A guide to Spanish food by region
2020-12-14
There are 17 official autonomous regions within Spain, and each brings something delicious to the table.
Spanish cuisine is some of the most diverse in the world, with each autonomous region of the country contributing to the culinary landscape of this great Mediterranean destination.
While some Spanish regions have produced some of our favourite cultural staples made from meat or rice, others are the stars of the show when it comes to seafood or dessert. There are 17 official autonomous regions within Spain, and each brings something delicious to the table.
We took a look at a few of the most famous culinary regions in Spain and the dishes we can thank them for.
Galicia
Notable locations: Combarro, A Guarda, Baiona
Galician food is rich in cultural diversity, notable for its high intake of red meat due to local cattle farming, as well as fresh seafood like Galician octopus and scallops served straight from the ocean. Soup is also very popular here in the northwest portion of Spain.
Try our recipe for Galician veal carpaccio with broad beans and olive oil.
Asturias
Notable locations: Oviedo, Llanes, Gijón
Asturias is located in the northwest portion of Spain much like the aforementioned Galicia, and here, regional stews rule the culinary roost. Its regional stew, fabada, is a stew made with beans, sausages and pork. Seafood is also excellent here, with prawns, tuna, sardines and octopus caught locally. Asturias is also renowned for its blue cheese that is produced in the region.
Make your own Asturian fabada.
Catalonia
Notable locations: Barcelona, Costa Brava, Figueres, Girona
Home to such iconic destinations as Barcelona and the breathtaking Costa Brava, Catalonian cuisine is diverse and spans its coast, mountains and cities. Expect a generous helping of seafood, soup and stew, casseroles and a plethora of rich sauces. Catalonian cuisine is best described by locals as “Mar y montaña” (sea and mountain).
A traditional Catalonian butternut squash pizza recipe.
Extremadura
Notable locations: Mérida, Cáceres, Trujillo, Plasencia
Located in the central western part of Spain towards Portugal, Extremadura’s cuisine is typified by pork - after all it is one of the leading regions of Spain for pig breeding. As a result you can expect top quality pork sausages and stews on offer, as well as a large range of other game meat like venison and wild boar. Extremedura is also famed for its sheep’s milk cheese and for being where the dish migas extremeñas originated.
A simple and easy migas extremeñas recipe.
Comunidad Valenciana
Notable locations: Valencia, Alicante, Buñol, Altea
Lying in the eastern region of Spain, the Autonomous Community of Valencia is not only one of Spain’s most popular tourist destinations, but also where some incredible Spanish cuisine originates. We can thank Valencia for Spain’s national dish, paella, and many of Valencia’s rural dishes use rice as a primary ingredient. Due to its position on the coast, Valencian food is also rich in fresh seafood and gives way to such dishes as fish stew.
Whip up your own Valencian paella today.
Andalucía
Notable locations: Granada, Seville, Ronda, Córdoba, Málaga, Marbella, Gibraltar
Olives and olive oil are central to Andalusian food, and your favourite Spanish olive oil La Española has its home here in Andalucia’s many olive groves. Andalucía has a variety of regional food that spans its coast to countryside landscape. Foods such as fried fish, Serrano and Ibérico ham and world-famous gazpacho originate from Andalucía.
An Andalusian recipe to try: Salmorejo with Jamón Ibérico.
Castilla y León
Notable locations: Salamanca, Segovia, Ávila, León
Northwestern Castilla y León is the largest autonomous zone in Spain, a fairytale of medieval villages and also the place to get the best chorizo. The national sausage can be found prepared in a wide variety of ways in this region. It is also the place to dig into garlic soup, bean stew, suckling pig and manchego.
Give this recipe for traditional Castilla y León lentil, chorizo and vegetable stew a whirl.
Comunidad de Madrid
Notable locations: Madrid, Alcalá de Henares, El Escorial, Aranjuez
The capital of Spain since 1561, the landlocked city of Madrid is one of the world’s most popular destinations and its cuisine is a fantastic melting pot of regional Spanish cooking from across the country. Here you can find whatever Spanish food you desire, from tortilla de patatas to cocido madrileño to churros to croquetas. Madrid is where the first restaurants in Spain appeared, and tapas is a central part of life here.
This recipe for croquetas makes 25 and is sure to please the entire family.
Aragón
Notable locations: Alquézar, Albarracín, Alcañiz, Valdelinares
With the mountainous Pyrenees as its backdrop, the northeastern Spanish region of Aragón is home to some delectable Spanish cuisine. In Aragón, lamb is the primary regional delicacy, followed by pork and chicken. Piquillo peppers and a wide range of vegetables also enhance the cooking of Aragón food.
A recipe for Pollo al Chilindron (chicken stew) of the Aragón region.
Castilla-La Mancha
Notable locations: Toledo, Almagro, Consuegra, Cuenca
Cooking in the landlocked central region of Castilla-La Mancha uses the most basic ingredients to create something incredible. Wheat and grains form a foundation for food such as fresh bread, manchego and soup. In Castilla-La Mancha, garlic is an important flavour profile, and game meat such as rabbit and pheasant is commonly used in cooking.
Pisto Manchego recipe from Castilla-La Mancha.
País Vasco (Basque Country)
Notable locations: Bilbao, San Sebastián, Guernica, Gaztelugatxe, Laguardia
One of Spain’s most ancient and culturally rich regions, País Vasco is also the place to go for some of the most delicious Spanish cuisine in the country. Basque cuisine includes a wide variety of meat and fish - often cooked over hot coals - Basque tapas (aka pintxos), lamb stew, bream, tuna and cod, and is typified by the inclusion of tomatoes or red peppers.
Try this recipe for País Vasco tuna steaks with white beans and salsa verde.
Murcia
Notable locations: Cartagena, Murcia, Águilas, Mazarrón
Murcia is located in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula right on the Mediterranean Sea, and is one of the largest producers of fruit in Spain. Its cuisine is diverse and surprising, with meat, seafood, vegetables, fruit and rice used in regional dishes such as Murcia tortilla, pipirrana and baked octopus - just to name a few. For sweet tooths, you can’t go past Murcia for its iconic cakes.
Enjoy a traditional pipirrana from Murcia.
Spain’s oldest and most trusted olive oil, La Española, is cold pressed to keep it fresh all the way from the Andalusian grove to the Aussie table. Pick yours up today at Coles Supermarkets nationwide.
