So you’ve booked your trip to Barcelona, and you’re ready to go soon. All the bags are packed, and your documents are settled, and the hotel booking sealed in – however, you feel a pressing concern in the back of your mind. Resident About.com Spain travel expert Damian Corrigan sums it up with these words:
“”I think I’m probably going to have to order salad.” Is that what you say when entering a restaurant in Spain? In that case, you are probably one of those people called a vegetarian.
However, why is that kind of situation even possible in the first place? As conventional knowledge and pop culture might put it, do the term “vegetarian” and Spain not exactly go well together? Although most people may say otherwise, vegetarian lovers can still rest easy on their Spanish tour without having to worry about what they would eat; especially with local restaurants like Ziryab serving vegetarian tapas in Barcelona.
Here are some of the well-known vegan tapas dishes you could deliciously snack on without feeling guilty or left out.
Patatas Bravas – A popular tapas dish in Barcelona made of fried or baked potatoes covered in a spicy paprika sauce, saffron, sherry vinegar, tomatoes, garlic, and sugar, Patatas Bravas (which literally means “fierce potatoes”) originated in Madrid in 1933 and has remained popular ever since. Writing for SeriousEats.com, J. Kenji Lopez-Alt comments that Patatas Bravas means the same to Spanish tapas bars as chicken wings do to American sports bars.
It is quite well-known not only in Barcelona or Madrid, but throughout Spain for the simple reason – Patatas Bravas’ cooking method allows for limitless experimentation, allowing for different versions in almost every city. It is also traditionally considered a “social dish” best eaten with friends and family in local bars.
Pan con Tomate – Often eaten at breakfast, the classic Catalan Pan Tomate (bread with tomato) is considered one of the simplest, most beloved, and widely eaten tapas in Spain. It is essentially toasted bread seasoned with fresh and tasty garlic, ripe tomato, sprinkled with a serving of olive oil and salt. It is said that Pan con Tomate is best enjoyed during the summer, with the ripest and youngest tomatoes, and sweet-smelling garlic.
Pimientos de Padrón – Mainly grown in the Galician town of Padrón, this small green pepper may not seem like much, but it will certainly pack a punch in the delight department. Pimientos de Padrón peppers are cooked over a fire with a little oil, sprinkled with salt, and then usually served with cheese. Writing for SeriousEats.com, Joshua Bousel describes the taste of Pimientos de Padrón as fruity, fresh, and salty, and commented that it can go with almost any food available.
(Source: Vegetarian Dishes in Spain, About.com)