Seven tasty traditional dishes to devour at Christmas in Spain
Spain has its own traditions when it comes to sweet and savoury festive fare. The Local explores seven of the most delicious.
1. Turrón
Photo: Lablascovegmenu / Flickr Creative Commons.
This sweet nougat made of honey, sugar and toasted almonds is a popular Christmas treat across the Iberian peninsula. From the hard Alicante style to the softer version from Jijona.
2. Turkey
Photo: Annie / Flickr Creative Commons.
The bird that most Americans associate with November and Thanksgiving often makes an appearance on Spaniards' tables for Christmas.
3. Seafood
Photo: emivel2003 / Flickr Creative Commons.
Mariscos are quite popular to eat for Christmas meals, anything from fish soup, lobster, prawns to langostinos, as pictured above.
4. Roscón de Reyes
Photo: Secret Tenerife / Flickr Creative Commons.
This "king cake" in Spanish-speaking countries is traditionally eaten on January 6th to celebrate Epiphany when the three kings brought gifts to baby Jesus. The ring-shaped cake typically has a hidden figure inside and whoever gets the slice with the figure inside "wins" - though some make the winner buy next year's cake.
5. Polvorones and mantecados
Mantecados. Photo: Javier Lastras / Flickr Creative Commons.
These crumbly cakes are another traditional Christmas shortbread dessert. Mantecados are distinct in that they are prepared with pig fat - manteca - while polvorones are named because they crumble into powder - polvo.
6. Yema
Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
These little cakes, a specialty of Ávila, are made of mainly egg yolk and often covered in sugar or icing.
7. Jamón
Photo: Boca Dorada / Wikimedia Commons.
Because when is it NOT the right time of year for jamón? In Spain, it's always time for jamón.
See Also
1. Turrón
Photo: Lablascovegmenu / Flickr Creative Commons.
This sweet nougat made of honey, sugar and toasted almonds is a popular Christmas treat across the Iberian peninsula. From the hard Alicante style to the softer version from Jijona.
2. Turkey
Photo: Annie / Flickr Creative Commons.
The bird that most Americans associate with November and Thanksgiving often makes an appearance on Spaniards' tables for Christmas.
3. Seafood
Photo: emivel2003 / Flickr Creative Commons.
Mariscos are quite popular to eat for Christmas meals, anything from fish soup, lobster, prawns to langostinos, as pictured above.
Photo: Secret Tenerife / Flickr Creative Commons.
This "king cake" in Spanish-speaking countries is traditionally eaten on January 6th to celebrate Epiphany when the three kings brought gifts to baby Jesus. The ring-shaped cake typically has a hidden figure inside and whoever gets the slice with the figure inside "wins" - though some make the winner buy next year's cake.
5. Polvorones and mantecados
Mantecados. Photo: Javier Lastras / Flickr Creative Commons.
These crumbly cakes are another traditional Christmas shortbread dessert. Mantecados are distinct in that they are prepared with pig fat - manteca - while polvorones are named because they crumble into powder - polvo.
6. Yema
Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
These little cakes, a specialty of Ávila, are made of mainly egg yolk and often covered in sugar or icing.
7. Jamón
Photo: Boca Dorada / Wikimedia Commons.
Because when is it NOT the right time of year for jamón? In Spain, it's always time for jamón.
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