These traditional Spanish fritters are usually prepared with a buttery béchamel base that is well chilled and formed into round or cylindrical patties, which are then coated in egg wash and breadcrumbs, and finally fried until crispy and golden.

Spain abounds in various types of croquetas, and the most popular versions incorporate ham or shredded chicken in the béchamel base, but other ingredients such as mushrooms, cod, or shrimp are also common. Though they originated as a frugal dish, which made use of leftover ingredients, today they are a classic that is often served as tapas—small finger foods that are usually accompanied by a few drinks.

Torrijas is a Spanish version of the classic French toast, consisting of slices of leftover bread that are first soaked in milk, dipped in beaten eggs, and then fried in hot olive oil, unlike French toast, which is dipped in a mixture of eggs and milk.

In the past, torrijas was often served to new mothers and wounded soldiers, since it provides a significant boost of energy. Today, torrijas is traditionally prepared around Easter, and it is recommended to serve it with cinnamon sugar or honey for extra flavor.

Bocadillos or bocatas are Spanish sandwiches made with Spanish-style baguettes known as barra de pan, unlike regular sandwiches which are made with modern white bread, known as pan de molde in Spain. The most common fillings for bocadillos include meat, cheese, tuna, omelets, jamón, or chorizo sausages.

The Spanish typically don't add onions, mayonnaise, pickles, or lettuce to bocadillos, but the bread is sometimes rubbed with halved tomatoes or olive oil. Due to the popularity of these sandwiches, the fillings vary from one region to another – omelet bocadillos are usually eaten for breakfast or as an afternoon snack and include eggs, cheese, beans, peppers, and potatoes; meat-based bocadillos are often made with chicken, beef, pork, horse, or goat; and fish bocadillos often include cuttlefish, sardines, and squid. 

Rosquillas are traditional Spanish deep-fried donuts, characterized by their fluffy texture and a hole in the middle. They are typically prepared during the Holy Week festivities. Although there are many varieties of rosquillas, the classic ones are prepared with a combination of eggs, sugar, milk, oil, lemon zest, flour, baking powder, and anisette, which imparts a unique flavor to these tasty donuts.

Another classic variety of rosquillas is made with sweet muscat wine (moscatel), and those donuts are known as rosquillas de vino. After they have been deep-fried, rosquillas are typically served as a sweet snack, topped with cinnamon sugar. 

Bocadillo de calamares is one of the best-known bocadillo sandwiches in Spain, and a most beloved bar snack staple in the country’s capital, Madrid. It typically consists of a crusty Spanish-style baguette called barra de pan, which has been sliced in half lengthwise and stuffed with fresh and crunchy fried calamari rings.

The calamari are usually dipped in flour and fried in olive oil, while the sandwich’s filling may be enhanced with a touch of olive oil or alioli (garlic mayonnaise) or a drizzle of fresh lemon juice. This simple sandwich makes for a filling breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a mid-afternoon snack, and it is traditionally washed down with a small glass of ice-cold draft beer known as a caña in Spanish. 

Widely acclaimed as the most popular Spanish dish, paella is a one-pot specialty that is based on saffron-flavored rice, while the additional ingredients may include meat, seafood, or vegetables. Although paella originated in Valencia, where it was made with seasonal vegetables, poultry, rabbit, and snails, in modern-day Spain, the name is used for all rice dishes prepared in a paellera or paella - the traditional shallow pan that is used both for cooking and serving.

Paella has humble origins—it most likely originated around Albufera lagoon, an area known for its rice fields and wildlife, where it was made with locally-sourced ingredients. The exact ingredients used in paella have long been a matter of dispute, but everyone agrees that each paella should have a subtle saffron flavor. 

Elongated, crispy, crunchy and intensely fragrant, churros consist of deep-fried yeast dough encrusted with sugar. Although some may argue against consuming these sweet treats, warning others about the dangerous effects of sugar and fat on human bodies, the popularity of churros throughout the world doesn't seem to wane.

Originally invented by Spanish shepherds who could easily cook them in a pan over an open fire, today these unusually shaped, cinnamon sugar sprinkled twists are most commonly eaten in Spain and Latin America as a hot breakfast food, accompanied by a strong cup of coffee or a cup of thick hot chocolate. 

Croquetas de bacalao are Spanish fritters made with cod. Although Spanish croquetas are mainly made with a béchamel base, this popular salt cod variety occasionally replaces béchamel with mashed potatoes. Both options are well-seasoned and mixed with cooked and flaked salt cod before the dough is shaped into desired forms.

Each piece is coated in breadcrumbs and finally fried until golden and crispy. The cod version is one of the most common types of croquetas found in Spain, and like other varieties, it is a staple tapas dish enjoyed throughout the country.

A perfect remedy for a hot summer day called gazpacho is a cold soup consisting of crushed tomatoes, finely chopped cucumbers, onions, peppers, croutons, vinegar, and olive oil. With the same level of familiarity as paella to the consumers worldwide, the soup's refreshing, cool and acidic flavors promote Spanish cuisine at its best.

The dish began as a light lunch that the wives brought to their husbands in the field in order to cool them down from the hot summer sun. Shortly after, it began to be served at the end of big meals, although today it is a popular summer appetizer.

Throughout Spain, there are a number of gazpacho varieties, such as gazpacho blanco (white gazpacho) or ajo blanco, a Málaga specialty made with garlic, bread, and almonds, with a garnish of green grapes.