Some dishes instantly take you back to a place. For me, this one brings back a tapas stop in Malaga — cold drinks on the table, warm evening air, and one of those gloriously garlicky dishes that arrives with absolutely no pretence and disappears almost immediately. The version I had was closer to tapas-style chicken…
Tag: Spanish food
Spanish Seafood Rice (Arroz con Marisco)
This Spanish seafood rice looks like paella, but it’s actually much simpler to cook. It’s a looser, home-style dish made with prawns, clams and mussels — no special pan, no strict rules, just something that works. This is the kind of seafood rice you’ll find cooked at home in Spain. It’s built around what looks…
Spanish White Bean & Clam Stew (Fabes con Almejas)
This Spanish white bean and clam stew is a simple, deeply flavourful dish made with tender beans and fresh clams in a light, savoury broth. Known in Spain as Fabes con Almejas, it’s the kind of recipe that feels rustic but surprisingly elegant. I first had Fabes con Almejas in Oviedo, in northern Spain. White…
Gilda (Classic Basque Pintxo)
During my month travelling through Spain, I noticed one thing every pintxos bar had in common: a plate of Gildas sitting proudly on the counter. Just a simple skewer of olive, anchovy and pickled green pepper — nothing fancy, yet somehow the first thing people order when they sit down with a drink. I loved…
Spanish Octopus (Pulpo a la Gallega)
One of the best things I ate in Spain was Spanish Octopus (Pulpo a la Gallega)— a Galician-style dish that’s as simple as it is delicious. The first time I tried it was at Mercat de la Boqueria in Barcelona. Served warm on a wooden plate, dressed with nothing more than olive oil, sea salt,…
Slow Braised Beef Cheeks in Red Wine (Spanish Style)
This braised beef cheeks recipe is slow-cooked in red wine and aromatics until meltingly tender, creating a rich, glossy sauce that’s perfect with creamy mash, polenta or crusty bread. Known in Spain as carrilleras de ternera, it’s a dish that feels both rustic and generous—simple ingredients, cooked slowly, with big flavour at the end. If…
Tortilla de Patatas (Spanish Potato Omelette)
No trip to Spain is complete without eating at least one slice of tortilla de patatas. You’ll find it everywhere—from bustling market bars and family-run bodegas to petrol stations, where it’s served by the slice with a side of crusty bread. It’s a dish that speaks to Spain’s genius for making something extraordinary out of…
Pan con Tomate (Spanish Tomato Bread)
Pan con Tomate is one of those dishes that shows how a few perfect ingredients can create something unforgettable. You’ll see it everywhere in Spain — at tapas bars, markets, and casual terraces — but one of my strongest memories is sitting in the hot afternoon sun in Seville, drink in hand, watching the world…
Chorizo with Chickpeas and Cider: A modern twist on a Spanish classic
I’ve been writing a series of recipes inspired by a recent trip to Spain, and one of the things I loved most was the variety of regional tapas—small plates that vary wildly depending on where you are. In northern Spain, particularly Asturias, cider features heavily in cooking, often paired with chorizo and beans or chickpeas…
Valencian Tomato Salad with Anchovies, Capers and Basil
Valencia was hot—mid-summer, sun-baked stone kind of hot. The kind of weather where appetite fades but flavour becomes everything. We sat down at a small restaurant near the historic centre, shaded by trees and blessed with a light breeze. The tomato salad that arrived at our table looked deceptively simple. But the first bite was…