Is it hard to be vegetarian in Spain?

Being vegetarian in Spain – a horror or a pleasure?

Many people consider Spain as a paradise. Sunny weather, hot temperatures, sandy beaches…. How could someone deny this idyllic theory? Well, if your food habits are somehow original, even the most delightful of paradises can lose some of its charm.

The facts are cruel: the traditional Spanish kitchen is based on products of animal origin. And given then Spaniards are very proud of their traditions, they are used to eat meat, cheese and seafood on every occasion. No matter if its’s a family near or meeting in a bar (in a bar de tapas of course), no matter if you are in Granada, Salamanca or Santiago de Compostela - dead animals will be part and parcel of the menu.

Typical meat-based Spanish dishes

If you decide to travel to Spain, especially without speaking the local language, it’s good to be aware of the most popular Spanish meat-based dishes in order to know what to avoid, for instance. If you go the roundabouts of Salamanca to assist in an important event like a wedding, take for granted that you will be served tostón – roasted piglet. In the region of Galicia everyone will encourage you to try some pulpo a la gallega - octopus meat with potatoes and paprika. Even in a typical fabada from Asturias you will find pieces of morcilla (kind of blood sausage) and chorizo (spicy pork sausage), together with more surprises of a kind. When it comes to the Basque Country don’t even think about leaving it before you try bacalao al pil pil which are cod pieces in special sauce.

In Madrid you will certainly find cocido madrileño which is a mixture of different types of cooked meat with chickpeas and some vegetables and of course the very famous bocadillo de calamares which is nothing else but a squid roll. Without mentioning the most famous Spanish dish which is el bocata de jamón serrano - kind of Spanish baguette with fatty Iberian pork ham.

The traditional Spanish cuisine is full of meat-based dishes. Now, the question is how to survive in Spain if you don’t like, don’t want to or simply can’t eat either meat or products of animal origin? Fortunately this is possible, the only thing to do is to dig a little bit deeper in the secrets of Spanish cuisine as well as in the shops.

Vegetarian and vegan products you can easily buy in Spain

Although vegan or vegetarian shops in Spain are not as popular as in other European countries, you can still find some interesting products in the supermarket shelves. In almost every supermarket you can buy soy, rice or almond milk, soya yoghurt as well as different kinds of tofu. Also in what is called “whole food” department you should be able to purchase some cruelty-free products. Given that Spain is famous for its agriculture sector, you should not be deceived with fresh fruits and vegetables which are available during the whole year.

However, if you are a fan of buckwheat, millet groat or barley groats, things ca get a little bit harder for you. You can find these products in special “whole food” shops or in regional Polish or Russian shops, don’t except Spanish people to know what they are. Provided that these grains are not typical for Spanish cuisine, an average Spaniard won’t have any clue about them.

Vegetarian and vegan meals you will find in Spanish bars and kitchens

Eating out is in Spain as natural as breathing. Spanish people adore their restaurants and “bares de tapas”, this is why it’s worth to know what kind of menu should you expect. The vegetarian menu is quite limited, but still you can choose between patatas bravas (fried potato wedges with spicy sauce), tortilla de patatas (Spanish omelette with potatoes, eggs and onion) or queso de cabra con cebolla caramelizada (goat cheese with caramelized onion). In some places you can order pisto which is a mixture of tomato, red and green pepper, red onion and egg.

Sometimes, bar’s owners try to make the menu more interesting by adding to it a veggie hamburger or a vegan salad, however when it comes to the most traditional places, you should not take a veggie or lactose -free option for granted.

Things are getting even more difficult for vegans. If you go to a typical “bar de tapas” be prepared that the only vegan thing they will offer you will be olives or crisps/chips. Catalonia is probably the most vegan-friendly Spanish region. Apart of a large selection of vegetarian and vegan bars, also the traditional cuisine has some interesting vegan dishes. The best examples are: pa amb tomàquet (baguette with a mixture of grated tomato, olive oil and salt) and calçots ( special type of roasted green onion consumed on the cusp of winter to spring). What is more, in some restaurants in Barcelona you can order paella de la huerta, a vegetable version of this delicious dish.

The region of Andalucía offers an interesting alternative which is gazpacho (soup made of raw tomatoes, pepper and cucumber). It’s vegetarian equivalent is salmorejo in which you will find tomatoes, aubergine/eggplant and eggs.

Whats does bocadillo vegetal mean?

Independently of the region you have visited, you may have seen you obliged to resolve a mystery of the Spanish “bocadillo vegetal”. Literally translated, “bocadillo vegetal” means vegetable sandwich which suggests that inside you should find vegetables. And you will, except that the veggies are only a garnish for tuna or York ham chunks. Does that mean that in the Spanish vision of the world tuna and turkey grow in trees? Although this is an interesting theory, if you’re vegetarian or vegan, before consumption make sure that your “bocadillo vegetal” contains only vegetables.

Going straight to the point, being vegetarian or vegan in Spain is a challenge. The good point is that, even if the vegetarian menu is very limited, food in Spain is really tasty so you should not be disappointed.

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