How To Master Spanish Favorites From Paella To Patatas Bravas

When most people think of Spanish food, paella is likely one of the first things that comes to mind. And the Valencian rice dish is indeed one of the country’s most popular dishes, but it’s not alone. Spanish cuisine features many tasty foods, from churros to cured ham to tapas classics like patatas bravas and pimientos de padrón. The best part? It can all be made vegan—yep, even the meats. Learn more by following some of our favorite plant-based Spanish recipes below.

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What are some traditional Spanish foods?

If you’re heading to a Spanish restaurant, tapas are a must. The feast of small plates has been eaten in Spain for centuries and usually consists of staple dishes like patatas bravas (fried potatoes with tomato sauce), olives, Spanish omelet, and pimientos de padrón (spicy fried peppers). Tapas menus are usually extensive, but if you’re dining with a large group, up to 10 dishes is usually enough to sample Spain’s variety of flavors.

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Aside from tapas and paella, other popular dishes in Spain include gazpacho (a chilled tomato soup), jamón Ibérico (dry-cured ham from the Iberian Peninsula), and smoky chorizo. For dessert, there are churros as well as crema Catalana, which is basically a Spanish version of the French favorite crème brûlée.

8 vegan Spanish recipes 

Plenty of Spanish dishes are already plant-based (patatas bravas and pimientos de padrón are prime examples), but of course, some are heavy on meat and dairy. But even if you’re craving cured ham, there’s a plant-based recipe out there for you. Need proof? Keep reading for some of our favorite vegan Spanish recipes.

1 Vegan Spanish Smoky White Beans

If you’re cooking up a Spanish feast, then smoky white beans are a must. This recipe will show you how to combine simple ingredients like garlic, northern white beans, tomato paste, and liquid smoke to make a flavor-packed small dish perfect for tapas.
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2 Roasted Asparagus With Hazelnut Picada

Picada, a mix of fried bread, nuts, garlic, and olive oil, likely originated in Catalonia. Similar to pesto, the umami-packed paste is perfectly suited for giving a little extra flavor to roasted vegetables. It’s a great side dish option, and it’ll also work for tapas, too.
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Erin Scott

3 Mixed Grain Vegetable Paella

Of course, we couldn’t make a list of Spanish recipes without paella. This dish originates from Valencia and usually combines rice with vegetables, meat, and seafood. But it’s not mandatory to use animal products—this tasty recipe from the Eat Plants Every Day cookbook opts for vegan sausage instead.
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School Night Vegan

4 Vegan Patatas Bravas

Patatas bravas was a product of the Spanish empire—it was likely developed in Madrid after colonizers returned with ingredients like potatoes and tomatoes. The simple dish is still enjoyed across Spain today, and it’s incredibly easy to make vegan due to the naturally plant-based ingredients. Recipe developer Richard Makin of School Night Vegan calls his vegan patatas bravas “the most perfect summer side dish in the world.”
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Rhian’s Recipes

5 Gluten-Free Vegan Baked Churros

Churros also have to have a spot on any Spanish recipe list. The crispy treats are usually deep-fried, but in this recipe, Rhian Williams of Rhian’s Recipes will show you how to make them just as tasty by baking them in the oven. Plus, they’re gluten-free.
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The Vegan Larder

6 Pimientos de Padrón

Simple yet delicious, pimientos de padrón are a must on any tapas table. All you need are some padron peppers, olive oil, and flakey sea salt and you’ve got yourself an addictive snack. “For a really cute Spanish tapas-type experience, be sure to serve in a lovely terracotta bowl and sprinkle plenty of sea salt,” says Louise-Claire Cayzer of The Vegan Larder.
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Vegan Vocals

7 Vegan Serrano Cured Ham

Yes, even cured ham can be made vegan. In this recipe, Vegan Vocals takes plant-based ingredients like rice paper, red wine, rum, smoked paprika, and soy sauce and transforms them into an umami-rich, deliciously savory version of Serrano cured ham. It has to be eaten to be believed.
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Six Hungry Feet

8 Vegan Croquetas

Another popular tapas plate, croquetas usually consist of béchamel sauce and ham deep-fried in breadcrumbs. In this version, Laura Arteaga of Six Hungry Feet makes an equally golden and crispy version with sun-dried tomatoes instead. The recipe developer says it’s “easy to make and absolutely delicious.”
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