Experiencing authentic Spanish cuisine is more than just eating paella. If you want to take a complete tour of Spain’s exquisite cooking, then these Spanish side dishes are a must! When eating out in Spain, you’ll find its nooks and crannies are filled with delightful cafes. People also spend hours in restaurants, and for good reason! Spanish recipes are irresistible, to say the least. Bursts of flavor will greet you, bite after bite. Plus, the fresh, colorful ingredients will encourage you to have more. If you want to bring a little excitement to your kitchen, these recipes for Spanish side dishes will do the trick! Fair warning: Prepare to make double batches because these are delicioso!
1. Menestra De Verduras
Menestra de verduras is a traditional vegetable soup from the Navarra region of Spain. Packed with seasonal vegetables and cubes of Serrano ham, this dish is hearty and oh-so-yummy. Besides having an excellent side dish to fish or meat, serving this soup is a great way to up the family’s nutrient intake.
2. Tumbet
This Mallorcan tumbet recipe will transform simple vegetables into a yummy baked side dish. Like most Spanish dishes, the key to perfecting this recipe is to use quality ingredients. Don’t worry, the ingredients are pretty easy to find. These include onion, zucchini, green and red peppers, garlic cloves, and eggplant. If you know how to make lasagna, then you’ll have an easy time assembling the tumbet. Just don’t forget the tomato sauce and cheese on top for a classic flavor combination.
3. Patatas a lo Pobre (Poor Man’s Potatoes)
Patatas a lo pobre used to be a dish consumed by peasants during the famine times in Spain. The main reason being, it has ingredients that are easy to find in any kitchen. Now, this recipe is one of the most popular in Andalusia, creating a delicious vegan dish that everyone loves. The poor men weren’t wrong when they said this dish requires simple ingredients. These include potatoes, onion, green peppers, garlic cloves, and olive oil. The cooking process is much easier. Just fry everything in hot oil, and you’ll be done in 15 minutes!
4. Pisto
If you love France’s ratatouille, then you’ll be a fan of Spain’s pisto. This hearty stew features rich flavors from fresh vegetables cooked in olive oil. A great pisto has layers of deep flavors. The secret? Cook the vegetables separately to bring out their natural flavors. Once done, combine everything together. When topped with fried eggs, pisto makes for a delightful breakfast. You can also create a large batch and serve it as a main vegetable dish if you like.
5. Spanish Rice
Spanish rice has an inviting yellowish hue, light texture, and fresh tomato goodness. If you’re looking for a restaurant-style Spanish rice recipe, this is it! Authentic flavors will come out by using garlic salt and cumin. But you can customize the seasonings according to your preferences. Looking for a pop of color? Add some carrots, peas, and corn to the rice mix. These ingredients will also infuse more flavor and nutritional value to the dish.
6. Papas Arrugadas (Wrinkled Potatoes)
Small potatoes are cleaned and boiled in saltwater, resulting in lightly salted taters with wrinkly skins. Dip them in a spicy or garlicky sauce for a simple yet flavor-packed side dish. The authentic way of making these wrinkled potatoes is to boil them in seawater. But for the sake of convenience, this recipe instructs you to just combine water and a generous amount of salt. Using only two ingredients, you’ll have an iconic side dish from the Canary Islands.
7. Escalavida
Escalivada is a simple Catalan dish comprising roasted vegetables. They are peeled, seeded, and seasoned, often with a splash of red wine vinegar. This dish combines smoky and slightly tangy flavors. It’s so tasty, you can devour it on its own. Turn escalavida into a snack by eating it with a slice of sourdough bread or pairing it with some tortillas.
8. Ensaladilla Rusa (Russian Salad)
Despite being called Russian salad, this dish is popular in the entire country of Spain. It’s a potato salad served as a tapa or side dish, featuring a colorful combination of potatoes, peppers, peas, carrots, boiled eggs, and tuna. Dress up the salad with a layer of mayo, and you’re done! Homemade mayo works best, but a jarred one is fine, too.
9. Patatas Bravas
As you can see, potatoes are an essential part of Spanish side dishes. Because honestly, who doesn’t love some potato goodness? This recipe yields golden, crispy potatoes without frying them! Topped with garlicky mayo and spicy tomato sauce, this side dish will disappear fast before your eyes. It’s insanely addictive and makes for a yummy breakfast, too. Just serve with an egg on top because mornings aren’t really complete without eggs, right?
10. Spanish Bean Salad
Looking for a great recipe for meatless Mondays? While this bean salad is a typical Spanish side dish, it’s also great as a main vegetarian meal. My favorite part about this dish is the super short prep time. It only takes 5 minutes! Put everything together in a bowl and mix until well-combined. Try keeping some for the next day, and you’ll be surprised by its deeper flavors.
11. Spanish Mixed Green Salad
Also known as ensalada mixta, this hearty and colorful salad will brighten up your table. With the refreshing olive oil and vinegar dressing, the warming mixed green salad is ideal to have on a chilly day. This salad is also one of the most versatile Spanish side dishes out there. Feel free to include other fresh veggies to create a unique flavor profile.
12. Spanish Potato Salad
Here’s an upgraded version of Russian salad. It’s more flavorful with an extra sweet and spicy kick! If you want to take a break from mayo dressing, this is the recipe you need. Just combine garlic, mustard, smoked paprika, sherry vinegar, and olive oil for flavoring. The result is one of the tastiest salads you’ll ever have. It’s a perfect choice for a crowd-pleasing dish at outdoor parties.
13. Mojo
Citrusy, garlicky, and spicy mojo is one of my all-time favorite sauces! For lovers of all things spicy, think of this as hot sauce version 2.0. Using a food processor, you can make this versatile sauce in one minute! Serve it with chips, use it as a marinade, or add it to your sandwich. This sauce is honestly good, and I’m sure you’ll find lots of creative ways to use it!
14. Pure De Papas (Mashed Potatoes)
Creamy and buttery mashed potatoes are made even better with grated Manchego cheese. This heavenly side dish will become a new hit at your holiday dinner parties. The cured cheese adds a Spanish twist to the classic mashed potatoes, creating a dish you’d love to have again for a light breakfast.
15. Mushrooms With Garlic
Having a tapas party? You won’t want to skip this dish! This recipe yields small, bite-sized pieces of mushroom with flavorful juices. Garlic and dry sherry create a wonderful combination of flavors. Mix with lemon juice for a zesty bite and warm spices for an extra kick. This party dish indeed has every flavor to excite your palate!
16. Spanish Broccoli and Prawn Salad
This colorful salad is a must-have in any tapas buffet. Crisp broccoli florets mixed with tender medium-sized prawns are such an irresistible duo. Besides a nice contrast in texture, this salad is flavorful yet low in calories. It’s definitely a great dish to have when following healthy dietary habits.
17. Calamari
Calamari is crunchy rings of squid soaked in lemon juice before frying. It’s a common sight on a tapas board or buffet, with lemon wedges on the side. Using fresh squid is a must in order to get the best results, but frozen calamari works fine, too. Add sea salt on the side to taste or a garlicky sauce to amp up the flavors.
18. Spanish Chickpea Salad
When the summer heat is intense and you don’t want to stand around the kitchen, it’s the perfect time to make this chickpea salad. Ready in 20 minutes, this fresh-tasting salad will give you a burst of flavors from ham, chickpeas, and classic Spanish veggies. The addition of hard-boiled eggs makes it a complete meal in a bowl!
19. Zucchini Soup
Now, how about a dish for the wintry nights? Good thing there’s a Spanish recipe for every season, and this zucchini soup will warm you up inside and out. This healthy soup only needs a few pantry staples like potatoes, onion, olive oil, cream, and of course, zucchini. Garnish with croutons and strips of ham to make the dish extra special.
20. Pan Con Tomate
This is a crusty bread grilled to perfection, seasoned with garlic, and topped with raw tomato sauce. I mean, who can resist this tapas dish? For the best outcome, use high-quality, fresh tomatoes and a thick bread that can hold up all the ingredients. Serve as an appetizer or as a light dinner with a salad on the side.
21. Spanish Olive Tapenade
Using a blender or food processor, this olive tapenade comes together in minutes. This condiment mostly tastes like olives with salty notes from capers and anchovies. You can use it as a dip for fries or as a pizza garnish. The possibilities are endless. Slathering it on a toasted slice of bread is by far my favorite. It’s so simple but so flavorful! Click on a star to rate it!
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