In this blog we’ll explore the tastes, culture and fascinating history behind Spain’s most famous snacks – the Tapas of Granada!

When you hear the name Granada, what is your first thought?  Perhaps, it’s the timeless beauty and majesty of the Alhambra, or maybe it’s the heartbreak and joy encapsulated in flamenco – or is it the countless flavours and textures of the tapas of Granada, for which it is so rightly famous?

While we have mentioned just three, there are endless delights awaiting you in Granada and numberless reasons why you should visit – but while you’re there, what better way to keep up your strength and sustain yourself during your explorations than to slip into one of the many places you can enjoy the tapas of Granada?

The Best Way to Enjoy Tapas

While it’s certainly possibly to visit a restaurant and order specific dishes, perhaps the most exciting way to enjoy the tapas of Granada is to let chance guide your meal.  In most bars, tapas are brought to you automatically with your drink – you don’t need to ask, and it’s likely you won’t know what you’re going to get – and here’s the good bit, they’re often free!  Many a visitor to Granada has discovered a new favourite food this way, simply by letting go and allowing an unseen chef decide what they’re going to eat.

If you decide to order your chosen tapas, rather than let luck be your guide, then be sure to bring a big appetite, as they’ll typically be larger portions than those you’ll receive free with your drink.  You won’t be the first visitor who has found their ambition overreaches the capacity of their stomach!

The History of the Origin of Tapas

So, why is Granada so associated with tapas – and how did it all begin?  It seems we have a 13th century King, Alfonso X of Castile to thank, but his idea that food should be served with drinks was born, not out of generosity, but out of practicality.  He saw it as a way of stopping his subjects getting too drunk!

Whatever the origins, though, tapas have become more than just a snack for the people of Granada.  They’ve become woven into the social fabric – a way of life.

So, What Varieties Might I Get?

What can you expect to eat?  While tapas may be small dishes of loveliness, they can certainly pack a punch when it comes to flavour.  Typical offerings include:

·         Patatas bravas: Fried potatoes served with a spicy sauce.

·         Croquetas: Small fried balls made with a filling of ham, cheese, or fish.

·         Albondigas: Meatballs served in a tomato-based sauce.

·         Tortilla Española: A thick omelette made with potatoes and onions.

·         Chorizo al vino: Spicy sausage cooked in red wine.

·         Boquerones: Marinated anchovies served with bread.

·         Navajas: Razor clams

·         Chipironesfritos: Fried baby squid

·         Mojellas: Pan-seared sweetbreads

·         Rabo de toro: Oxtail stew

·         Morcilla: Spanish black pudding

And we’ve barely scraped the surface!

Where to Eat Tapas

So where should you go to enjoy the tapas of Granada? Pretty much every bar you visit will bring you tapas with your drink – if they don’t, then there’s always the next bar!   By all means, do your research online before you go and read the reviews – but the very best research is that which you do with your own taste buds.  You will easily get used to having dinner over 6 or 7 small courses, each one served in a different place – every meal bringing new discoveries

Top tip: wear comfortable shoes for dinner, as you may find yourself standing to eat in some of the more popular places but there’s usually a good reason they’re so crowded – and it’s there on the plate in front of you.

Conclusion

And when you get home, of course, you’ll bring some wonderful memories of the tapas of Granada with you – but leaving Granada doesn’t mean you have to leave tapas behind.  Here at Iberica, we can help you conjure up those flavours again in your own kitchen, with croquetas, chorizo, boquerones, morcilla, navajas,  chipirones and much more all on offer.  And why not celebrate Granada with a glass of superb Alhambra beer, while you plan your return visit?