If you are asking for a simple reply to that question, the answer is lots, we eat lots, but what do Spaniards eat at Christmas? Discover the most traditional food in Spain for Christmas.
What do Spaniards eat at Christmas? Traditional food in Spain for Christmas
If there is anything Spanish people do not generally need, it’s an excuse to eat even more than usual. And anyway, here we are, rapidly approaching Christmas – the ultimate excuse to indulge yourself.
However, unlike many other places in the world where everyone eats exactly a turkey, in Spain, the menu varies a lot between regions and even families.
The most traditional food during Christmas in Spain: A Serrano ham leg
A serrano ham leg is the ultimate Christmas decoration in any Spanish household that can afford it.
The rule is simple: the nicer the better, but with ham legs costing anything from 50 to 600 € this can get very tricky.
While Spaniards eat serrano ham all year long, it is only during festive occasions or celebrations they purchase a whole leg.
Christmas is a great time for a treat and it is also more likely that you’ll finish the ham with extended family coming over for meals.
This is the most popular appetiser for any Christmas dinner, and you will often find a plate with serrano ham ready to nibble in every house you visit.
What do Spaniards eat for starters in Christmas? Seafood
Seafood fever approaches Spain in the few weeks leading up to Christmas, with a special appetite for red prawns, langoustines, crawfish and spider crabs.
As you get closer to Christmas the prices per kilo start growing quicker than flights prices in summer.
This indulgent and festive starter will cost you a small fortune. The closer you get to Christmas Day, the more expensive the prize per kilo gets.
The recipes of choice can be as simple as grilled red prawns or boiled crab, but can also be a bit more elaborate depending on the house.
An optional starter Spanish people eat at Christmas: Fish soup
One of the most popular choices for the starter is to opt for a fish and seafood based soup. Warm and rich to warm yourself up, but not too filling as you will have a main dish coming later.
This soup is generally slow-cooked with fish, prawns, clams and various vegetables. and, while very tasty, it is not heavy and normally has no noodles in it.
Traditional food in Spain for Christmas as a main: Meat
The main of choice in most households in Spain is something meaty, juicy and outside of the usual list of things you will cook on a weekly bases.
The main meal might however vary a lot between regions or even households, and every family has their own favourites.
Some of the most popular options are slow-roasted lamb, sucking piglet, or suckling lamb ribs.
It goes without saying that the feast will be washed down with Spanish wines.
Every Christmas meal will also finish with a glass of bubbles to toast with. This will either be done with cava, a local bubbly white wine originally from Cataluña, or Sidra el Gaitero, a sweet apple cider from Asturias.
Save money on your trip to try all the traditional food in Spain for Christmas
* This blog contains affiliate links. If you purchase or book something, we get a commission at no extra cost to you.
