Everyone who’s been to Spain constantly raves about the locally-sourced wine, the exquisite sangria where every restaurant has its own recipe, and the fantastically warm weather, but we want to talk to you about the heart of Andalusian culture: the food. Even the snobbiest foodie wouldn’t turn up their nose at the chance to taste some of the glorious cuisines on offer in Costa del Sol.
Part of that is because of the fervor behind fresh ingredients. Whether you’re running a restaurant or cooking for the family, everyone goes out to the market a few times a week to purchase homegrown produce, freshly caught fish, and everything else they need for their meals.
Another reason for the amazing cuisine is the Mediterranean location. You’ve got fertile soil to grow plenty of crops, easy access to the ocean for fishing, and historical culinary influences from Moorish, Sephardic, Phoenician, Roman, and Spanish people who’ve been populating the region for thousands of years.
When you move to Spain’s southern coast, this is just a sample platter of all the flavors you need to try!
Gazpacho Soup
Gazpacho is one of the best things to soothe the heat of the dog days of summer. This cold soup is available up and down the coast of Spain, so you’ll never have to worry about missing out on the delicious tomato goodness.
Bellota Ham
Translated literally as acorn ham, this yummy ham comes from acorn-fed Iberian pigs. It’s a great food to use in the tapas, or small plates, that are so popular throughout Spain. It’s a dining tradition to try the tapas at multiple tapas bars in a single evening while strolling down the street.
Espetos
Coming from the seafood-oriented city of Malaga, espetos are skewers of sardines that can be found at any one of the chiringuitos along the beautiful beaches. They’re cheap, plentiful, and make great snacks when you’re walking down the promenade for an afternoon in the sun.
Fritura Malaguena
As we said above, Malaga is most known for its seafood, and a fritura Malaguena gives you the opportunity to taste the bounty of the sea. Instead of limiting yourself to a single fish, this mixed platter provides plenty of delicious things to try. Plus, they’re all fried! Yum!
Paella
Paella might not sound like your first choice here, but it’s surprisingly popular at the chiringuitos because of all of the fresh fish. It’s a wonderful meal to share with the whole family.
Ortiguillas
Have you ever wanted to eat a sea anemone? Well, in Cadiz, that’s pretty standard for tapas. It’s typically served fried, and some people say it’s an acquired taste, but all of the locals are very fond of it.
Chipirones
Continuing on the fried fish tangent, chipirones are fried baby squids, another widely served tapas in Cadiz. You might not get them fried, though; sometimes, they’re la Plancha with garlic and parsley. Most people love a Cerveza with their chipirones, so make sure to crack open a cold one! Favorite Andalusian Dishes In Costa Del Sol.