In comparison to the food in neighbouring European countries, the food in Spain is quite simple. Spanish food is cooked using only a few spices; however, garlic is the exception to this rule as it is found in abundance in most Spanish dishes.
Despite the simple ingredients and recipes, one will be pleased to know that eating food in Spain is a communal and hearty affair with portions being quite large.
Staple Food in Spain
The food in Spain varies to a degree between different regions, with each region having its own special food. Wherever you go in Spain though, you will find a few staple foods on every table. Spaniards like to eat their meals with bread, often dipped in lovely locally produced olive oil .
Visitors to Spain will also find that cured ham is an extremely popular food and in every town one will find this food often hanging from the ceilings of delicatessens throughout Spain.
Traditional Seafood in Spain
Spain has a long shoreline and a history of fishing for seafood. Popular types of seafood in Spain include anchovies, tuna, sardines and cod.
Anchovies are a common food often found in salads or other dishes, while the cod eaten is often dried and salted and is a main feature in the food of the Basque region in Northern Spain. Lovers of sea food will be pleased to know that no matter where you are in Spain you can almost always get fresh seafood often caught the same day in the waters off the coast of Spain.
Traditional Finger Food in Spain
Finger food is a prominent feature in Spain and an integral part of socialising the Spanish way. Finger food, or tapas as it is known in Spain, can be anything that is served as a finger food usually in a small bowl.
This finger food can be anything from cheese & ham to olives and is usually eaten at the same time as drinking at a tapas bar. The finger food is usually left out on bars and people will nibble away while drinking and socialising at the bar.
Traditional Lunch & Dinner
Lunch is the main meal of the day in Spain involving the most copious amounts of food being consumed. Food can often be served in three or more courses for lunch, often with soup or stew as a starter.
People in Spain eat lunch quite late in the day, often from 2pm onwards and the plentiful amount of food that is consumed at lunchtime means that this is often a 2 hour affair followed by a siesta. The food eaten for dinner in Spain is often the same as that served at lunch although usually lighter.
