Foods to Eat in Spain - Madrid

- Patatas Bravas -

Almost every European country has it's own pride and joy potato dish, whether it's chips from England, Pommes Dauphine from France or Reibekuchen from Germany (to name but a few). Here in Spain, or more specifically Madrid, the potato dish of choice is perhaps one of the most well known Spanish dishes, Patatas Bravas.

Patatas Bravas is a tapas dish consisting of potatoes which are cut into chunks and fried until golden. However, it wouldn't be Patatas Bravas without the typical Bravas Sauce, which is a tomato sauce with added Pimentón peppers for that spicy kick. Having said this, with Patatas Bravas being such a versatile dish, it has been adapted by the different regions of Spain, each with their own variation of the favourite. In Valencia, the potatoes are served with a sauce based on olive oil, vinegar and peppers and in other areas of Spain, it is served with an aioli or even a combination of garlic aioli and Bravas sauce. Sometimes, even mayonnaise is added to temper down the spice and give the dish an overall creamy taste.

Foods to Eat in Spain - Madrid

- Gallinejas -

Gallinejas are similar to the previously mentioned Zarajos in that they are both made from sheep chitterlings and are found mainly in Madrid. However, Gallinejas varies from the latter in that it isn't just the sheep's small intestine that is eaten as the spleen and pancreas are also used (and perhaps looks even less appetising to the uninitiated). 

Its origins date back to the 1950's, to the bustling Matadero de Legazpi (the slaughterhouse and cattle market of Madrid) whereby instead of wasting the off-cuts and offal at the end of the day, it was given to the surrounding restaurants and tapas bars which used them and turned them into many of the traditional Madrilenian tapas dishes we know and love today like Zarajos, Gallinejas and Riñones al Jerez.

Foods to Eat in Spain - Madrid

- Oreja de Cerdo -

Oreja de Cerdo, also known as Oreja a la Plancha (Plancha meaning grilled on a hot metal surface, not over charcoals) is a common tapas dish in Madrid (and is popular in the neighbouring regions of La Mancha and Andalucía also). This tapas consists of pig's ear (which can either be marinated or grilled as is), cut into slices or cubes and grilled. 

While the general cooking procedure is much the same all over Spain, the accompaniment of Oreja de Cerdo and the way it is served varies widely across the country. Some common, popular sauces include a spicy tomato sauce (Brava sauce, the same sauce used in the popular Patatas Bravas dish) or a garlic and parsley sauce (where it is known as al Ajillo). In certain tapas bars of Madrid, it is popularly served with chopped bacon and mushroom, as well as a wedge of lemon. Another variation native to the Basque region, is a la Vizcaína, whereby it is served with a sauce made from red peppers, onions, stock and a thickening agent such as flour.

Foods to Eat in Spain - Castilla-La Mancha & Madrid

- Zarajos -

Zarajos is a traditional tapas dish of Cuenca, in the region of Castilla-La Mancha and is now also popular in the neighbouring city of Madrid. Different offal dishes are popular both across the world and within Spain as it is inexpensive and due to the 'not wasting any part of the animal' ethos, especially in the past.

Zarajos are lamb intestines (which may be a turn off for some, but I assure you, when its properly cleaned and fried, you can't tell you're eating offal) which are marinated in garlic, onions, white wine and parsley. They are then wrapped around a skewer and deep-fried (although they can also be baked in an oven or grilled). It is then normally served as is or sometimes, with a wedge of lemon to cut through some of the grease from the frying process. Alternatively, they can also be cooked in the broth made from Caracoles a la Madrileña (which I wrote about previously here).

Foods to Eat in Spain - Madrid

- Besugo a la Madrileña -

Besugo a la Madrileña is a dish well associated with Madrid, which is a bit perplexing as Madrid, being far away from the coast (practically in the middle of Spain), should not really have any seafood dishes of note historically. The reason for this is because in 1739, Manuel de Herrera managed to secure a permit for the transportation of fresh fish from coastal ports (such as Santander, Vasco de Bermeo etc.) to Madrid. Even today, his legacy remains in the form of the organisation Mercamadrid, that ensures for a reliable and efficient transport network to and from Madrid.

Foods to Eat in Spain - Andalusia (Seville and Córdoba)

- Gazpacho -

Gazpacho is a soup traditionally made using the primary ingredients of tomatoes, cucumbers, bell pepper, stale bread, garlic, olive oil and wine vinegar. Most importantly, it is consumed cold and can be served with bread or garnished with a variety of foods such as green peppers, mint, oranges, almonds or even ham and eggs (which is in fact the Córdoba variation of Gazpacho).

Foods to Eat in Spain - Madrid

- Bocadillo de Calamares -

Sometimes the best things in life, are the simple things and there are few things more simple than Bocadillo de Calamares, succulent breaded squid rings sandwiched by a warm toasty baguette which goes especially well with a cold beer (or two). What is there not to like?

This sandwich is very popular in Madrid as it is cheap and easy to eat on the go and you will often smell its aroma when there a shops selling it, especially dotted around the Plaza Major, however, a word of warning is that to be careful of some of the restaurants directly on (facing) the concourse. While you certainly won't be unhappy with the taste of the food, the value for money isn't as good as the price is often much higher than normal (in some cases, double the amount) due to the abundance of tourists in the area coupled with higher rent. Therefore I would recommend you to instead go to Bar la Campana, which is just behind Plaza Major, tucked in one of the many side streets where one Bocadillo de Calamares only costs 2.70 euros (and is indeed the cost for any Bocadillo with your choice of meat filling).

Foods to Eat in Spain - Madrid

- Caracoles a la Madrileña -

When one mentions snails, your mind might first think of the garden pest that terrorises your pavements with slime, even upon a little bit of rain (so practically everyday in England). When you add the word 'delicacy', the French may now come to mind, however, snails are eaten in numerous countries and places across the world, one of which is Madrid. Caracoles a la Madrileña are snails that are cooked in beef broth with a little bit of chilli. They are traditionally cooked in earthenware dishes (as indeed many Spanish tapas style dishes are) and pairs wonderfully with a glass of red wine.