This dark, suspicious looking meat dish divides opinion… it’s the Spanish version of blood pudding. Mussels… they might be “al vapor” that is to say steamed, or “a la marinera” in the sailor’s style (with onion, garlic and tomato), or “rellenos” ie. Delicious dry and salty slivers that melt in the mouth. Spain’s legendary ham, made from acorn-fed pigs, hardly needs introducing. (Not a personal fave if I’m being honest!). Potatoes, eggs and mayonnaise are the main ingredients with beans, carrots and chopped gherkins common additions. ‘Russian salad’ is a firm favourite in Spain, and typically one of the only tapas with a high vegetable count – so good for balancing all those meat dishes. Some modern tapas bars serve them with innovative fillings like calamari or seasonal mushrooms. You normally buy them by the unit, and they go great with a beer. Chorizo al vino (must-try!)Īn editorial fave, and no wonder if you consider that a) Spanish cured sausage is the best in the world b) what could be better than adding a slosh of red wine?! In some parts of Spain you can also try chorizo al sidra, or sausage cooked in cider! Croquetas (must-try!)Īnother clasico, croquetas – as you might have guessed – are stuffed potato croquettes, similar to the aforementioned bombas.
Best drizzled with a squeeze of lemon and digested at a chiringuito (beach bar) somewhere on the Costa Brava. Chipirones (must-try!)īaby squid battered and fried, these little critters make look disgusting but they might just be Barcelona Life’s favourite traditional tapa. If you don’t like batter, look out for calamares a la plancha, ie. Chewy but delicious, and best with a squeeze of lemon. To the uncultured eater, calamares resemble onion rings, but are in fact circles of squid in batter. Some joints clearly just pull them out of a tin however… Sometimes you might see it Aragonese or Navarran style in an ajoarriero stew (pictured).Ī fat ball of mashed potato stuffed with meat, cheese or veg and covered in bread crumbs, La Bomba is the classic dish of the Barceloneta district, so be sure to pop into a bar and try one when you’re on your way back from the beach. Well-salted and usually served on bread with tomatoes. Meatballs! Not the most elegant dish on this list, although depending on the restaurant they can be raised to out of the ordinary by some clever uses of spices and sauces.Ĭod is a mainstay of Catalan cuisine and so naturally enough available in tapas form. Some delicious Spanish varieties include manzanillas, arbequinas and empeltres. Olives! The Spaniards, including the Catalans, are mad about olives, and if there’s only one tapa available it’s sure to be aceitunas as they can be casually noshed with a copa de vino or a small beer. Unfortunately for more ethical eaters, virtually all feature meat or seafood, so vegans may have to look away now! Aceitunas There are far too many to list in one article, but here are some of the classic dishes you can expect to find in any traditional-style bar in Barcelona… naturally we’ve included many of our faves. Tapas is such an integral part of Spanish culture that almost every rudimentary bar will have some basic offerings on the counter, whilst many restaurants have a tapas menu or specialise solely in the saucer-sized snacks. The innkeeper served this refreshing pint of ale with a small complimentary dish of food on top of the glass. The King, also known as Alfonso the Wise, was gallivanting around his kingdom many moons ago, when he decided to visit an inn and duly ordered a beer. There are many cited origins for the tradition of eating tapas, and how they got their name, with the most romantic featuring King Alfonso X in a starring role. The word ‘tapa’ in Spanish means ‘lid’, and the ‘s’ simply denominates its plural form. …what could be better than mixing and matching all the glorious taste sensations of the diverse regions of Spain for supper? In fact the influence of this tradition can be seen in restaurants all around the world, as small plates and tasting dishes have become global food trend.Īs a style of eating it certainly has its advantages… after all, what could be better than mixing and matching all the glorious taste sensations of the diverse regions of Spain for supper?
There’s nothing more synonymous with Spanish cuisine than tapas, the tradition of eating small dishes as an appetiser, snack or in combination to form a main meal of the day.
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