Spanish Seafood Dishes

Seafood paella is one of the most popular paella varieties, not only in Valencia, but also in Andalusia and all along the Spanish coast. Due to the abundance of fresh fish and seafood, this dish is an absolute summer favorite in Spain. Paella de m... READ MORE

Polbo á feira (a.k.a. pulpo a la gallega) is a traditional Galician dish made by cooking octopus, potatoes, and sweet paprika powder in copper cauldrons. The cauldrons impart a unique flavor to the dish, and it is said that it is impossible... READ MORE

Gambas al ajillo is a popular Spanish appetizer consisting of shrimps that are sautéed in a pan with minced garlic, lemon juice, paprika, and olive oil. The dish is usually consumed as a tapa. It is recommended to garnish gambas al ajillo w... READ MORE

Fideuà is a colorful Valencian and Catalan dish often described as an interpretation of the popular paella. Similar to its more popular counterpart, fideuà employs a variety of seafood ingredients, but instead of rice, it co... READ MORE

This is a traditional tapa dish where whole shrimps are seasoned with salt, then quickly grilled on an iron skillet over high heat. It is recommended to enjoy them simply with a few squeezes of lemon or lime juice on top, while black pepper is opt... READ MORE

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-season... READ MORE

Espetos is a Spanish tradition of grilling sardines, dating back to the late 19th century, when fishermen skewered and grilled surplus fish in small boats on the sand. The modern method usually involves placing 6 sardines on a skewer, seasoning th... READ MORE

Rabas or fried squid is the quintessential seafood tapa of the Cantabrian coast. Made with sliced squid strips or rings that are lightly battered or breaded before they are fried to crispy perfection, this dish is best savored when lightly seasone... READ MORE

Rice and seafood are the key ingredients to making arroz marinero, a traditional specialty that originates from Spain. The main ingredients are usually combined with sautéed vegetables such as onions, peppers, tomatoes, and garlic, and the ... READ MORE

Marmitako is an excellent representative of the Basque Country cuisine, a tuna stew made in a pot with various other ingredients such as potatoes, tomatoes, chili, and onions. The name of the dish is derived from the Basque word marmita, ... READ MORE

Almejas a la marinera is a traditional dish originating from Galicia. It’s made with a combination of fresh clams, onions, garlic, tomatoes, pimentón, olive oil, parsley, and dry sherry or white wine. The dish is cooked until the clam... READ MORE

Mejillones en escabeche is a traditional method of preserving mussels in a combination of vinegar, olive oil, white wine, onions, garlic, bay leaves, peppercorns, and paprika. These marinated mussels can be bought in small tin cans in most stores ... READ MORE

Arròs negre is a Spanish dish originating from Valencia and Catalonia, and it is the most popular in Castellon and Tarragona. It is made with white rice, squid or cuttlefish, and squid ink, which gives the dish its characteristical black co... READ MORE

Bacalao al pil-pil is a traditional dish originating from the Basque Country. It is prepared with only four ingredients: salt cod, olive oil, garlic, and chili peppers. The cod is cooked in olive oil (with garlic and chili peppers), releasing gela... READ MORE

Boquerones fritos is a traditional fish dish originating from Andalusia. The dish consists of deep-fried anchovies and it's usually made with a combination of fresh anchovies, olive oil, flour, and salt. The cleaned anchovies are sprinkled with sa... READ MORE

Known as ''the caviar of Northern Spain,'' angulas are baby eels, a Spanish seafood delicacy that's typically consumed with oil and garlic. They're also one of Spain's most expensive foods, reaching prices of up to 1,000 euros per kilo, which is p... READ MORE

Ajoarriero is a traditional dish originating from the Basque Country and Navarre. It consists of shredded salt cod that's combined with chopped ingredients such as tomatoes, garlic, onions, red and green peppers, hot peppers, and potatoes. In the ... READ MORE

Mojama is a Spanish delicacy consisting of cured, wind-dried tuna fillets. It is traditionally dried for at least three weeks until the fillets shrink and darken to a reddish-brown color. The meat is usually served as an appetizer or a snack, but ... READ MORE

Chipirones en su tinta is a traditional dish originating from the Basque country. The dish is made by searing and poaching whole baby squids until they become tender, served in a purée of sautéed vegetables, garlic, and white wine, a... READ MORE

Gelatinous fish heads known as kokotxas are a key ingredient for this classic Basque dish. Kokotxas usually come from the flashy cheeks (lower part of chin) of hake or cod. The dish is sometimes served in a sauce consisting of white wine, garlic, ... READ MORE

Zarzuela de mariscos is a traditional Catalan seafood stew. Although the dish is similar to Marseille's bouillabaise, it's more rustic because it contains ground almonds, and the flavors are bolder due to ingredients such as cured pork, p... READ MORE

Tigres (lit. tigers) is an authentic dish from Bilbao, its name derived from the fiery flavor of these stuffed mussels. In Galicia, the dish is known as mejillones rellenos. The dish is typically served as a tapa, consisting of mussels st... READ MORE

Bacalao a la Vizcaina or Basque-style cod is a traditional dish that's also popular in many Spanish-speaking countries. The dish is made with salt cod fillets in Vizcaina sauce. The sauce consists of red onions, garlic, and choricero pepp... READ MORE

Due to the abundance of fish in the waters around the Canary Islands, fish specialties have always been a prominent feature of the islands’ cuisine, with dried fish (called pescado seco in Spanish) being one of them. The fish are pr... READ MORE

Vieiras en su concha is a traditional dish originating from Galicia, consisting of scallops served in their shells. The dish is usually made with a combination of scallops, olive oil, onions, garlic, pimentón, white wine, tomato sauce, salt... READ MORE

Gazpachuelo is a Spanish soup originating from Malaga. Originally, it was a poor man’s dish made by local fishermen, who would prepare it with fish, fish stock, mayonnaise, potatoes, garlic, egg yolks, and wine vinegar. Over time, they start... READ MORE

Albóndigas de bacalao are Spanish cod meatballs, especially popular in the cuisine of Aragon. The meatballs are made with a combination of potatoes, cod, garlic, eggs, parsley, flour, and tomatoes. The potatoes are cooked with their skins o... READ MORE

Merluza a la gallega is a traditional fish dish originating from Galicia. The dish is usually made with a combination of hake, garlic, potatoes, paprika, bay leaves, onions, olive oil, salt, and pepper. The pieces of fish, onions, bay leaves, and ... READ MORE

Calamares encebollados is a traditional dish that's often served as a tapa. The dish is made with a combination of squid, onions, garlic, olive oil, bay leaves, parsley, white wine, and salt. The garlic, sliced onions, and bay leaves are slowly co... READ MORE

All i pebre is a traditional signature dish of Valencia and the surrounding area, although its origin is in the Albufera wetlands near the city. The name of the dish means garlic and pepper, referring to the sauce, a key component of the dish. Oth... READ MORE

Pulpitos fritos is a traditional seafood dish originating from Andalusia. The dish consists of pan-seared baby octopus. It's usually made with a combination of baby octopus, garlic, parsley, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt. The octopus is sprinkl... READ MORE

Caballitos are a traditional Murcian seafood dish made from fresh prawns or shrimp. These prawns are typically skewered on small wooden sticks (hence the name "caballitos," which means "little horses" in Spanish) and then lightly battered and frie... READ MORE

Originating in the coastal area of the Basque Country, ttoro is a traditional fish stew consisting of different types of fish and seafood cooked in fish stock with vegetables and aromatic herbs, and flavored with piment d’espelette ... READ MORE

Mejillones a la vinagreta is a traditional dish originating from Galicia. It's made with a combination of local mussels, red wine vinegar, olive oil, green and red bell peppers, onions, and salt. The mussels are steamed until the shells open, drai... READ MORE

Grilled sardines are a simple, traditional seafood dish especially common in coastal Mediterranean areas and during summer months, when fresh sardines are plentiful. The dish is straightforward and emphasizes the natural flavors of the sardines: t... READ MORE

Rodaballo a la gallega is a traditional fish dish originating from Galicia. It's usually made with a combination of turbot, white wine, onions, carrots, leeks, potatoes, parsley, peppercorns, and salt. The fish and vegetables are boiled until tend... READ MORE

Bacalao frito con tomate is a traditional cod-based dish originating from Spain. The dish is usually made with a combination of dried salt cod (soaked in water for a day), onions, tomatoes, garlic, bay leaves, roasted bell peppers, olive oil, and ... READ MORE

Bacallà a la llauna is a traditional fish dish originating from Barcelona and dating back to the 19th century. The dish is made with a combination of salt cod, flour, garlic, paprika or pimentón, parsley, and olive oil. The salt cod ... READ MORE

Gambas en gabardina is a classic Spanish tapa. It's made with battered and fried shrimps, or as the poetical name suggest, shrimps in a raincoat. In order to make it, fresh shrimps are coated in a batter consisting of flou... READ MORE

Bocartes en cazuela is a traditional dish originating from the Basque Country. The dish is made with a combination of very fresh anchovies, garlic, red pepper flakes, olive oil, salt, and red wine vinegar. The anchovies are rinsed, cleaned, sprink... READ MORE