The Catalan Gastronomy

Catalonia inhabitants enjoy the "buena mesa" that lasts for hours, enjoying the conversation surrounded by delicious meals and good wine. Food time is really important for spaniards and that can be seen by the number of restaurants and bars you can find at every step.

If you're not hungry enough for a 3 course meal, try the spanish way of "Ir de tapas"(Going tapas), the world-popular spanish way of snacking-dinning. The thing to do is to order a cold beer or sangria and some tapas to share! Each bar has it's own specialty, so do as spaniards and don't hesitate to ask the waiter for advice! 

Tapas y Bocadillos              Tapas and Sandwiches
Tortilla de Patatas                               Omelet made with potatoes, egg and onion
Bombas                                              Fried spicy potato ball
Patatas Bravas                                  Fried potatoes with allioli and red pepper
Chipirones                                          Battered and fried tiny squid
Calamares a la romana                      Fried Calamari Rings
Anchoas                                            Anchovies
Gambas al ajillo                                  Salted prawns with Garlic & Persil
Chocos                                               Fried Calamar sticks
Choricitos                                           Little fried chorizo sausages
Olivas rellenas                                   Olives filled with anchovies
Mejillones al vapor                              Mussels steam cooked
Mejillones en conserva                      Canned mussels "en escabeche"
Berberechos                                      Cockles
Boquerones                                       White anchovies served in vinegar(boquerones en vinagre) or fried  
Ensaladilla rusa                                  Boiled vegetables with tuna, olives and mayonnaise        
Pimientos rellenos                               Small red filled peppers
Pimientos de Padrón                           Small Green peppers from Padrón
Pincho Moruno                                    Spicy pork meat pieces in a stick
Pulpo a la gallega                                Boiled Octopus pieces seasoned with olive oil and red pepper
Jamon                                                 Spanish salty ham
Bikini                                                    Hot sandwich of ham and fondant cheese
Bocadillo Lomo & Queso                     Hot sandwich of pork tenderloin slices and cheese
Bocadillo de Bacon & Queso              Hot sandwich of bacon slices and cheese



Here below we've prepared a list with the most traditional dishes that you may find in any "typical" restaurant all over Catalonia, and a little description so you know what are you going to eat!

Entrantes             Starters

Fideua                          Catalan "vermicelli" Paella eated with Alioli

Paella                           Rice with vegetables and/or meat and seafood

Arros a la Cubana       White rice with tomato sauce and fried egg

Arros Negre                 Black rice made with squid ink

Pan con tomate            Grilled bread grated with tomato and olive oil

Entremés                      Different kind of “embutidos" (cured meats) served with salad

Canalons                     Cannelloni made with pork meat gratined with bechamel. They've also the spinach version

Escudella                     Catalan stew with pasta + served in another plate the vegetables and meat

Brandada de Bacallá   Smashed non-salty cod and potato

Escalivada                   Baked red and green peppers, eggplant, onion and zucchini with olive oil

Esqueixada                  Desalted and teared cod with tomato

Xató                             Escarole salad with desalted cod, romesco sauce, onion and olives

Faves a la catalana     Broad beans with pork and black pudding

Continuing with the main dishes, all of them are delicious and worth to try, but some people may be surprised of spanish eating snails, pork feet or black rice made with squid ink but if you try them you won't be disappointed!

Plato Principal                   Main Dishes

Butifarra                                           Sausage (bangers) that can be white or black

Salsitxa                                            Sausage with black pepper

Galtes al Forn                                  Roasted with potatoes pigs cheeks

Guatlles/Codornices                        Quails usually made grilled or stuffed

Peus de porc                                   Pork feet are usually done grilled or stuffed

Cargols                                            Snails are eaten stuffed, with salt, with alioli...

Calçots                                            Barbecued spring onions served with Romesco

Bolets                                              Mushrooms: their favorite is the Rovelló

Parrillada de Carne/Pescado           Feast of different kinds of grilled fish/meat

Sarsuela                                          Different kind of fish cooked in a saffron stock

Mariscada                                        Seafood feast

Suquet                                             Soup made with good fish and potatoes

Mar y Muntanya                               Chicken cooked with fresh crayfish in sauce

Bacallá amb samfaina                      Desalted cod in samfaina sauce

Rap amb allioli                                   Monkfish gratined in alioli sauce

Mongetes seques amb Cansalada   White beans sautéed with thick bacon

Catalonia doesn't have a big tradition of sweets, cakes and pastries as other european countries. That's why it's really common to order fresh fruit after a meal, but there are some typical sweet desserts that you should try!

Postres            Desserts

Crema catalana      The original version of "creme brulee"

Pomes al forn         Baked apples with cinnamon and caramel

Flam (flan)              Egg custard with caramel

Mel i Mato               Curd cheese (mató) with honey (mel)

Music                     Mixed nuts and dried fruits served with a glass of Moscatell (sweet wine)

               

Salsas            Sauces

Allioli                      Made with garlic pounded in the mortar with oil being added little by little

Samfaina               Vegetable medley that should include tomatoes and aubergines

Romesco               Sauce made of crushed hazelnuts/almonds and ñora (dry pepper)

               

Extra Vocabulary  

Zona de Fumadores              Smoking Area

Zona de No-Fumadores        Non-Smoking Area