Spanish cuisine is quite popular around the world, especially in Europe. And if your next traveling destination is Spain, you probably aim to try as many local dishes as possible. As usual as it is to gain a lot of weight during vacations, when it comes to Spanish food, it doesn’t have to be the case for one simple reason:
Many traditional Spanish meals are both delicious and healthy.
Even though the typical Spanish menu does not necessarily include healthy low-calorie foods, many local dishes are nothing but a composition of wholesome, fresh ingredients and cooking methods. Here are 5 of the healthy meals that you can enjoy as a tourist in Spain or even cook yourself at home.
1. Gazpacho
Gazpacho is one of the typical Spanish dishes that comes from the region of Andalusia. It is known as a summer dish and therefore, you're likely to encounter it on family tables. While most soups are considered warm comfort foods, this particular soup is usually eaten cold.
Still, it doesn’t mean it can’t refresh and comfort you at times of stress, whether it’s something related to your family, work, or studies. For example, no wonder it’s a favorite among students who worry about tight deadlines for their homework. So, if you think, “I might need someone to write paper for me on Writepaper because I’m stressed and don’t have enough time,” a cool bowl of Gazpacho might give you just enough calm to refocus.
This dish contains fresh vegetables, where tomatoes play the main character. Cucumbers and green Italian peppers are often used as well and with the addition of olive oil, you get a healthy, satisfying lunch or a starter dish for dinner.
2. Paella
Paella originated in Valencia and is known as its signature dish. It is usually cooked in a particular pan, which is called paellera or paella in Spanish. The key ingredient in this dish is rice and it is cooked with meat and various vegetables.
The most conventional paella consists of chicken, rabbit, saffron, and garrofon, which is a local haricot bean, with the addition of olive oil. As locals say, the best version of this dish is cooked on firewood. Thus, while you can easily make this at home, for the best experience, try the locally cooked paella.
3. Spanish Omelet
If you’re into Spanish cuisine, we bet you’ve heard of Tortilla Española. It’s a Spanish omelet that is a great protein source. Considering that this omelet is super simple to cook, you can easily cook it yourself at home whenever you’d like. Another nice perk about a Spanish omelet is that you can have it as a meal during any part of the day.
Aside from eggs, the Spanish Omelet consists of potatoes as well. The most important thing to understand to cook the omelet perfectly is to give the potatoes the right texture and keep the eggs fluffy. In addition, olive oil is essential. You can have it with bread if you aren’t strict with carbs, but many prefer the healthier version without it.
4. Catalan Spinach
If you’re not a fan of spinach, Catalan-style spinach (espinacas a la catalana) might change your mind. This dish comes from Sephardic Jewish cuisine and now it has become one of the main dishes that is made in Catalonia. Besides being incredibly tasty, Catalan spinach is completely vegan so it is a great option for those who follow a vegan diet.
Catalan spinach is cooked with spinach, golden raisins, pine nuts, and garlic. If you’re looking for a non-vegan option, you could add some bacon or ham to it and enjoy your delicious meal.
5. Marmitako
Marmitako, also known as Basque tuna stew, is one of the healthiest and most outstanding dishes in Spanish cuisine. Similar to most dishes on this list, it’s super convenient for beginners to make at home as well. It used to be something to prepare as a quick, simple meal, mostly by fishermen. However, today it is very popular to have as a lunch and it’s perfect to cook for the whole family.
Most of the stews in Spanish recipes are cooked with whatever can be found at home. A typical recipe of Marmitako involves Spanish tuna, bell peppers, potatoes, and paprika, which ends up being one delicious, large, healthy meal.
Bottom Line
While most times it is expected to put on mass because of eating Spanish food, after reading this article you can see that Spanish cuisine has some remarkable healthy options that are super tasty and flavorful.
Even though it is often believed that you can’t exactly get to know a certain cuisine by only eating its low-calorie dishes, these 5 meals we discussed in the article offer quite a great portion of the Mediterranean taste, which is the signature of Spanish food. Overall, you can enjoy your meals and eat healthy at the same time without feeling any guilt during your travels.
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