As luxury wedding planners in Spain, we want to celebrate the fantastic food the country has to offer. We have selected dishes which can be enjoyed throughout the country for you to get familiar with and enjoy.

Gazpacho
 

A classic Spanish starter, Gazpacho is the perfect place to begin. Rich in flavour, the cold soup is a refreshing blend of tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, onion, garlic and olive oil. It is the ideal dish for when the sun is shining, temperatures are hot and something cool is needed.

Paella

Paella is a typical Spanish dish cooked in a large pan, and it is often served at large functions. Depending on the size of the pan, it can serve up to 200 people !

Paella is not a traditional dish served at weddings; However, it is the perfect choice for those who are aiming for a relaxing and informal atmosphere at a private beachfront wedding or a post-wedding farewell brunch, for example.

It is well-known for having rice, pepper, peas, onion and saffron, the ingredient which gives the dish its vibrant yellow color.

The dish is also often known for having seafood as a key ingredient but the original recipe was produced with chicken, rabbit, snails and beans.

The many mouth-watering dishes belonging to tapas
 

A whole blog post could be dedicated solely to Spanish tapas as each dish flourishes in delectable flavors and textures.

Some of Spain’s most sophisticated wedding tapas style dishes include :

• Bread, olive oil and Pa amb tomàquet, a signature dish in Catalonia. Pa amb tomàquet is sliced, ‘crunchy glass bread’ (thin bread similar to ciabatta) with a blended tomato topping rubbed into the dough.

• Crispy and cheesy croquettes.

• Coca bread (a super thin and crunchy bread) with anchovies from l’Escala and caviar.

• Iberico ham with olive oil.

• Marinated salmon with a sour cream.

• Black rice- a black rice made with squid ink and served with aioli.

• Fideua

• Fried squid with a kimchi allioli.

• Mini gourmet burgers (featuring Iberian secret, Galician beef as well other meats).

• Fried fish with citric mayonnaise (a modernized take on a typical traditional version from Andalusia).

Tapas is an incredibly moreish Spanish delicacy that will keep guests returning to pile up their plates.

Similar to paella, tapas provides a relaxed and warm atmosphere at weddings when served in a buffet style or, more formally, presented at tables and shared. It is also often served as appetisers upon guest’s arrival . It can be adapted and modernised to the preference of the hosts and charmingly presented for a wedding.

Pisto

One for the summer, pisto is an exuberant and nutritious dish which is often served with salad, bread and local red wine. The Mediterranean flavors explode with a combination of tomatoes, zucchini, onions, peppers, garlic and a dash of olive oil when roasted. This option is ideal for those who require meat-free food .

Pisto is most popular in the La Mancha region and bears similarity to French ratatouille, as it is often referred to as the Spanish version. It can either be a main meal, starter or side dish and will often feature on Spanish menus.

Galician octopus
 

Seafood is huge in Spain and if you are located by the sea, expect it to be everywhere. Often baked and presented to share, Spain’s four corners are known for a range of seafood dishes, from creamy monkfish and scallops to roasted snapper. It also heavily features in tapas, such as calamari.

A highly anticipated and sophisticated dish is pulpo a la gallega , an octopus based dish which blossoms with incredible flavors. Octopus is lavishly seasoned with rock salt, olive oil and paprika to enhance the flavors of the seafood.

The meal is often complete with a bed of sliced ​​potatoes, and it is a popular dish in northern Spain, particularly Galicia . A more modern take on this dish is to serve it with mashed potato or potato parmentier .

Spit-roasted meat
 

The same as seafood, meat-based dishes are also an incredibly popular feature in Spanish menus.

The meat dish is usually considered the main meal at a wedding and is large in size. Often, the meat is spit-roasted and provides a substantial feast for vast groups of people. In smaller ceremonies, sirloin (steak) is the favored meat choice.

Meat is usually presented medium rare as this is the authentic Spanish preference!

Wedding Cake

Spanish wedding cake is so luxurious in taste, often elaborately designed with multiple tiers, flavors varying dependent on personal fondness.

It is a Spanish custom that a slice of the cake is served to the bride and the groom before the guests.

Resopón
 

A popular food tradition in Spain is Resopón . Snuff is offered to guests after an hour of dancing. It can be modified, varying in unique ingredients and garnishes, depending on the preference of the wedding hosts. It may consist of a buffet of savory foods such as mini sandwiches, finger food, salty pastries as well as sweet treats . Croissants and chocolate pastries often feature.

It may also take form in the specialty food stations such as hot dogs, burgers and pizza. A sought after puff is Churros con Chocolate . Churros con Chocolate is a fried dough and for those who like that little something special, they can be filled with custard or chocolate cream. It is often complete with a sprinkle of sugar and / or cinnamon and accompanied by a cup of thick hot chocolate.

Talk to you soon, weddingmates!
Hugs and kisses.

If you are considering planning a destination wedding or elopement in Spain, Make It Happen BCN are here to help. A dedicated and experienced wedding and events planning service based in Barcelona. Talk to me! Follow us on Instagram for more inspiration every week.