho are all favorites! Simple flavors that say bold things = Spanish food!
Thanks for sharing these delicious and inspiring recipes. 🙂
Yes, you’re spot on, Jaya, simple flavours but the freshest of ingredients make for delicious food! So glad you’re a fan of Spanish cuisine too.
Such a great roundup of Spanish recipes! The paella and crema Catalana both sound especially delicious. 🙂
Thank you, glad you’re a fan of Spanish food too 🙂
I love Spanish food! I haven’t tried to make much of it at home but I definitely will now! My Favourite is paella, I haven’t had that since I was in Spain a few years ago, I’ll definitely need to try it at home x
I think everyone needs to try a paella at some point in their life – there are so many varieties, there’s bound to be one that suits all tastes. Happy cooking at home, Aaliyah! x
Really great dishes here. Never tasted Spanish cuisine before but it sounds fantastic
You’re in for a real treat then, it’s delicious 🙂
I only discovered churros recently and they are so nice.
I agree, they are gorgeous!
These sounds like flavourful dishes Lisa so thanks for sharing!
They are indeed, Jodie 🙂
Yummy! Some of these remind me of my Sicilian roots as well, though some seem uniquely Spanish. Thanks for sharing.
Italian/Sicilian food is equally gorgeous, Giulia, all those fresh ingredients and family recipes, yum!
I love Spanish/Mediterranean food but don’t eat it all that often! We have a Spanish Tapas in Liverpool that has many of these recipes on their menu, so it would be great to recreate these at home myself! Spanish rice with chicken and chrorizo sounds right up my street, thanks for sharing, it’s given me some food inspo x
That’s great to hear, Kelly, happy cooking, I hope you enjoy lots of Spanish food at home from now on! x
Spanish food and tapas is my absolute FAVE! Whenever we host dinner parties or nights in, we always go for tapas, it’s so easy to make picky bits that fills everyone up. I love your ideas, I’m adding them to my recipe book to make the next one even better
Rosie
Tapas are perfect for dinner parties aren’t they? So much to choose from and all so healthy – your nights in sound fab, Rosie 🙂
Ajo blanco sounds delicious, I will have to try it, nice to know that it is naturally vegan too. Padron peppers are my favourite, I make them often. Spanish cooking is healthy indeed.
Funnily enough I thought of you when I found the recipe for Ajo Blanco, Anca – glad to hear you’re a Spanish food fan too.
Amazing collection specially now when I’m going
to Andalusia, paella is easiest to make..
Oh, great timing then, Gabi, enjoy your trip.
Thank you for sharing these recipes Lisa, I would love to try tapas and paella one day 🙂 x
You’re welcome, Eleanor, I hope you can too, they’re delicious! x
I like the fact that Spanish (also Greek, Mexican, Indian and Italian cuisine) can often be vegetarian or adapted easily to be so — I love all the flavours of the Mediterranean and now I feel hungry!
Yes, you’re right – I guess access to really fresh veg and fruit makes that a lot easier, and I know what you mean!
I love gazpacho. I’ll have to try the rest of these dishes sometime, soon!
I hope you enjoy them as well 🙂
I don’t really do any Spanish cooking, but this post gave me some ideas of things I can try like paella! Also, I love churros so I should try making them one day!
Oh yes, do try paella, it’s so versatile and you can add or take out pretty much anything you like!
The garlic prawns look absolutely tantalizing. This is one dish I could do every single day of the week!
I know what you mean, they are delicious 🙂