Food in Spain

Although I had heard a lot about food in Spain and had also read quite a bit about it, it was a completely different experience to try homemade food there myself. I noticed a few differences compared to German eating habits.

Spanish families usually eat very little for breakfast. Often, it’s just a coffee with milk, a piece of toast, or a small pastry. Lunch, around 3:30 p.m., is much bigger and more important. For example, they have soup, rice dishes, and fish or meat. In Germany, lunch and dinner are often similar. Here in Spain, many families tend to eat something light in the evening, such as salad, tortilla española, or tapas. I usually have dinner around 9 p.m., but sometimes not until 10 p.m.

Another difference is that bread (in Germany, it would be more like a baguette) is served with almost every meal. I also find the food here to be more greasy. For example, fried eggs are not just fried in a pan, but deep-fried in a lot of oil. French fries are also deep-fried in a lot of oil.

Here are some traditional dishes I’ve already tried:

Paella: a rice dish with saffron, vegetables, and seafood from Valencia

Tortilla española: similar to an omelet with potatoes and eggs

Croquetas: fried snacks, usually filled with jamón or cheese

Churros con chocolate: fried dough with hot, melted chocolate

Empanada: a traditional savory pie or pastry, that features a filling encased in a bread-like dough

Overall, I find Spanish food very tasty and interesting, even if it differs from food in Germany in some aspects and you have to get used to it in some cases. 

Paula