Spanish food is a delicious way to get to know habits and cultures. Today we tell you about a typical breakfast and the food that Spaniards use to have at the beginning of the day. Discover how to make or order a typical breakfast in Spain by reading our Spanish school blog?
During our Spanish lessons, students are constantly engaged in practical activities and learn a lot about Spanish cultural aspects and habits. Spanish food is a topic that arouse students’ curiosity, especially at their arrival to Spain.
Today we tell about the typical breakfast in Spain. Although it is not considered to be the main and biggest meal of the day, Spaniards usually do not skip breakfast.
To begin with, Spain gastronomy is very rich and diverse. That means that some dishes or products can be only enjoyed in specific regions or cities. Also, eating habits can vary from region to region.
Therefore, today we only focus on a typical breakfast; that means on the breakfast food that you can easily find anywhere in Spain.
Café
Coffee is a key ingredient of the Spanish breakfast. In Spain there are different way to serve it: café solo (black coffee), cortado (coffee with a little milk), etc. At breakfast, the most popular habit is drinking caffé con leche (coffee with milk). It’s similar to a cortado but have a bigger size. In some coffees and bars, you can ask it prepared with nut milk (almond milk, soya milk, etc.).
Chocolate caliente con churros:
Churro is a fired-dough pastry, shaped into “sticks” and sprinkled with sugar that usually is eaten dipped in hot chocolate.
It is a delicious combo that everyone should taste once in a lifetime. Spaniards normally enjoy it at breakfast or as afternoon snack.
In Valencia people love to have it during Las Fallas when this food can be found everywhere in the city, at street food stalls, at any time of the day.
Zumo de naranja:
Having a freshly squeezed orange juice is healthy and common habit in many countries, and so it is in Spain. Orange juice is a popular beverage in Spain, especially in Valencia where oranges are one of the flagship products.
Tostada con tomate:
Toasted bread (tostada) that can be served as a single slice or an open sandwich. The most typical way to enjoy is have the bread rubbed with garlic and served with grated tomato and olive oil. At bars and coffees, you can also ask to have it with dry-cured ham (tostada con jamón) or to enjoy it sweet with butter and jam (tostada con mantequilla y mermelada).
That is the kind of food you can get at any time, breakfast, lunch or even as a light dinner and that everyone can easily make at home.
Bakery products and pastries:
Spain has its own pastries. Some are quite similar to the ones in other countries; others are very typical or local. The most popular breakfast-time pastries are:
– Magdalenas: a light fluffy baked dough, shaped into cupcake form and with a lemony taste.
– Ensaimadas: sweet bread made from yeast-risen dough in a round coiled shape, sprinkled with powdered sugar. Ensaimadas is a pastry product from Maiorca but it is now common everywhere in Spain, especially in Valencia. It is usually served with hot chocolate or with horchata.
– Croissant: Although is not the most traditional food, bars and coffee normally serve croissant at breakfast. You can find them with chocolate or served with butter and marmalade.
– Torrijas: a dessert that can be also served at breakfast and is similar to French pain-perdu. Torrijas are fried sliced of bread, dipped into a mixture of milk, sugar and eggs, topped with honey and cinnamon.
We hope this blog on Spanish food helped you to know better Spaniards’ eating habits at breakfast.
No matter whether you prefer sweet or savoury food, traditional breakfast in Spain offers a variety of diverse products to choose from.
Lastly, we encourage you to keep discovering Spanish culture by learning the language, tasting new foods and socializing with local people.
El Rincón del Tándem Spanish school wishes you a wonderful day!
