When visiting Barcelona, it is essential that you try some of the local delicacies here. Many people simply think that Barcelona’s cuisine is the same as the traditional Spanish cuisine…tapas, sangria, churros. However, this is not the case as Catalonia has a cuisine all of its own. Don’t let this put you off if you’re searching for typical Spanish food, people in Catalonia still love Gazpacho and paella as much as the rest of the country, but we definitely recommend trying these authentic (and delicious) Catalan food specialities if you want to make the most of your trip.
Probably the simplest, yet most popular dish that has come out of Catalonia. Catalans traditionally serve toasted rustic sourdough bread, sprinkled with salt, rubbed with tomatoes and finished with olive oil. You will also find that many of the sandwiches are served on bread that has been rubbed down in the same way. Some places serve the ingredients separately so that you can make your own Pa amb tomaquet!
Fideua is cooked in a similar way to Paella, in a large flat pan, however, it is made with small noodles instead of the traditional rice. It is still made with a combination of shellfish, meat, chicken and vegetables and is best served with aioli, a garlic sauce that many Catalans love. The name for the sauce actually originates from the Catalan words garlic and oil.
Botifarra is a typical sausage dish that you can find around Catalonia. It is made from meat and spices and can be found in almost every butchers, supermarkets and grocery store. There are lots of Catalan restaurants that will serve traditional Botifarra dishes as well as restaurants that make it their speciality – look out for names of restaurants that include ‘Botifarra’ (or variations of it)! You will often find it served with white beans.
Esqueixada is a salad that is made up of peppers, tomatoes, onions, red wine vinegar and raw salted cod fish. The salted cod is preserved by being rubbed down in salt and then dried outdoors. It is a light and refreshing dish that many enjoy in the warm summer months!