You think Spain, and-let me guess- you think paella and sangria and flamenco dresses?  Oh, and a lot of parties and people taking naps 😉

But there is so much more to Spain (specifically Madrid) that you don’t hear about, that really needs to be in the spotlight.  If you’re planning a trip to Madrid anytime soon, here are six foods you MUST add to your list of “Spanish foods to try”.  And FYI, Madrid isn’t the place for a good plate of paella (in most cases) AND you rarely see people drinking sangria…wine or beer is where it’s at 😉

Six Foods You Must Try in Spain

1 // Croquetas

I heard of croquetas on my second day in Spain.  Someone told me they are fried little pillows of creamy cheese.  And that’s a pretty accurate description.  It’s usually meat, fish, or vegetables that are mixed with a creamy bechamel sauce and then rolled in breadcrumbs and fried.  Done right, they are fantastic.  They come in a variety of flavor, most commonly as jamon y queso (ham and cheese), just cheese, cod and cheese, mushroom and cheese, etc.  You’ll see them all over, so order a bunch to share with friends and try them from different places 🙂

2 // Patatas Bravas

Another incredible food that just doesn’t get enough spotlight!  These are basically diced, fried potatoes that are served with a spicy tomato sauce, and sometimes with creamy aioli.  

Recommended: La Taberna Descubierta (photo above)

3 // Gazpacho and Salmorejo

If you’re like me, you have had gazpacho before and you know it as a cold, summer tomato soup.  But what you don’t know is that when it tastes like a cup of salsa, they aren’t doing it right.  It’s SO MUCH BETTER in Spain, trust me!  Even the cartons that are sold in the supermarket are great.

Salmorejo is similar to gazpacho, the only really big difference being that a lot more bread is blended into it, so it’s super thick and creamy.  As a matter of fact, my favorite salmorejo has come from the carton sold in the Mercadona supermarket.  🙂

4 // Spanish Tortilla de Patatas

“Tortilla?”…. “You mean, like, a flour tortilla?  With potatoes?”

Noooo, silly.  Spanish tortilla has nothing to do with the tortilla that you know.  It’s not a flat, round disk that you fill with taco ingredients!  It’s more like what you know as an omelette, but it’s much better.  First of all, it’s creamy.  That might sound strange, but it’s incredible!  When you cut into it, the center just kind of melts and it pairs so perfectly with a piece of bread.

Second of all, it’s usually super thick and tall. And third, it doesn’t have cheese, like so many omelettes that we know.  You won’t miss it, I promise.  Seriously, tortilla has become one of my favorite foods here, so try it every chance you get.  Not everyone would agree, but I really like the tortilla from El Buo (also, it’s a great price).  They have multiple locations, so look online.

5 // Menu del Dia

^Pic from a past menu del dia

And last, but certainly not least, is the menu del dia.  This, of course, is not just ONE food, but instead, it’s an opportunity to try a whole bunch of food for an unbeatable price.  Madrid (and Spain) has this wonderful thing called the ‘menu del dia’, where for 10-14 Euros (more or less), you can get a first course, main course, dessert, bread, AND drink.  It’s because lunch here is just so important, that all of these incredible homemade meals are offered at these crazy good prices.  I encourage you to step out of your American patterns and go for a big menu del dia between 1:00 and 4:00 pm.  Your favorite restaurants will charge just as much for one plate at dinner time, so take advantage and try some really great dishes during lunch.

[Relevant story: the first time I experienced menu del dia, I was having lunch with Luis.  We ordered first plates and second plates AND drinks (which is something I generally don’t do) and when the waiter came to get dessert orders, I kept refusing, but Luis kept insisting and I had no idea why!  I later realized that it’s all one set menu and that almost all restaurants offer this during lunch!  And there I was, thinking he was just a super gentleman ;)….kidding, he is.]

6 // Churros con Chocolate

“Churros….like the ones at the amusement park?”  Allllmost, but not rolled in cinnamon and sugar and much fresher 🙂  If you walk down the streets of Madrid, you’ll see older people and young people out and enjoying a big plate of greasy churros with a hot cup of thick chocolate (think mix between hot chocolate milk and pudding).  As if the churro isn’t enough itself, you’re supposed to dip it in the chocolate and then drink the leftover chocolate (with a spoon, since it’s so thick!).  People say that Spaniards eat this for breakfast, but I find that it’s saved for special occasions, like Christmas morning, something to pad your stomach in the wee hours after a long night of partying, or something that older people have during the merienda, or snack around 6:00.  The most famous place in Madrid is San Gines, pictured above, but plenty of traditional Spanish bars and cafeterias will have them.  Also, check out the Valor chocolate shops, which I have heard are very good.