What to eat in Madrid
Everybody knows that Spanish people love to eat as much as they love spending time around the table and chatting with their friends during both lunch and dinner. Spanish people don’t just grab their food and rapidly eat it. Instead, they slowly enjoy their delicious dishes. And the traditional food in Madrid is absolutely mouth-watering, making Spain’s capital a real heaven for foodies from all over the world.
In addition to the hearty, savory food, Spain also offers its locals and visitors a great list of good wines, Rioja being one of the most famous wines in Europe.
When visiting Madrid, travelers can taste their way around the whole Spain, because the city is filled with great restaurants serving food from all regions, as well as all European countries. However, in order to understand the local traditions you should not get too caught up in food from other areas. Visiting Madrid without tasting at least a coulee of the typical dishes is definitely an incomplete experience.
Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth First Thing in the Morning: Chocolate con Churros
Spanish people love their sweets and you can see that when walking around and observing the many cake shops in the city. Therefore, you should not be surprised when you notice people indulging in chocolate and churros while enjoying their morning coffee. Now, these delicious, deep-fried sticks of dough are also a great idea for people who want to have a sweet late-night snack. So if you are not into beginning your day with sugary food, don’t worry because the street stands are open all day long and you can also find churros in many cafes and bars. Also, if you prefer a low-calorie diet, save this dish for the weekend, as many locals do. Whatever you choose, you must try the churros at least once, while visiting Madrid.
A Great Dish Makes a Cold Day Bearable: Cocido Madrileño
Travelers who plan to visit Madrid during winter should not miss tasting the traditional stew known as Cocido Madrileño. This stew is made of vegetables, chickpeas, chorizo sausage, and pork and it is the perfect dish for a winter day. The most interesting part about Cocido Madrileño is that it is served in two or even three courses. The chickpeas, meats, and vegetables are served as a second course, after the broth is separated and used to make soup, becoming the first course.
Madrid is full of restaurants that serve perfectly cooked Cocido Madrileño and no foodie who visits the Spanish capital should miss eating this dish at least once.
A Recipe Dating Back to the 16th Century: Callos a la Madrileña
It appears that this old dish was first served in the 16th century, so it is a must-try not only for foodies but also for history lovers from all over the world. However, if you are a vegetarian you might want to order something different. Callos a la Madrileña is an interesting smokey stew, also popular during the cold winter days. It is made of cow guts and usually served with morcilla ( blood sausage), ham and chorizo. It has a sensational taste and people who love eating meat are always eager to have another portion.
A Delicious, but Weird Starter: Oreja a la Plancha
There aren’t too many visitors who dare to order Oreja a la Plancha because eating pig ears doesn’t seem like something enjoyable. However, after seeing how delighted local people are, it is very difficult not to ask the waiter to bring you the biggest portion. Locals of Madrid, as well as Spaniards from all over the country, are very fond of this dish and they usually serve it with delicious sauces, paprika, and freshly squeezed lemon while enjoying a big glass of local beer. If eating pig ears is not something you can’t do, Oreja a la Plancha is definitely a starter you will love.
A Fast, Tasty Snack: Bocadillo de Calamares
Madrid is one of those big cities with an amazing number of touristic attractions and visitors don’t always have time to sit in a restaurant and enjoy a meal. But this doesn’t mean they can’t taste the local cuisine even when they are walking around the beautifully arranged streets of the city. Bocadillo de Calamares is a great option when you are hungry but you are also eager to get to your favorite museum. What to expect from this sandwich? The Delicious Battered squid rings, served on a crusty roll will definitely make you want to learn more about Madrid’s street food scene.
As mentioned above, Madrid is a small heaven for foodies and these delicious traditional dishes are just an introduction to Madrid’s cuisine. The city hides many more dishes that are waiting to be discovered by food lovers from all over the world.
