The Spanish cuisine is an explosion of colors, aromas, and Mediterranean flavors. It’s a glorious fusion of cultures and ethnicities, of past and present, of sea and mountains. So here are 5 dishes you should definitely try when visiting Spain.

1. Tapas

You are not allowed to visit Spain without experiencing the famous tapas! Tapas are not a particular type of food; they are a sort of little meals that Spaniards eat any time of the day or night, anywhere.

The best tapas I’ve ever had were in Madrid, in their popular tapas bars, where you don’t even have to pay for your lunch or dinner, because every time you order a beer, you’ll get a nice plate with mini sandwiches, almonds, squids, or any other snacks, but never the same dish – which is absolutely great!

2. Paella

Paella is a traditional rice dish originating in Valencia. In Spain, there are three common types of paella: Paella Valenciana (white rice, vegetables, chicken, duck and rabbit meat, land snails, beans, and spices), Seafood Paella (rice, seafood, and seasoning), and Paella Mixta, which is actually a freestyle mixture usually made of rice, chicken, seafood (including clams), vegetables, olive oil, saffron, and other spices.

I love paella mixta, especially served directly from paellera, as a romantic dinner on the beach in a late summer evening, accompanied by a cold glass of sangria.

3. Tortilla Espanola

This traditional Spanish omelette always consists of potatoes, eggs, salt, and pepper, being the most common dish in the country.

You can get it with so many fun ingredients to spice up the recipe, when we had it in Madrid we choose to try it with Queso cheese, the typical Spanish cheese.

4. Crema Catalana

Many say that crema catalana and the French crème brûlée are the same thing, but there are some tiny differences between the two fabulous desserts. For example, the French always bake their crème brûlée in bain-marie and serve it warm, while the Catalan cream is always served cold and it has a custard infused with lemon rind and cinnamon, instead of vanilla, being much more refreshing than its stylish French sister.

5. Jamon Iberico

I would say that one of the things that impressed me the most in Spain were those crowded long bars above which were hanging, instead of chandeliers, some huge chunks of jamon iberico, the traditional Spanish ham. Enjoying a drink in a delightfully old-school establishment while the bartender cuts you impossibly thin slices of the delicious ham is a great, authentic experience that everyone should try while in Spain!

Try these traditional Spanish dishes on your next visit to Spain and let us know what your favourite is!