Bring home the taste of Spain with these authentic Spanish recipes.
From paella to sangria, these traditional dishes will make any meal extraordinary!
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Colorful, flavorful, and festive: that’s what Spanish cuisine is all about.
So if you’re having family and friends over for a rustic feast, you’ve come to the right place.
These 24 Spanish recipes will knock your socks off. And they’re a breeze to make!
24 Easy Spanish Recipes
1. Spanish Rice
Why serve boring steamed white rice when you can easily transform it into party-worthy Spanish rice?
Fluffy white rice is infused with tomato sauce, paprika, chili, and other spices and seasonings.
Spanish rice is jam-packed with flavor, and trust me, it’s impossible to resist.
It tastes great on its own but is even better eaten with chicken, salmon, and other tapas.
Best of all, it’s super easy to make! In fact, all you need is to throw all the ingredients in a pot and wait.
It’s an effortless recipe that will feed a crowd.
2. Tortilla Española
Tortilla Española or Spanish tortilla is a hearty omelet stuffed with potatoes. It’s a simple combination that surely hits the spot.
I mean, how can you go wrong with fluffy scrambled eggs filled with rich and tender fried potatoes?
It’s clear proof you don’t need to go crazy on the ingredients to make a stunning dish.
You can eat Spanish tortilla with rice or use it as a sandwich filling.
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It doesn’t matter whether you have it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It will be amazing.
3. Paella
We can’t have a list of Spanish dishes without mentioning paella, can we?
It’s perhaps the most popular Spanish dish there is! And for good reason.
It’s soft and flavorful rice that’s loaded with shrimp and lobster. This paella is pure heaven.
How can it not be? It’s infused with saffron, which is the most expensive food in the world!
You’ve probably seen paella recipes in the past and didn’t even bother bookmarking them because of how complicated they are.
Don’t worry, because this one is a simplified version of the classic. You can do this!
4. Red Sangria
We all know a feast is not complete without wine! Sweet and fruity with a bit of a punch, red sangria is the best tasting booze in my book.
While sangria is often associated with Spain, it originated in France and England.
But it has a similar, but much simpler, version that locals like to drink, called tinto de verano.
Regardless of its origins, red sangria is still 100% delicious and refreshing. Also, it’s super easy to make!
All you need is to mix red wine, orange juice, and fruit slices, and voila!
5. Patatas Bravas
Patatas Bravas, also called patatas a la brava, is a simple dish made with fried potato cubes.
The spuds are flavored with a spicy sauce, giving it a mild kick.
In this recipe, however, you’ll bake the potatoes instead of deep-frying them.
But don’t worry, they’ll still be incredibly crispy! The trick is to par-boil them in water with baking soda!
To flavor the potatoes, you’ll use a smoky brava sauce, which is a tomato sauce spiced with smoked Spanish paprika.
It doesn’t end there, though. To top it off is a rich and creamy garlic aioli.
6. Pimientos de Padrón
Pimientos de Padrón, or deep-fried Padrón peppers, are a plain appetizer that will surely knock your socks off.
There’s nothing fancy about this tapas classic at all. In fact, it’s just a basic deep-fried pepper.
But don’t be fooled by its simplicity. These peppers are absolutely amazing.
Pimientos de Padrón, or pimientos, are small, green peppers grown in Padron, Spain.
But over the years, the peppers have been cultivated and spread to other regions of Spain, and other countries.
Pimientos de Padrón is mostly mild, but you’ll get a super hot one once in a while! It’s a game of chance, but it’s worth it.
7. Spanish Chickpea Stew
Garbanzo con espinacas is a rich and flavorful tomato-based stew loaded with chickpeas and spinach.
Infused with cumin, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper, this stew packs some heat.
If you are health-conscious, this stew is for you. Chickpeas, spinach, and tomatoes are packed with vitamins and nutrients!
So not only is it delicious, but it’s also good for you.
Pair this stew with a bowl of brown rice, and you’ll have a healthy and hearty meal.
8. Calamares a La Romana
Calamares a la Romana, or battered and deep-fried squid, is an insanely addictive snack popular in Spain and all over the world.
It’s crisp on the outside and tender and chewy on the inside. I can snack on this all day.
It’s also a breeze to make. All you need is a regular flour-based batter, squid, and a ton of oil for frying!
Just coat the squid in batter and fry until golden brown.
9. Salmorejo (Cold Tomato Soup)
Salmorejo is a popular Spanish soup made with tomato. Just like gazpacho, it’s served cold, making it a wonderfully refreshing dish for the summer.
Salmorejo is made from ripe tomatoes, sherry vinegar, olive oil, and bread. Thanks to the bread, it’s much thicker than Gazpacho.
Topped with Spanish cured ham, a boiled egg, and a piece of bread, it’s a complete meal on its own.
10. Pisto
Pisto is the Spanish counterpart of ratatouille. It’s a very simple recipe of stewed veggies, and the key to perfecting it is in the ingredients.
When making pisto, be sure to get the highest quality products you can find!
This recipe calls for cooking each vegetable separately. Sure, it requires more work, but don’t worry, you’ll be rewarded.
11. Watermelon Gazpacho
Watermelon gazpacho is an incredibly refreshing soup that will cool you down on a hot summer day!
Honestly, when I heard of watermelon gazpacho, I automatically assumed it was sweet.
To my surprise, it’s savory! But the watermelon offers a mild sweetness, which balances out the savoriness really well.
This recipe creates a TON of gazpacho, which is great because it tastes better over time. Just keep the leftovers in the fridge and serve whenever.
12. Sopa De Lentejas
Sopa de lentejas, or lentil soup, is another Spanish classic. The soup is more commonly eaten for lunch, as it is too heavy for dinner.
There are many ways to prepare lentil soup. In fact, every region, city, and household in Spain has their own version!
This recipe combines lentils, pork loin, Spanish chorizo, carrots, potatoes, celery, and garlic. It’s rich, flavorful, and super hearty!
13. Spanish Garlic Mushrooms
Champinones Al Ajillo or Spanish garlic mushrooms is a popular tapas dish and is usually served at parties.
The combination of mushrooms and garlic is already absolutely amazing. But what takes this appetizer up a notch is the dry sherry.
The sweet sherry complements the earthy flavor of mushrooms, giving you such a ridiculously yummy treat.
14. Octopus in Tomato Sauce
This recipe may not be a classic Spanish dish, but it sure has those rich Spanish flavors we all love so much. It’s sweet, savory, and spectacular.
Tender octopus is cooked in garlic, tomatoes, celery, and onions. It also has piquillo peppers and sweet paprika for a bit of a kick.
Just imagine the aroma of garlic, tomatoes, and all those spices cooking in the kitchen!
Silky Yukon gold potatoes are also added to make the dish even more filling. It’s so hearty, it’s a complete meal on its own!
15. Tomato and Butter Bean Dip
Looking for a new dip to complete your favorite chips? This tomato and butter bean dip is everything you’ll ever need.
Here’s what goes on in this fantastic dip: big white beans, tomato paste, garlic, olive oil, shallots, and paprika.
If you can’t picture what that tastes like, I’ll give you a hint: it’s marvelous.
It’s sweet, savory, rich, and buttery. Oh my goodness. This dip is the epitome of dips!
Whether it’s pita chips, crusty bread, regular chips, crackers, or even veggie sticks, it doesn’t matter.
Anything you dunk into this dip will taste mind-blowingly delicious.
16. Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates
This next dish only calls for three ingredients and some skewers.
Sweet and juicy dates and creamy goat cheese are wrapped in bacon and baked to crisp perfection.
How can anyone say no to that?!
The flavor and texture contrast between the sweet chewy dates, creamy cheese, and crisp smoky bacon is pure perfection.
There’s no other way to describe it!
One bite creates a beautiful harmony in your mouth. It’s so good, you must triple the recipe, even if you’re only serving two.
17. Pan Con Tomate
Pan con Tomate is toasted bread loaded with garlic and tomatoes and drizzled with olive oil. It’s a tasty and nutritious dish that’s typically eaten during breakfast.
As you may have noticed, the Spanish don’t go heavy on their breakfast. A typical breakfast is usually just a combo of toast and coffee (or tea or juice).
That said, pan con tomate makes a fantastic breakfast not only for flavor (you can’t go wrong with tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil!) but for health reasons.
18. Spanish Pork Skewers
Pinchos Morunos is tender pork flavored with lemon, garlic, cumin, sweet paprika, coriander seeds, oregano, salt, turmeric, cayenne, and olive oil.
The pork pieces are skewered on a stick and then grilled to charred perfection.
As if that wasn’t drool-worthy enough, the skewers are then dipped in Mojo Picon, a spicy, tangy sauce made with red chilies, vinegar, and olive oil.
19. Arroz Con Pollo
Arroz con pollo, or rice with chicken, is a hearty and savory dish you can whip up any time.
This isn’t just your typical steamed rice and fried chicken dish, though. Far from that!
The rice is loaded with colorful vegetables and tender and juicy chicken thighs. YUM!
The rice turns yellow, just like the classic paella, thanks to the saffron.
I don’t know if psychology has anything to do with it, but its vibrant hue makes it even more appetizing.
It’s also a snap to make. It comes together in just one pot and yields a huge batch!
20. Spanish Spiced Almonds
I think we can all agree roasted almonds taste incredible.
But this recipe takes the already amazing nut into a whole new level of deliciousness with a simple ingredient.
Almendras fritas is another popular snack in Spain, and I completely understand why.
Almonds are seasoned with salt and Spanish smoked paprika, giving them such an unbelievable flavor.
Serve this to friends with a cold glass of beer, and it is happy hour indeed.
21. Ensalada Mixta (Mixed Salad)
Ensalada mixta is basically a mixed salad. But there’s nothing basic about this salad at all.
Combining eggs, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, yellow bell peppers, red onions, carrots, baby corn, canned tuna, white asparagus, artichokes, and olives, it has everything you can ever ask for in a salad!
Just picture the vibrant colors, textures, and flavors! It’s evidence that not all healthy dishes are boring.
22. Marinated Carrots
While Spanish dishes are mainly made with rice and meat, you’ll be surprised to know that the cuisine also has some veggie entrees to offer.
Case in point: these marinated carrots.
Calling all vegetarians: this excellent side dish is for you!
Zanahorias alinadas, or marinated carrots, is an easy recipe that involves marinating carrots in spices and garlic.
The contrast between the sweet potatoes, pungent garlic, and earthy spices makes this simple dish full of flavor.
23. Spiced Spanish Hot Chocolate
When it comes to Spanish beverages, nothing beats the fame of hot chocolate. Incredibly thick, sweet, and chocolatey, it’s the perfect drink to boost you in the morning!
Here’s a secret: what gives the Spanish hot chocolate super thick is not cream or milk. It’s cornstarch!
If you think about it, cornstarch is commonly used to thicken sauces.
24. Churros
Last but not least is a sweet and crunchy treat that pairs perfectly well with hot chocolate.
Churros are a well-loved favorite not only in Spain but all over the world.
I can’t get enough of churros. They’re crisp on the outside and tender and fluffy on the inside.
The coating of cinnamon sugar adds a wonderful sweetness to the treat.
Dip it in thick hot chocolate or sweet dulce de leche and you’ll have the most irresistible merienda.
24 Best Spanish Recipes You’ll Love
Bring home the taste of Spain with these authentic Spanish recipes. From paella to sangria, these traditional dishes will make any meal extraordinary!
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- Select your favorite recipe.
- Organize all the required ingredients.
- Prep a Spanish dish in 30 minutes or less!
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Kim - InsanelyGood
Hey there! I'm Kim. I love running, cooking, and curling up with a good book! I share recipes for people who LOVE good food, but want to keep things simple :)
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