Traditional Breakfast in Spain
What Time do people eat Traditional Breakfast in Spain?
In general, breakfast in Spain is mostly eaten between 07:00 and 11:00. It depends on when people have to go to work or when their agenda is free. But in these 4 hours, breakfast will be eaten in Spain. Also when you are staying in a hotel or going to a restaurant you can expect that breakfast will be served during this time of day.
What do People Eat for Breakfast in Spain?
In Spain, people eat many different types of breakfasts. On the weekend people tend to eat the heavier options, while they eat the lighter options during weekdays. Additionally to the traditional Spanish breakfast, in restaurants in the bigger cities like Barcelona and Madrid, there is almost everywhere also an international breakfast option. This means that there is always something for everyone.
What drinks go with a traditional Spanish breakfast?
Many people in Spain, just like a lot of other European countries like to drink coffee with their breakfast. The most famous type of coffee in Spain is the café con leche (coffee with milk). This is half espresso, half steamed milk. But there are also many other options that people in Spain drink with their breakfast, For example, the café solo (espresso), and super-sweet café bonbon (coffee with condensed milk). In summer many people drink café con hielo (iced coffee). This is a refreshing drink that is perfect for the summer in Spain. Now we will talk about the top 10 traditional breakfasts in Spain.
1. Pan Con Tomate (Bread with Tomato)
Probably the most famous and traditional breakfast dish in Spain is the Pan con tomate (bread with tomato). This dish can be great for breakfast, but also for a light lunch or even an afternoon snack. It is a simple dish but that doesn’t make it less delicious. The ingredients of this dish are toasted bread with fresh garlic, olive oil, sea salt, and ripe tomatoes on top. In Catalonia, this dish is called pa amb tomàquet.
2. Tostada (Spanish Toast)
If you are into a bread-based breakfast you should consider taking Tostada. You will find this on almost every menu in hotels and restaurants. Tostada is Spanish for toast there are various types of toppings to choose from to put on your Tostada. For example eggs or jam. When you order this type of toast you have to know that there can be little differences between restaurants on how they serve this dish. This also depends on where in Spain you are staying.
3. Huevos Rotos (Broken Eggs)
This dish is also known as huevos estrellados and this is a typical traditional spanish breakfast in particular for people who have a larger appetite. You start by frying diced potatoes and onion strips until they turn golden. Then, you add chorizo or Spanish ham (Jamon Iberico) to the pan. After that, you crack eggs on top of the mix. When you cut into the fried egg, the yolk spreads over the potatoes, making a tasty and satisfying breakfast.
4. Huevos Revueltos (Scrambled Eggs)
Huevos revueltos, are scrambled eggs and this is not only popular in Spain but is a popular breakfast in all of Europe. In Spain scrambled eggs are cooked in olive oil, salt, and pepper. To give this dish an extra taste, instead of only the eggs it is also common to add other ingredients such as tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, or other seasonal vegetables.
5. Tortilla Española (Spanish Omelet)
This traditional spanish breakfast is one of the heavier ones and is also known as tortilla de patata. This is a national Spanish dish and it is served with a mix of eggs, potatoes, and onions. It will be prepared in olive oil and most of the time it will be served plain, however sometimes it is served with chorizo or vegetables. This dish is really hard to make yourself at home because it is hard to get the right balance. So we advise you to order this dish in a restaurant.
6. Bocadillos (Spanish Breakfast Sandwiches)
A bocadillo is a type of baguette that has become very popular in Spain making it a traditional spanish breakfast. This is also one of the more heavy breakfasts in Spain, if you order a Bocadillo you can expect that it will be a pretty big sandwich. The bread looks just like a French baguette and can be stuffed with almost anything that you like. Classic filling for the Bocadillos are cheese, tomato, egg, tuna, chorizo, and ham.
7. Empanadas (Stuffed Pastries)
Empanadas are a famous dish for breakfast, especially when people have places to go. You will find Empanadas all over Spain, but also in Portugal as well as in Central and South America. Where Empanadas are from is pretty unclear, but some people say they originated from Galicia in northern Spain. In Spain Empanadas can be found in bakeries, but also on the streets. These pastries are baked or fried and filled with delicious ingredients, often local cheeses. They can also have seafood, meat, or vegetable fillings, which makes them a good choice for vegetarians and people who eat seafood.
8. Españoletas Aragonesas (Spanish Biscuits)
Españoletas Aragonesas is also known for galletas, españoletas these are spanish biscuits and can be consumed for a light breakfast. This breakfast is in contradiction of other breakfasts very easy to make at home. This dish contains eggs, sugar, flour, sea salt, and lemon. The exact recipe differs from bakeries all over Spain, but in the end, it is about the same.
9. Magdalenas (Spanish Muffins)
Magdalenas are like muffins, similar to the madeleine cakes from France. These muffins have a lemon taste complemented with a little bit of olive oil. As with many other traditional spanish breakfasts Magdalenas, go better together with some coffee. This dish is mainly seen as a breakfast dish, but sometimes people also eat it as a snack in the afternoon.
10. Bizcocho (Spanish Sponge Cake)
Bizcocho is a sponge type of cake that comes from the south of Spain. The cake is made with eggs, oil, flour, sugar, milk, and vanilla. As with Magdalenas, Bizcocho is mainly a breakfast dish, but can also be consumed as a snack in the afternoon. Bizcocho is also possible to eat for dessert. The recipe can be adjusted to make a cake flavored with citrus, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, or chocolate. It often gets changed up for different seasons like Christmas and Easter.
