The 15 best typical dishes of Andalusia (with photos)

Andalusia is one of the places in Europe with the greatest culinary tradition, since its gastronomy is unique and its ability to attract locals and strangers is very great. This is because it uses good quality ingredients such as the olive oil that is produced in the region, as well as its fish, shellfish and meat that have a very special flavor.

Andalusian cuisine is a mixture of various cultures that have passed through these lands throughout the history, leaving in its wake a host of recipes that today are still preserved as a great treasure. Andalusia receives every year a huge number of tourists who come to discover its extraordinary gastronomy that goes beyond the senses, to Despite the inclusion of new techniques, Andalusian cuisine preserves that tradition that allows dishes to be made with a taste of home and family.

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Andalusian cuisine: what are the most traditional dishes?

Below we show a tour of Andalusian culture through 15 typical Andalusian dishes that you must try on a visit to their land.

1. Ham from Huelva

It is one of the most special foods that Huelva and Andalusia has, it is made mainly in the Valle de los Pedroches area to the north of the province of Córdoba and in the Sierra de Huelva. It is one of the best hams in Spain and has a protected designation. Its aroma, flavor and texture are due to the microclimatic conditions that exist at the time of making the product. This ham is only extracted from the Iberian breed pig, which feeds solely and exclusively on acorns and natural pastures.

2. sardine skewers

To speak of a sardine skewer is to refer to Malaga, its beaches, fun and good food. This very typical dish from the Andalusian coast consists of stringing sardines on a wooden stick and cooking them over a fire.

This practice began to be carried out at the time of the moragas, a party that is held at night on the shore of the beach where the fish is eaten in this way. Its peculiar history, its great flavor and its ease when it comes to being prepared, have made skewers a symbol of Malaga.

3. Shrimp omelete

The shrimp omelette is another of the succulent dishes that make up Andalusian cuisine. It is one of the typical foods of Cadiz and it is a thin and crunchy tortilla that is made from a dough of shrimp, wheat flour and chickpeas and add onions and parsley. All this is mixed and placed in a pan with plenty of oil.

4. pipirrana

Also known as 'pimpirrana' or 'piriñaca', it is a very fresh and colorful salad that can be enjoyed on its own or as an accompaniment to some fish or meat, it is made with tomato, green pepper, onion and cucumber, but these ingredients may vary depending on the location. There are places where boiled eggs are added, while in others, cucumber is not added. No matter what ingredient is added, it is always an exquisite and refreshing dish, especially for those very hot days.

5. Cordovan salmorejo

It is one of the typical cold dishes of Córdoba that consists of a tomato base to which olive oil, vinegar, breadcrumbs and garlic are added, it is served with a good slice of bread, hard-boiled eggs and bits of Serrano ham. For its preparation, a crush is made with the breadcrumbs, tomato, garlic, salt to taste and olive oil are added, everything comes together until it reaches a consistency similar to mashed potatoes.

6. Fried fish

This delicacy is a simple meal to prepare and it is very common to see it in bars and in areas near the coast. The fish, preferably small and with few bones, is coated in flour and fried in plenty of very hot olive oil, served immediately to be able to taste and appreciate its nice taste. It can be eaten as an aperitif or accompanied by vegetables. The most used fish are: The anchovy, acedías, red mullet, whitebait or mackerel.

7. White garlic

It is a cold soup that is consumed at any time, but preferably on very hot days where each sip of this dish calms the need to refresh the body. It is a recipe that was adapted to the conditions of poverty of the population since it was made with the leftovers that were in the cupboard. Its preparation is based on ground almonds, bread, olive oil, salt and garlic..

8. Huelva prawn

The white prawn is unquestionably the queen of shellfish in Huelva, its soft and fine meat makes this food a pleasure for the palate, it can be consumed grilled or fried, in both cases its flavor is indisputable, it can be consumed alone or accompanied by other contours.

9. Andalusian gazpacho

It is considered one of the most representative dishes of Andalusian cuisine, it is a very easy recipe to prepare and its consumption is very common in times where the heat is very strong. Tomato is its main ingredient, green peppers, garlic, onion, pieces of bread, olive oil and vinegar are added.

It is a food that draws attention for its incredible color and unique flavor. It is served cold and is usually placed in individual deep dishes or in clay bowls, accompanied by some garnish such as diced toasted bread.

10. crumbs

Another simple recipe to make, then, was the food of the shepherds who carry out their work in the cold and lonely mountains and who did not have many food at hand, this delicacy is made by making a sauce with olive oil and garlic, to which is added pieces of hard bread previously soaked in Water. You can also add some sausages or any meat you have on hand.

11. Marinated dogfish

Traditional dish in the province of Cadiz and it is a majao of garlic, paprika, cumin, oregano and other species to which sherry vinegar is added and in all this mixture the slices of dogfish are left to marinate for at least four leaves. Subsequently, it is passed through flour and then fried in abundant olive oil and served immediately.

12. cordovan cake

It is a very typical dessert from Córdoba that is prepared with a puff pastry filled with angel hair or cider and on many occasions serrano ham is added, which gives it a sweet-salty flavor that draws the attention.

Once filled, it is placed in the oven previously covered with egg white and when it dries it is covered with icing sugar and cinnamon powder. It is customary to make it on November 17 to celebrate San Acisclo and Santa Victoria, who are the patron saints of Córdoba.

13. poor potatoes

Don't let his name intimidate you, on the contrary, It is one of the most popular dishes in Almeria which is made with potatoes, which are washed, peeled and cut into slices, then placed in a pan to which a little olive oil has been added. Add finely sliced ​​garlic, onion and peppers, add salt and pepper to taste and cook slowly. After half an hour, it is lowered from the fire and carefully served to taste.

14. Cadiz bread

Also called 'turrón de Cádiz', it is one of the most popular Christmas desserts in Andalusia, specifically in Cádiz, it consists of a marzipan filled with egg yolk cream and sweet potato. Likewise, candied fruits, quince or angel hair can be added. It is only baked for six minutes until they are completely golden, when they are removed from the oven, icing sugar is immediately added to give it a crunchier texture.

15. oxtail

A delicious Cordovan stew very common in Andalusian kitchensAlthough this dish originated in Roman times, it was not until the 16th century that it was included in the table of the people of Cordoba. It is made with the tail of the bull or cow, to which is added onion, carrot, garlic, green pepper, tomato wedges, saffron, wine, cloves, pepper berries and water. It can be accompanied with French fries, mashed potatoes or white rice.