Spanish-English Food Dictionary

 

Spanish Food Market
Spanish Food Market

Are you feeling a bit lost in a Spanish menu? Worry no more! Our Spanish English Food Glossary is here to help you navigate through all the delicious dishes that Spain has to offer. From "arroz" to "zumo", this glossary contains the most common food words in Spanish and their English translations.

Whether you're dining out in a Spanish restaurant or cooking up a storm in your own kitchen, this glossary will make sure you know what you're eating and how to order it in English.

Join us as we explore the rich and diverse culinary traditions of Spain and learn some of the most important Spanish phrases and words for some of the country's most iconic dishes, ingredients, and flavours.

Let's dive into the Spanish English Food Glossary and expand your culinary horizons!

This Spanish-English food dictionary contains the most common food words from A to Z

A - Spanish Food

A

  • Aceitunas – olives
  • Aceite de oliva – olive oil
  • Acelgas – Swiss chard
  • Adobo – marinade
  • Aguacate – avocado
  • Ajo blanco – cold almond‑garlic soup
  • Ajoarriero – cod with garlic and potatoes
  • Alcachofas – artichokes
  • Alcaparras – capers
  • Alcuzcuz – Andalusian couscous
  • Alfajores – almond and honey pastries
  • Alitas de pollo – chicken wings
  • Almejas – clams
  • Almendras – almonds
  • Almendrado – almond dessert
  • Arroz con leche – rice pudding
  • Arroz negro – black rice with squid ink
  • Arroz al horno – oven‑baked rice
  • Arroz a banda – Alicante‑style rice cooked in fish broth
  • Atún – tuna
  • Atascaburras – potato and cod mash
  • Ajoatao – garlic‑whipped potato spread
  • Anchoas – anchovies
  • Angulas – baby eels
  • Aperitivo – pre‑meal snacks
  • Ajoarriero navarro – Navarre‑style cod stew
  • Aguardiente – strong liquor
  • Ajo y perejil – garlic and parsley seasoning
  • Acelgas con garbanzos – chard with chickpeas

 

B - Spanish Food

B

  • Bacalao – cod
  • Bacalao al pil‑pil – cod in garlic‑olive oil emulsion
  • Bacalao a la vizcaína – Basque‑style cod with red pepper sauce
  • Banderillas – pickled tapas skewers
  • Barra de pan – baguette‑style bread
  • Berenjenas – eggplants / aubergines
  • Berenjenas fritas – fried aubergines
  • Berberechos – cockles
  • Besugo – sea bream
  • Bizcocho – sponge cake
  • Boquerones – white anchovies
  • Boquerones en vinagre – marinated anchovies
  • Bollos – sweet buns
  • Bollo preñao – chorizo‑filled bread roll
  • Bonito del norte – white tuna
  • Botifarra – Catalan sausage
  • Botillo – cured pork dish from León
  • Borrajas – borage greens
  • Borraja con patatas – borage with potatoes
  • Bravas – spicy potatoes
  • Brochetas – skewers
  • Buñuelos – fried dough balls
  • Buñuelos de bacalao – cod fritters
  • Butifarra blanca – white Catalan sausage
  • Butifarra negra – blood sausage
  • Buey – ox / beef
  • Buey de mar – brown crab
  • Bacalaítos – Puerto Rican‑style cod fritters (also eaten in Spain)
  • Boniato –sweet potatoe

C - Spanish Food

C

  • Calamares – squid
  • Camarones – shrimp
  • Caracoles – snails
  • Carrillada – pork or beef cheeks
  • Cecina – cured dried beef
  • Chistorra – thin Basque sausage
  • Chorizo – spiced pork sausage
  • Cocido – stew with chickpeas and meats
  • Cochinillo – roast suckling pig
  • Codorniz – quail
  • Coliflor rebozada – battered cauliflower
  • Conejo al ajillo – garlic rabbit
  • Croquetas – croquettes
  • Cordero asado – roast lamb
  • Crema Catalana – Catalan custard dessert
  • Cazón en adobo – marinated fried dogfish
  • Caldo gallego – Galician broth
  • Callos – tripe stew
  • Caballa – mackerel
  • Cabrito – young goat
  • Café con leche – coffee with milk
  • Canelones – cannelloni
  • Carne mechada – shredded beef
  • Champiñones al ajillo – garlic mushrooms
  • Chuletón – rib steak
  • Churros – fried dough sticks
  • Castañas – chestnuts
  • Cigalas – Norway lobsters
  • Cocochas – fish cheeks

 

D - Spanish Food

D

  • Dátiles – dates
  • Dorada – sea bream
  • Dulce de membrillo – quince paste
  • Dulces – sweets/pastries
  • Duelos y quebrantos – eggs with chorizo and bacon
  • Dónuts – doughnuts
  • Dulce de leche – caramelised milk spread
  • Dátiles con bacon – bacon‑wrapped dates
  • Dorada a la sal – salt‑baked sea bream
  • Dulce de calabaza – pumpkin sweet
  • Dulce de batata – sweet potato paste
  • Dulce de higo – fig preserve
  • Dulce de leche cortada – curdled milk dessert
  • Dulce de almendra – almond sweet
  • Dulce de coco – coconut sweet

E - Spanish Food

E

  • Empanada gallega – Galician meat or tuna pie
  • Empanadillas – small stuffed turnovers
  • Ensaladilla rusa – potato and tuna salad
  • Ensalada mixta – mixed salad
  • Escabeche – marinated fish or meat
  • Espárragos blancos – white asparagus
  • Espárragos trigueros – wild green asparagus
  • Espinacas con garbanzos – spinach with chickpeas
  • Estofado de ternera – beef stew
  • Entrecot – rib‑eye steak
  • Erizos de mar – sea urchins
  • Escalivada – roasted vegetables
  • Empedrat – Catalan cod and bean salad
  • Encurtidos – pickles

 

F - Spanish Food

F

  • Fabada asturiana – Asturian bean stew
  • Fabas con almejas – beans with clams
  • Fabas asturianas – large Asturian beans
  • Farinato – spiced sausage from Salamanca
  • Fardelejos – almond pastries from La Rioja
  • Fideuà – seafood noodles from Valencia
  • Fideuá negra – black noodle dish with squid ink
  • Filetes rusos – Spanish-style meat patties
  • Flamenquín cordobés – ham‑wrapped pork roll
  • Flan casero – homemade caramel custard
  • Flaó ibicenco – Ibizan mint‑cheese tart
  • Flautas – crispy filled rolls
  • Fletán – halibut
  • Fresas con nata – strawberries with cream
  • Fritada aragonesa – vegetable fry‑up
  • Fritanga – fried assorted meats or vegetables
  • Frito mallorquín – Mallorcan fried meat and vegetables
  • Fritura malagueña – mixed fried fish from Málaga
  • Fritos de bacalao – cod fritters
  • Fritos de pimiento – fried peppers
  • Frutas escarchadas – candied fruits
  • Frutos secos – nuts and dried fruits
  • Fuet – Catalan cured sausage
  • Fusilli a la española – Spanish‑style fusilli with chorizo

 

G - Spanish Food

G

  • Gachas manchegas – Manchegan porridge with garlic and paprika
  • Gachas dulces – sweet porridge dessert
  • Gallo – megrim fish
  • Gallina en pepitoria – chicken in almond‑egg sauce
  • Gamba roja – red prawn
  • Gambas al ajillo – garlic prawns
  • Gambones – large prawns
  • Garbanzos con espinacas – chickpeas with spinach
  • Garbanzos con callos – tripe with chickpeas
  • Gazpacho andaluz – cold tomato soup
  • Gazpacho manchego – game‑meat stew with flatbread
  • Gazpachuelo – Málaga fish and mayonnaise soup
  • Gelatina de vino – wine jelly
  • Gildas – olive‑anchovy‑pepper skewers
  • Gofio – Canarian toasted flour
  • Gominolas – gummy sweets
  • Gordal (aceituna) – large table olive
  • Grelos – turnip greens
  • Grifa – tripe stew from Extremadura
  • Grillada de mariscos – grilled seafood platter
  • Guindillas – spicy pickled peppers
  • Guisantes con jamón – peas with ham
  • Guiso de patatas – potato stew
  • Gulas – imitation baby eels
  • Gusanos de seda dulces – sweet candied “silkworm” pastries (shape only)

 

H - Spanish Food

H

  • Habas con jamón – broad beans with ham
  • Habas a la catalana – Catalan-style broad beans
  • Habas fritas – fried broad beans
  • Habichuelas blancas – white beans
  • Hamburguesa casera – homemade burger
  • Harina de garbanzo – chickpea flour
  • Helado artesanal – artisan ice cream
  • Helado de turrón – nougat ice cream
  • Helado de leche merengada – cinnamon‑lemon milk ice cream
  • Hígado encebollado – liver with onions
  • Hinojo – fennel
  • Hojaldre – puff pastry
  • Hojuelas – crispy fried pastries
  • Horchata de chufa – tiger‑nut drink
  • Horchata de almendra – almond horchata
  • Huevas – fish roe
  • Huevas aliñadas – marinated fish roe
  • Huevos a la flamenca – baked eggs with vegetables
  • Huevos al plato – eggs baked in a dish
  • Huevos con chorizo – eggs with chorizo
  • Huevos estrellados – fried eggs over potatoes
  • Huevos rellenos – stuffed eggs
  • Huevos rotos – broken eggs with potatoes
  • Humus a la española – Spanish‑style hummus (paprika & olive oil)
  • Huesos de santo – marzipan sweets
  • Huesillos – fried dough spirals
  • Hueso de jamón – ham bone (used for broths)

 

I - Spanish Food

I

  • Ibérico (jamón ibérico) – Iberian ham
  • Ibérico de bellota – acorn‑fed Iberian ham
  • Ibéricos (tabla de ibéricos) – Iberian cured meats platter
  • Idiazábal (queso) – smoked Basque cheese
  • Imperial de almendra – almond nougat bar
  • Inchicapi español (fusión) – Spanish‑style peanut soup (fusion)
  • Inés Rosales (tortas) – olive oil tortas
  • Involtini a la española – Spanish‑style stuffed rolls
  • Isasagas – Basque pastries
  • Isla flotante – floating island dessert
  • Islas Canarias (papas arrugadas con mojo) – wrinkled potatoes with mojo sauce
  • Ibores (queso) – goat cheese from Extremadura
  • Illa de Arousa (mariscos) – seafood from Arousa Island
  • Iglesias (dulces gallegos) – Galician pastries
  • Iberitos (patés) – spreadable pâtés from Extremadura
  • Iscas con arroz – liver strips with rice (Portuguese‑influenced, eaten in Spain)
  • Iced café bombón – iced sweet condensed‑milk coffee
  • Infusión de hierbas – herbal tea
  • Inchurros (variante de churros) – thin churros variant

 

J - Spanish Food

J

  • Jabalí estofado – stewed wild boar
  • Jabugo (jamón de Jabugo) – Jabugo Iberian ham
  • Jamón serrano – cured mountain ham
  • Jamón ibérico – Iberian ham
  • Jamón ibérico de bellota – acorn‑fed Iberian ham
  • Jamoncitos de pollo – chicken drumsticks
  • Jarrete de cordero – lamb shank
  • Jarrete de ternera – veal shank
  • Jarretes guisados – braised shanks
  • Jibia – cuttlefish
  • Jibia en salsa – cuttlefish in sauce
  • Jijona (turrón de Jijona) – soft almond nougat
  • Judías blancas – white beans
  • Judías pintas – pinto beans
  • Judías verdes – green beans
  • Judiones de La Granja – large white beans from Segovia
  • Jugo de carne – meat jus
  • Jurel – horse mackerel
  • Jureles en escabeche – mackerel in marinade
  • Jalón (dulce) – almond sweet bar
  • Jamoncitos al ajillo – garlic chicken drumsticks
  • Jamón York – cooked ham
  • Jamón cocido – boiled ham
  • Jalea real (en repostería) – royal jelly (used in sweets)
  • Jeringos – Andalusian-style churros
  • Jijonenca (helado típico) – traditional Jijona ice cream

 

K - Spanish Food

K

  • Kaki (caqui) – persimmon
  • Kalamata (aceitunas kalamata) – Kalamata olives
  • Kebab español – Spanish‑style kebab
  • Kefta a la española – Spanish‑seasoned meatballs (fusion)
  • Kikos – toasted crunchy corn kernels
  • Kokotxas – fish cheeks (Basque cuisine)
  • Kombucha artesanal – artisan kombucha
  • Kofta ibérica – Iberian‑style kofta (fusion)
  • Korma a la española – Spanish‑influenced korma (served in modern restaurants)
  • Ketchup casero – homemade ketchup
  • Kéfir – kefir yogurt drink
  • Kiwis españoles – Spanish‑grown kiwis
  • Kumquat – kumquat fruit
  • Kokotxas al pil‑pil – fish cheeks in pil‑pil sauce
  • Kebab de cordero – lamb kebab (popular street food)
  • Kofta de pollo – chicken kofta (served in Spanish fusion kitchens)
  • Kale salteado – sautéed kale
  • Katsu a la española – Spanish‑style breaded cutlet (fusion)
  • Kaki seco – dried persimmon

 

L - Spanish Food

L

  • Lacón con grelos – pork shoulder with turnip greens
  • Lacón a la gallega – Galician‑style pork shoulder
  • Lagrimitas de pollo – crispy chicken bites
  • Láminas de bacalao – thin slices of cod
  • Langosta – lobster
  • Langostinos – large prawns
  • Langostinos al ajillo – garlic prawns
  • Lasaña a la española – Spanish‑style lasagna
  • Lechazo asado – roast suckling lamb
  • Leche frita – fried milk dessert
  • Leche merengada – cinnamon‑lemon milk drink
  • Lechuga – lettuce
  • Lenguado – sole fish
  • Lengua en salsa – tongue in sauce
  • Lentejas estofadas – lentil stew
  • Lentejas con chorizo – lentils with chorizo
  • Lentejas con verduras – lentils with vegetables
  • Lima – lime
  • Limón – lemon
  • Limonada casera – homemade lemonade
  • Llonganissa – Catalan cured sausage
  • Lomo embuchado – cured pork loin
  • Lomo adobado – marinated pork loin
  • Lomo a la sal – salt‑baked pork loin
  • Lomo de orza – pork preserved in oil
  • Longaniza – Spanish sausage
  • Lubina – sea bass
  • Lubina a la sal – salt‑baked sea bass
  • Lulas – small squid
  • Lupines (altramuces) – lupin beans

 

M - Spanish Food

M

  • Macedonia de frutas – fruit salad
  • Machacado de atún – shredded tuna
  • Madalenas – Spanish sponge muffins
  • Magra con tomate – pork in tomato sauce
  • Maimones – garlic bread soup
  • Majaos – Andalusian crushed sauces
  • Majo picón – spicy Canarian sauce
  • Malfuf – cabbage rolls (Spanish‑Arab influence)
  • Mallorquín frito – Mallorcan fried meat and vegetables
  • Mantecados – crumbly Christmas cookies
  • Manitas de cerdo – pig’s trotters
  • Manjar blanco – almond milk dessert
  • Manchego (queso) – Manchego cheese
  • Manitas en salsa – trotters in sauce
  • Manzanas asadas – baked apples
  • Maragato cocido – Leonese layered stew
  • Mariscada – seafood platter
  • Marmitako – Basque tuna stew
  • Masa de empanada – empanada dough
  • Mascarpone español – Spanish mascarpone
  • Mejillones al vapor – steamed mussels
  • Mejillones en escabeche – pickled mussels
  • Melocotón en almíbar – peach in syrup
  • Melón con jamón – melon with ham
  • Menestra de verduras – mixed vegetable stew
  • Merluza a la romana – battered hake
  • Merluza en salsa verde – hake in green sauce
  • Mero – grouper fish
  • Migas – fried breadcrumbs with meat
  • Milanesa a la española – Spanish‑style breaded cutlet
  • Millo (Canarias) – corn
  • Mojama – salt‑cured tuna
  • Mojete murciano – Murcian tomato salad
  • Mollejas – sweetbreads
  • Morcilla – blood sausage
  • Morcilla de Burgos – rice‑filled blood sausage
  • Morcón – large cured sausage
  • Morteruelo – Cuenca meat pâté
  • Mostillo – grape must dessert
  • Mousse de limón – lemon mousse
  • Mousse de turrón – nougat mousse
  • Mullador – Valencian tomato‑pepper salad

 

N- Spanish Food

N

  • Nabo – turnip
  • Nabizas – young turnip greens
  • Naranja – orange
  • Naranjas confitadas – candied oranges
  • Naranjas en almíbar – oranges in syrup
  • Naranjada casera – homemade orangeade
  • Natillas – custard
  • Natillas caseras – homemade custard
  • Navajas – razor clams
  • Navajas a la plancha – grilled razor clams
  • Nécoras – velvet crabs
  • Nécoras a la plancha – grilled velvet crabs
  • Niscalos (níscalos) – saffron milk cap mushrooms
  • Niscalos guisados – stewed saffron milk caps
  • Niscalos a la plancha – grilled wild mushrooms
  • Nísperos – loquats
  • Nísperos en almíbar – loquats in syrup
  • Nocilla – chocolate‑hazelnut spread
  • Nogal (nueces) – walnuts
  • Nueces caramelizadas – caramelized walnuts
  • Nueces con miel – walnuts with honey
  • Nuggets de pollo caseros – homemade chicken nuggets
  • Nube (golosina) – marshmallow candy
  • Nubes de azúcar – sugar marshmallows
  • Nueces de macadamia españolas – Spanish macadamia nuts
  • Navajuelas – small razor clams
  • Nabos estofados – stewed turnips
  • Nabos glaseados – glazed turnips
  • Naranjas sanguinas – blood oranges
  • Naranjas al vino – oranges in wine syrup

 

O - Spanish Food

O

  • Obleas – wafers
  • Obleas rellenas – filled wafers
  • Oca – goose
  • Oca asada – roast goose
  • Ocho (rosquillas de ocho) – figure‑eight pastries
  • Oído de cerdo – pig’s ear
  • Olla gitana – vegetable and chickpea stew
  • Olla podrida – Castilian meat and bean stew
  • Olla ferroviaria – Cantabrian railway stew
  • Olla de trigo – wheat stew from Murcia
  • Olla de la Plana – Valencian stew
  • Oloroso (vino oloroso) – sherry wine
  • Oreja a la plancha – grilled pig’s ear
  • Oreja en salsa – pig’s ear in sauce
  • Orejas de carnaval – crispy carnival pastries
  • Orejones – dried apricots
  • Oricios – sea urchins (Asturias)
  • Orxata (horchata valenciana) – tiger‑nut drink
  • Ostras – oysters
  • Ostras gratinadas – gratin oysters
  • Ostras al cava – oysters with cava
  • Otoñada (setas de otoño) – autumn mushrooms
  • Obleas de miel – honey wafers
  • Orujo – pomace brandy
  • Orujo con hierbas – herbal pomace liqueur
  • Olla de carne – meat stew
  • Olla de marisco – seafood stew
  • Olla de pulpo – octopus stew
  • Olla de bacalao – cod stew
  • Olla de verduras – vegetable stew

 

P - Spanish Food

P

  • Paella valenciana – Valencian rice dish
  • Paella de marisco – seafood paella
  • Paella mixta – mixed paella
  • Pabellón español (fusión) – Spanish‑style shredded beef plate
  • Pacharán – sloe‑berry liqueur
  • Padrón (pimientos de Padrón) – Padrón peppers
  • Pajaritos (dulce) – sugar‑coated pastries
  • Paletilla de cordero – lamb shoulder
  • Paletilla ibérica – Iberian pork shoulder
  • Palmeras – palm‑shaped pastries
  • Palometa – pomfret fish
  • Pan con tomate – bread with tomato
  • Pan de Cádiz – marzipan‑filled sweet loaf
  • Pan de higo – fig cake
  • Pan de pueblo – rustic country bread
  • Pan tumaca – Catalan tomato bread
  • Panceta – pork belly
  • Panchitos – peanut snacks
  • Panchineta – Basque custard pastry
  • Panga – pangasius fish
  • Panqueques – pancakes
  • Papada ibérica – Iberian pork jowl
  • Papas arrugadas – wrinkled potatoes
  • Papas con mojo – potatoes with mojo sauce
  • Papas a lo pobre – poor man’s potatoes
  • Papillote de pescado – fish en papillote
  • Parrillada de mariscos – seafood grill
  • Parrillada de carne – meat grill
  • Pastas de té – tea biscuits
  • Pastel de cabracho – scorpionfish pâté
  • Pastel de carne murciano – Murcian meat pie
  • Pastel de merluza – hake pâté
  • Pastel vasco – Basque cake
  • Pastel de queso – cheesecake
  • Pastel de verduras – vegetable pie
  • Pastelitos de boniato – sweet potato pastries
  • Pastrami a la española – Spanish‑style pastrami
  • Patatas a la importancia – fried potatoes in saffron sauce
  • Patatas a lo pobre – slow‑fried potatoes with peppers
  • Patatas alioli – garlic mayo potatoes
  • Patatas bravas – spicy potatoes
  • Patatas revolconas – mashed paprika potatoes
  • Paté ibérico – Iberian pâté
  • Pato a la naranja – duck with orange
  • Pavo trufado – truffled turkey
  • Pechuga villaroy – breaded béchamel‑coated chicken
  • Pencas de acelga rellenas – stuffed chard stalks
  • Pepitoria – almond‑egg sauce
  • Pepito de ternera – veal sandwich
  • Pepito de lomo – pork loin sandwich
  • Pera conferencia – conference pear
  • Peras al vino – pears in wine
  • Percebes – gooseneck barnacles
  • Perrunillas – almond cookies
  • Pescadilla – whiting fish
  • Pescado en adobo – marinated fried fish
  • Pestiños – honey‑glazed pastries
  • Pichón – squab
  • Picos – breadsticks
  • Pimientos asados – roasted peppers
  • Pimientos del piquillo – piquillo peppers
  • Pimientos rellenos – stuffed peppers
  • Pimienta negra – black pepper
  • Pintxos – Basque small bites
  • Pipas – sunflower seeds
  • Piquillos rellenos de bacalao – cod‑stuffed piquillo peppers
  • Pisto manchego – Spanish ratatouille
  • Pisto con huevo – pisto with egg
  • Plátano de Canarias – Canary Islands banana
  • Pluma ibérica – Iberian pork cut
  • Pollo al ajillo – garlic chicken
  • Pollo asado – roast chicken
  • Pollo en pepitoria – chicken in almond sauce
  • Pollo relleno – stuffed chicken
  • Polvorones – crumbly almond sweets
  • Ponche segoviano – Segovian sponge cake
  • Potaje de garbanzos – chickpea stew
  • Potaje de vigilia – Lenten cod and chickpea stew
  • Presa ibérica – Iberian pork shoulder cut
  • Puchero andaluz – Andalusian stew
  • Puding de pan – bread pudding
  • Pulpo a la gallega – Galician octopus
  • Pulpo a la brasa – grilled octopus
  • Pulpo en su tinta – octopus in ink
  • Puré de patatas – mashed potatoes

 

Q - Spanish Food

Q

  • Queso manchego – Manchego cheese
  • Queso idiazábal – smoked Basque cheese
  • Queso tetilla – Galician soft cheese
  • Queso de cabra – goat cheese
  • Queso de Mahón – Menorcan cow’s milk cheese
  • Queso de Burgos – fresh Burgos cheese
  • Queso fresco – fresh cheese
  • Queso curado – aged cheese
  • Queso semicurado – semi‑aged cheese
  • Queso azul – blue cheese
  • Queso payoyo – artisan goat cheese from Cádiz
  • Queso majorero – Canarian goat cheese
  • Queso camerano – Riojan goat cheese
  • Queso zamorano – sheep’s cheese from Zamora
  • Queso de oveja – sheep’s cheese
  • Queso de cabrales – Asturian blue cheese
  • Queso de Roncal – Navarre sheep’s cheese
  • Queso de Arzúa‑Ulloa – Galician creamy cheese
  • Queso de Valdeón – blue cheese from León
  • Queso de Gamonedo – smoked blue cheese from Asturias
  • Queso de Idiazábal ahumado – smoked Idiazábal cheese
  • Quesada pasiega – Cantabrian cheesecake
  • Quisquillas – tiny shrimp
  • Quisquillas de Motril – Motril baby shrimp
  • Quinoa a la española – Spanish‑style quinoa
  • Quiche española – Spanish‑inspired quiche (chorizo, peppers)
  • Quintales (dulces) – traditional sweets from Aragón
  • Quicos (kikos) – crunchy corn kernels
  • Quenelles de pescado – fish dumplings (used in Basque cuisine)
  • Quemaíllo (salsa) – burnt sugar sauce from Murcia
  • Quemaíllo de leche – caramelised milk syrup
  • Quemaíllo de limón – lemon caramel syrup

 

R - Spanish Food

R

  • Rabo de toro – oxtail stew
  • Rabo de cerdo – pork tail
  • Rabo guisado – braised tail stew
  • Ración – shared plate / portion
  • Rape – monkfish
  • Rape a la americana – monkfish in tomato‑brandy sauce
  • Rape en salsa verde – monkfish in green sauce
  • Rascacio – scorpionfish
  • Raya en pimentón – skate in paprika sauce
  • Rebozados – battered fried foods
  • Regañás – crispy Andalusian crackers
  • Reineta (manzana reineta) – russet apple
  • Remolacha – beetroot
  • Remojón granadino – orange and cod salad
  • Rellenos (pimientos, calabacines, etc.) – stuffed vegetables
  • Rellenitos dulces – sweet stuffed pastries
  • Relleno de carnaval – carnival stuffed omelette
  • Repollo – cabbage
  • Requesón – ricotta‑style fresh cheese
  • Revuelto de setas – scrambled eggs with mushrooms
  • Revuelto de ajetes – scrambled eggs with garlic shoots
  • Revuelto de bacalao – scrambled eggs with cod
  • Ribera (vino Ribera del Duero) – Ribera del Duero wine
  • Rillettes de cerdo ibérico – Iberian pork rillettes (fusion but common)
  • Rincón (dulces del Rincón) – traditional sweets from Aragón
  • Risotto a la española – Spanish‑style risotto
  • Rocas de chocolate – chocolate clusters
  • Rodaballo – turbot
  • Rodaballo al horno – baked turbot
  • Rollo de carne – meat roll
  • Romeritos – wild greens (used in stews)
  • Romesco (salsa romesco) – Catalan roasted pepper sauce
  • Rosada – pink hake
  • Rosada a la plancha – grilled rosada
  • Rosca de reyes – ring‑shaped sweet bread
  • Roscos fritos – fried dough rings
  • Roscos de vino – wine‑flavoured cookies
  • Rosquillas – ring pastries
  • Rosquillas tontas y listas – Madrid‑style pastries
  • Rostrido – roasted meat
  • Rúcula – arugula
  • Rulo de cabra – goat cheese log
  • Rusa (ensaladilla rusa) – Russian potato salad
  • Rustrido – slow‑fried onion and garlic base

 

S - Spanish Food

S

  • Salchichas frescas – fresh sausages
  • Salchichón ibérico – Iberian salchichón sausage
  • Salmorejo cordobés – thick tomato and bread cream
  • Salpicón de marisco – seafood salad
  • Salazón – salt‑cured fish
  • Salmonete – red mullet
  • Salmonetes fritos – fried red mullet
  • Salsa alioli – garlic mayonnaise
  • Salsa brava – spicy brava sauce
  • Salsa romesco – Catalan roasted pepper sauce
  • Salsa verde – parsley‑garlic green sauce
  • Salsa vizcaína – Basque red pepper sauce
  • Salmón a la plancha – grilled salmon
  • Salmón marinado – marinated salmon
  • Salmorreta – Alicante sofrito base
  • Sandía – watermelon
  • San Jacobos – ham and cheese breaded rolls
  • San Marcos (tarta) – St. Mark’s cake
  • San Pedro (pescado) – John Dory fish
  • Sangría – wine punch with fruit
  • Sangre encebollada – blood cooked with onions
  • Sardinas a la plancha – grilled sardines
  • Sardinas en escabeche – marinated sardines
  • Sardinas ahumadas – smoked sardines
  • Sardinas al horno – baked sardines
  • Sardina arenque – salted herring
  • Sardinas en aceite – sardines in oil
  • Sardinas en vinagre – vinegar‑marinated sardines
  • Sardinas rellenas – stuffed sardines
  • Sartenada – mixed pan‑fried dish
  • Sartén de mariscos – seafood skillet
  • Sartén de verduras – vegetable skillet
  • Sazón – seasoning mix
  • Secallona – Catalan cured sausage
  • Sepia a la plancha – grilled cuttlefish
  • Sepia en su tinta – cuttlefish in ink
  • Sesos rebozados – battered brains
  • Setas a la plancha – grilled mushrooms
  • Setas al ajillo – garlic mushrooms
  • Sobao pasiego – Cantabrian butter sponge cake
  • Sobrasada – spreadable Balearic sausage
  • Sobrasada con miel – sobrasada with honey
  • Solomillo ibérico – Iberian pork sirloin
  • Solomillo al whisky – sirloin in whisky sauce
  • Solomillo de ternera – beef tenderloin
  • Sopa castellana – garlic soup
  • Sopa de marisco – seafood soup
  • Sopa de ajo – garlic soup
  • Sopa de cocido – broth from cocido stew
  • Sopa de pescado – fish soup
  • Sopa fría de melón – cold melon soup
  • Sopas mallorquinas – Mallorcan vegetable‑bread soup
  • Sorbete de limón – lemon sorbet
  • Sorbete de cava – cava sorbet
  • Sorbete de mandarina – mandarin sorbet
  • Sorbete de mojito – mojito sorbet
  • Sucedáneo de angulas (gulas) – imitation baby eels
  • Suquet de peix – Catalan fish stew
  • Suspiros de monja – light sweet pastries
  • Suspiros de almendra – almond meringue bites
  • Surtido de ibéricos – Iberian cured meats platter
  • Surtido de quesos – cheese assortment
  • Surtido de mariscos –  seafood assortment

T - Spanish Food

T

  • Taco de jamón – ham tapa
  • Tacos de bonito – tuna chunks
  • Tacos de chorizo – chorizo bites
  • Tallarines con almejas – noodles with clams
  • Tallarines a la marinera – seafood noodles
  • Tallarines con setas – noodles with mushrooms
  • Tallarines con gambas – noodles with prawns
  • Tallarines de calamar – squid strips
  • Tarta de almendra – almond cake
  • Tarta de queso – cheesecake
  • Tarta de Santiago – Galician almond cake
  • Tarta de manzana – apple tart
  • Tarta de limón – lemon tart
  • Tarta de chocolate – chocolate cake
  • Tarta San Marcos – layered sponge cake
  • Tarta de tres chocolates – three‑chocolate cake
  • Tarta de galletas – biscuit cake
  • Tarta de turrón – nougat cake
  • Tarta de la abuela – grandma’s custard‑biscuit cake
  • Tarta de yema – egg‑yolk cake
  • Tarta de requesón – ricotta‑style cheesecake
  • Tarta de cuajada – curd cheese tart
  • Tarta de sidra – cider cake
  • Tarta de higos – fig tart
  • Tarta de pera – pear tart
  • Tarta de naranja – orange tart
  • Tarta de almendra mallorquina – Mallorcan almond cake
  • Tarta de queso Idiazábal – smoked cheese cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso manchego – Manchego cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso azul – blue cheese tart
  • Tarta de queso fresco – fresh cheese tart
  • Tarta de avellanas – hazelnut cake
  • Tarta de nueces – walnut cake
  • Tarta de coco – coconut cake
  • Tarta de plátano – banana cake
  • Tarta de almendra y naranja – almond‑orange cake
  • Tarta de almendra y limón – almond‑lemon cake
  • Tarta de almendra y chocolate – almond‑chocolate cake
  • Tarta de queso y membrillo – cheesecake with quince
  • Tarta de queso y arándanos – blueberry cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y frambuesa – raspberry cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y miel – cheesecake with honey
  • Tarta de queso y turrón – nougat cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y limón – lemon cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y chocolate blanco – white chocolate cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y caramelo – caramel cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y café – coffee cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y higos – fig cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y almendra – almond cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y manzana – apple cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y pera – pear cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y naranja – orange cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y mango – mango cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y maracuyá – passionfruit cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y pistacho – pistachio cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y avellana – hazelnut cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y nuez – walnut cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y coco – coconut cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y plátano – banana cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y almendra mallorquina – Mallorcan almond cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y sidra – cider cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y miel de caña – cheesecake with cane honey
  • Tarta de queso y romero – rosemary cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y tomillo – thyme cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y lavanda – lavender cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y azahar – orange blossom cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y almendra tostada – toasted almond cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y cacao – cocoa cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y canela – cinnamon cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y vainilla – vanilla cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y almendra amarga – bitter almond cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y limón confitado – candied lemon cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y naranja confitada – candied orange cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y frutos rojos – red berry cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y frutos secos – nut cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y dátiles – date cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y pasas – raisin cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y higos secos – dried fig cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y almendra marcona – Marcona almond cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y miel de romero – rosemary honey cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y miel de azahar – orange blossom honey cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y miel de eucalipto – eucalyptus honey cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y miel de brezo – heather honey cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y miel de encina – holm oak honey cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y miel de tomillo – thyme honey cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y miel de bosque – forest honey cheesecake
  • Tarta de queso y miel de caña canaria – Canarian cane honey cheesecake

 

U - Spanish Food

U

  • Uva – grape
  • Uvas pasas – raisins
  • Uvas moscatel – Muscat grapes
  • Uvas de mesa – table grapes
  • Uvas al vino – grapes in wine syrup
  • Urraco – young goatfish (regional term)
  • Urtigas de mar – fried sea nettles (Andalusia)
  • Uchuva (físalis) – physalis / golden berry (common in Spanish markets)
  • Unto Gallego – Galician pork fat used in broths
  • Unto de cerdo – pork lard
  • Unto para caldo gallego – lard used for Galician broth
  • Uvas con queso – grapes with cheese (classic tapa pairing)
  • Urdaiazpiko – ham (Basque term)
  • Urdaiazpiko iberikoa – Iberian ham (Basque)
  • Urdin gazta – blue cheese (Basque)
  • Urtxintxa (dulce vasco) – Basque sweet made with nuts and honey
  • Uñetas – traditional pastries from Aragón
  • Uvas con chocolate – chocolate‑coated grapes
  • Uvas escarchadas – candied grapes
  • Uva Garnacha – Garnacha grape
  • Uva tempranillo – Tempranillo grape
  • Uva albariña – Albariño grape
  • Uva verdejo – Verdejo grape
  • Uva godello – Godello grape
  • Uva mencía – Mencía grape
  • Uva airén – Airén grape
  • Uva parellada – Parellada grape (Cava)
  • Uva xarel·lo – Xarel·lo grape (Cava)
  • Uva Macabeo – Macabeo grape (Cava)

 

V - Spanish Food

V

  • Vaca vieja – aged beef from older cattle
  • Vacío de ternera – flank steak
  • Valeriana – lamb’s lettuce
  • Vainas – green beans (Basque term)
  • Vainilla – vanilla
  • Verdel – Atlantic mackerel
  • Verdinas – small green Asturian beans
  • Verdolaga – purslane
  • Verduras a la plancha – grilled vegetables
  • Verduras en tempura – vegetable tempura (common tapa)
  • Vichyssoise – cold leek and potato cream (popular in Spain)
  • Vieiras – scallops
  • Vieiras gratinadas – gratin scallops
  • Vieiras a la gallega – Galician‑style scallops
  • Vinagreta – vinaigrette dressing
  • Vinagreta de marisco – seafood vinaigrette
  • Vinagreta de verduras – vegetable vinaigrette
  • Vinagrillos – pickled vegetables
  • Virutas de jamón – ham shavings
  • Virutas de foie – foie shavings
  • Vela ibérica – long, thin Iberian cured sausage
  • Ventresca de atún – tuna belly
  • Ventresca de bonito – bonito tuna belly
  • Ventresca en conserva – canned tuna belly
  • Venado – venison
  • Venado estofado – venison stew
  • Vienas – soft bread rolls
  • Vienesa (salchicha vienesa) – Vienna sausage (common in Spain)
  • Virutas de chocolate – chocolate shavings
  • Volcán de chocolate – molten chocolate cake
  • Volovanes – puff‑pastry vol‑au‑vents
  • Volovanes rellenos – filled vol‑au‑vents
  • Volandeira – Galician fan scallop
  • Volandeiras a la plancha – grilled fan scallops
  • Volandeiras en salsa verde – fan scallops in green sauce
  • Valdepeñas (vino) – wine from Valdepeñas
  • Valdeorras (vino) – Galician wine region
  • Vermut – vermouth
  • Vermut rojo – red vermouth
  • Vermut blanco – white vermouth
  • Vinagre de Jerez – sherry vinegar
  • Vinagre balsámico español – Spanish balsamic vinegar
  • Vino tinto – red wine
  • Vino blanco – white wine
  • Vino rosado – rosé wine
  • Vino dulce – sweet wine
  • Vino de misa – altar wine
  • Verduras salteadas al wok – wok‑fried vegetables
  • Veggie burger española – Spanish‑style veggie burger
  • Veganesa – vegan mayonnaise

 

W - Spanish Food

W

  • Wakame – wakame seaweed (used in salads and poke bowls across Spain)
  • Wasabi – wasabi paste (common in sushi restaurants)
  • Wakame en ensalada – wakame salad
  • Wakame con sésamo – wakame with sesame
  • Wok de verduras – vegetable stir‑fry
  • Wok de marisco – seafood stir‑fry
  • Wok de ternera – beef stir‑fry
  • Wok de arroz – rice stir‑fry
  • Wok de noodles – noodle stir‑fry
  • Wok mediterráneo – Mediterranean‑style wok dish
  • Whisky (salsa al whisky) – whisky sauce (Andalusian classic)
  • Whisky con limón – whisky with lemon
  • Whisky con cola – whisky and cola
  • Worcestershire (salsa inglesa) – Worcestershire sauce
  • Wasakaka (influencia canaria‑venezolana) – garlic‑herb sauce used in Canary Islands fusion cuisine
  • Whoopie pie (pastelerías modernas) – whoopie pie (in modern bakeries)
  • Wafers (barquillos tipo wafer) – wafer biscuits
  • Wafers de chocolate – chocolate wafers
  • Wafers rellenos – filled wafer biscuits
  • Wiener Schnitzel a la española – Spanish‑style schnitzel
  • Wiener (salchicha tipo Viena) – Vienna‑style sausage
  • Wok Thai a la española – Spanish‑influenced Thai wok dish
  • Wok japonés – Japanese‑style wok dish

 

X - Spanish Food

X

  • Xabarín – wild boar (Galician term)
  • Xamón – ham (Galician spelling)
  • Xarda – mackerel
  • Xarda en escabeche – mackerel in marinade
  • Xarope – syrup
  • Xato – Catalan–Valencian winter salad (spelled “Xató”)
  • Xoubas – small sardines from Galicia
  • Xoubas fritas – fried baby sardines
  • Xoubas en conserva – canned baby sardines
  • Xudías – beans (Galician spelling)
  • Xurelo – horse mackerel (Galician)
  • Xurelos fritos – fried horse mackerel
  • Xenxibre – ginger (Galician)
  • Xelado – ice cream (Galician spelling)
  • Xelatina – gelatin (Galician spelling)

 

Y - Spanish Food

Y

  • Yema – egg yolk
  • Yemas de Santa Teresa – yolk sweets from Ávila
  • Yemas de San Leandro – Sevillian yolk pastries
  • Yemas al punto de nieve – light whipped yolk dessert
  • Yogur natural – plain yogurt
  • Yogur griego – Greek yogurt
  • Yogur con miel – yoghurt with honey
  • Yogur con frutas – yoghurt with fruit
  • Yogur de limón – lemon yogurt
  • Yogur de fresa – strawberry yoghurt
  • Yogur de coco – coconut yoghurt
  • Yogur de plátano – banana yogurt
  • Yogur de mango – mango yoghurt
  • Yogur de melocotón – peach yogurt
  • Yuca – cassava root
  • Yuca frita – fried cassava
  • Yuca sancochada – boiled cassava
  • Yogur de gofio – gofio yogurt
  • Yogur con plátano canario – yogurt with Canary Islands banana
  • Yakisoba a la española – Spanish‑style yakisoba
  • Yakitori a la española – Spanish‑style chicken skewers
  • Yuca con mojo – cassava with mojo sauce
  • Yuca al horno – baked cassava
  • York (jamón york) – cooked ham
  • Yogur bebible – drinkable yoghurt
  • Yogur proteico – protein yogurt
  • Yogur de vainilla – vanilla yogurt
  • Yogur de chocolate – chocolate yoghurt
  • Yogur de turrón – nougat yogurt (seasonal)
  • Yogur con nueces y miel – yoghurt with walnuts and honey
  • Yogur con frutos rojos – yogurt with red berries
  • Yogur con galleta – yoghurt with biscuit crumbs
  • Yogur con mermelada – yogurt with jam

Z - Spanish Food

Z

  • Zanahoria – carrot
  • Zanahorias aliñadas – marinated carrots (Andalusia)
  • Zanahorias glaseadas – glazed carrots
  • Zanahorias en escabeche – pickled carrots
  • Zamburiñas – small scallops
  • Zamburiñas a la plancha – grilled small scallops
  • Zamburiñas en salsa – scallops in sauce
  • Zamburiñas gratinadas – gratin scallops
  • Zarangollo murciano – Murcian scrambled eggs with zucchini and onion
  • Zarangollo de calabacín – zucchini zarangollo
  • Zarangollo de patata – potato zarangollo
  • Zarangollo mixto – mixed vegetable zarangollo
  • Zarzuela de mariscos – seafood stew
  • Zurracapote – Riojan fruit‑wine punch
  • Zumo de naranja – orange juice
  • Zumo de limón – lemon juice
  • Zumo de melocotón – peach juice
  • Zumo de piña – pineapple juice
  • Zumo multifrutas – multifruit juice
  • Zikiro – roast goat (Navarre/Basque)
  • Zingara – open sandwich with ham and cheese (Navarre)
  • Zurrukutuna – Basque garlic‑cod soup
  • Zallarrampla – traditional Basque sweet
  • Zahína – fried dough sweet from Extremadura
  • Zahína con miel – fried dough with honey
  • Zahína de almendra – almond zahína
  • Zanahoria cake (tarta de zanahoria) – carrot cake (Spanish version)
  • Zarajos dulces – sweet pastries shaped like zarajos
  • Zamburiñas en hojaldre – scallops in puff pastry
  • Zanahoria morada – purple carrot
  • Zanahoria baby – baby carrot
  • Zarzamora – blackberry
  • Zarzamoras silvestres – wild blackberries
  • Zarzamoras en almíbar – blackberries in syrup
  • Zumo de carne – meat jus
  • Zumo de verduras – vegetable juice
  • Zumo de tomate – tomato juice
  • Zumo de uva – grape juice
  • Zoodles (calabacín en espiral) – zucchini noodles
  • Zaatar a la española – Spanish‑style za’atar seasoning blend
  • Ziti al horno a la española – Spanish‑style baked ziti