Barcelona is a dream city for many Architects, Beach Lovers, and Football lovers. It is one of Spain’s most beautiful and largest cities on the “Mediterranean Sea.” Because of its beauty, Barcelona has become a Tourist attraction. Barcelona has so much to offer. If you have also dreamed of visiting Barcelona, you must have wondered about the different foods there.
Barcelona also offers different kinds of food. You can enjoy these foods on the street or in the best Tapas bars and Michelin-starred restaurants. Barcelona holds festivals throughout the year, including many food festivals. There are so many foods in Barcelona that there will never be enough. So, get ready for your Barcelona food tour.
1. What Can You Eat In Barcelona?
Barcelona is like a full package for food lovers. When two different traditional cuisines come together, it will be exemplary.
If you are a foodie and thinking of visiting Barcelona, many Traditional and delicious meals await you. Even if you go to Barcelona as a sports and Art lover, your fun will double with Barcelona’s foods.
Two different Cultures, Traditions, and food tastes await you in Barcelona. Try both Spanish and Catalan Foods. And don’t worry if you are still wondering about their names. We are here to provide you with a list of famous Barcelona dishes, both Spanish and Catalan cuisine.
Now, let’s start with some famous traditional Spanish dishes.
1.1. Spanish’s Favorite Seafood Paella
It’s impossible to talk about Spanish food and exclude Paella. Seafood Paella is a very famous Spanish dish. Paella is hugely associated with Valencia (an autonomous community of Spain). But, as it is very dear to Spanish People, it has now become their dish.
Paella is a Rice dish with fresh Seafood, meats, and vegetables. If you plan to go to Barcelona, eat Paella, but don’t begin; you won’t be able to hunt without Paella! Paella also holds the title of “National Dish of Spain.”
Spanish families gather to enjoy this dish, also considered a symbol of togetherness and Unity. Not every dish has the magic to bring Families together. If you plan to visit Barcelona, eat Seafood Paella with your family, friends, or whoever you are going to.
1.2. Patatas Bravas (Spicy Potatoes)
When you hear the word “Patatas,” you must have already thought of what it is. And you are correct. It’s a dish made of Potatoes. Patatas Bravas are very popular in Barcelona and the whole of Spain.
Patatas Bravas is a type of crispy tapas. These spicy fried potatoes are eaten as an appetizer in Barcelonan Bars. This Tapas serves mixed sauces or Aioli (a Traditional sauce made with olive oil and garlic). As tapas dishes are popular in Barcelona, have this flavorful snack, dip it in sauces, and enjoy your trip.
1.3. Fideua
Fideua is similar to Paella and originated in Valencia. It is also a dish consisting of fresh Seafood, but in Place of rice, it consists of Noodles. This dish is extremely flavorful and vibrant. Many types of Shellfish are present in this famous Spanish cuisine.
This delicious dish usually gets a serving of lemon slices or juice squeezed over it in Barcelona restaurants. Even for this great dish, the key ingredient is olive oil.
1.4. Rabo de Toro (Spanish Style Oxtail)
Another popular Spanish delicacy in Barcelona is “Spanish-style oxtail stew.” This dish’s main ingredient is Oxtail, with other fresh ingredients like soy sauce, Bay leaves, Tomato Paste, Spanish Paprika, Flour, Spanish Red wine, and garlic cloves.
When all the ingredients come together, stews have a stew-like flavour. Like Tapas, Stews are popular in Spanish cuisine, and you must try Rabo De Toro, which is also a favourite of Barcelona’s locals.
1.5. Croquettes
Croquettes are another great option available in Tapas bars. Try this extremely yummy and crispy Tapas in Barcelona. They are also made of potatoes (mashed) and have many other flavours. The different flavours of Croquettes include ham, ground meat, fish, etc.
The dish has a coating of breadcrumbs and is deeply fried. This Tapas serving is a tangy sauce or sour cream, sometimes also Bacon, Paprika, and Parsley. It is also seasoned with salt and pepper. These Croquettes are softer on the inside and crispy on the outside. So, this Tapas is also a must-try when you visit Barcelona Tapas bar.
1.6. Chorizo
Chorizo is a ground pork sausage popular in Mexican and Spanish cuisine. Spanish Chorizo is just a slice of smoked pork. Finely chopped Pork meat, with fats and seasonings, is blended and put into edible casings. The Paprika used in Spanish Chorizo is spicy and reddish.
Chorizo, a slit-like salami cured with sausage and smoked, has a hard and firm texture. It has become one of the classic tapas. It’s enjoyed with Spanish wine or put into Paellas and stews. So, make sure to have spicy or non-spicy Chorizo in Barcelona Tapas bars.
1.7. Tortilla De Patatas
Tortilla de patatas, or Spanish Omelet, is another common dish locals love. If you visit any place in Spain, you must have this omelet. It is available in any city, and Barcelona is no exception. This Omelet is a Spanish Tortilla. It consists of mashed potatoes, an egg, an onion, and sea salt cooked in oil.
You can eat this hot or mild or even cold. And you can eat this as an appetizer or main course. This dish is so popular that you will find it in almost every restaurant, night, and day.
1.8. Jamón Serrano
Another great delicacy for Spanish people is Jamón Iberico. It is considered the best Iberian ham in the World and can melt in your mouth. It has a sweet, earthy, and nutty taste, and its fats are like cheese, which will melt inside your mouth.
This finest ham consists of an acorn-fed pig’s leg, which must be cured. It is the tastiest ham in the world, but it is also expensive. But if you want something so heavenly, you should pay the price. Don’t worry—this will be the haute cuisine and most prestigious ham you have ever had, giving you that Royal feel.
So, eat this delicious Iberian ham in Barcelona and carry some for your family.
1.9. Gazpacho
Another great Spanish dish to try in Barcelona is Gazpacho. This chilled, ice-cold soup is perfect for summertime. It is made with fresh summer vegetables. This cold soup’s ingredients are Tomatoes, Vinegar, Cucumber, Green Bell pepper, Onion, Garlic, Sea salt, black pepper, and Bread to add texture.
If you are in Barcelona during summer, try this cold soup and enjoy your summer vacation with this healthy and delicious Spanish cuisine.
2. Catalan Cuisine
Barcelona is a mixture of Catalans and Spanish, so you get to try their Culture’s food. Not every Place has the beauty of providing food from two cultures simultaneously. Now, it’s time to dive into Traditional Catalan food, which will also not disappoint you. Once in Barcelona, try both cultures’ dishes and enjoy your trip.
2.1. Crema Catalana
It would be best if you considered trying this dessert in Barcelona. It is a Catalan dessert, the yummiest one, and it is on every dessert menu of Barcelona Restaurants.
It differs from France’s dessert creme brulee because it does not contain “bain marie.” Crema Catalana is a milk dessert with a smooth and soft texture. Egg yolks and Cinnamon are also included, caramelized with sugar toppings.
Even thinking about it can make anyone drool. Sometimes, it also has the flavours of orange, lemon, and vanilla. So, you must include this in your food list even if you want to have only one dessert.
2.2. Escalivada
Another authentic Catalan dish is Escalivada, and the good thing about this is that it’s pure veg. This tasty dish involves roasted vegetables and is enjoyed as a side dish or Tapas.
Escalivada is a vegetable dish cooked or roasted in a small flame. The main ingredients are roasted red peppers, onions, eggplants, and tomatoes. These fresh vegetables are covered with olive oil and topped with parsley.
2.3. Catalan Canelons
Canelones are another Catalan-style dish available in Barcelona. The locals enjoy this dish after a day of Christmas and also on Boxing Day. The rectangular Pasta sheets have a filling of ground meat, cheese, fish, and vegetables. This traditional Catalan dish is Barcelona’s favourite to eat on Christmas day, and you must try it if you are in Barcelona.
2.4. Fish Stew (Suquet de Peix)
This Catalan stew of fish is another food you must try in Barcelona. This Traditional fresh Fish soup is famous in Barcelona and is available in all the Catalan Restaurants. Catalans love Seafood and olive oil, and this dish has both of them. This stew has all kinds of fish in it.
Before, it was just a fisherman’s simple fish soup with Potato, but later on, it became a much more elegant dish in Barcelona. The hint of Saffron and Paprika results in a most tasty delicacy. Giving it room for tourists’ food list to eat in Barcelona.
2.5. Escudella
The comfort winter soup of Catalans and Barcelonans. This dish is found during Christmas and gives people warmth during winter. The dish has many ingredients, including meat, sausage, and vegetables like chickpeas, cabbage, and pasta. It is a hearty meal for Catalans and is related to a sad story.
Before, this was a Poor People’s dish. They could not afford anything fancy and had to make one-pot meals with anything they got. They could make one bowl of it, and everyone used to eat it from the same bowl.
The same dish is now an authentic Catalan delicacy and is eaten heartily during winter. It calms people and also gives them comfort and warmth. If you are in Barcelona during cold winters, don’t forget to have this dish and feel its comfort and love.
2.6. Pan con tomate/Pa Amb Tomaquet (Catalan Tomato Bread)
One of Barcelona’s famous dishes is Catalan tomato-toasted Bread, also known as Pan con tomate. This is a kind of Catalan Tapas and the first choice of Catalans. This Catalonian-style bread does not use butter; it uses a spread made of fresh tomatoes, sea salt, and garlic. Toast this fresh bread with this ingredient and have the classic Catalan Tomato Bread.
2.7. Espinacs amb pansies I pinyons (Spinach with raisins and nuts)
This is another vegetarian food in Catalan Cuisine. You can choose this one if you can’t enjoy tapas because of meats. This dish contains fresh spinach, raisins, garlic, virgin olive oil, and Pine nuts. This amazing food can be a delicious and healthy appetizer or side dish. You can also enjoy any other Catalan cuisine.
2.8. Esqueixada de Bacalla (Salted Cod Salad)
This is another Seafood Catalan cuisine and a Traditional dish for summer. It has Cod fish in it and is also a Tapas. This dish has fewer ingredients, and you can eat it on warm days. This dish has just 5 ingredients: extra virgin olive oil, spring onions, Black pepper, Tomato, and Bacalao (dried salted codfish).
Spanish or Barcelonian People enjoy this seafood-filled dish in summer. You must also try this dish and enjoy the gift of nature and Catalan cuisine in Barcelona Tapas Bar.
2.9. Neula
The crispy and crunchy Neula biscuit is a must-buy in Barcelona. You can even take it as a souvenir in your home. This Catalan biscuit is found during Christmas; you can eat it with white wine.
This Catalan Neula biscuit has a very thin layer and is a mixture of egg whites, flour, butter, and sugar. This biscuit is in a roll firm and has a lemon flavour. Sometimes, this biscuit is also covered with chocolate and is eaten with Crema Catalana.
In The End
Barcelona is a great dream destination and a paradise for food lovers. There are many options, and every food has a unique taste and love. Traditional cuisines are worth craving. The diverse Culture offers a variety of great food options. Barcelona is rich in everything, whether art form or food.
This Place has everything, from surreal buildings to cultural heritage. When you travel to Barcelona, you will visit Spain’s most vibrant and light city. This Spanish city is worth all the money and time, and you will not regret visiting.
Barcelona is one of the most attractive tourist destinations because of its delicious Catalan and Spanish cuisine. Enjoy the football matches, but don’t forget to visit the museums, delicious food stalls, tapa bars, and beaches in this beautiful Place. Take everything that Barcelona has to offer.
Last Updated on by Arnab
