Cerveza, vino and the best food on Spain's Camino de Santiago

 

If you are after some authentic Spanish flavours on your Camino pilgrimage, you are in for a treat.

Tortilla de patatas

Who can say ‘no’ to a slice of mouth-watering tortilla de patatas? The Spanish delicacy is famous the world over, with dedicated tortilla competitions taking place in Spain every year. Traditionally the dish would only include four ingredients (eggs, potatoes, salt and oil), although these days there are many versions which also add onions.

Queixo de tetilla cheese

Manchego may claim the title of the most famous Spanish type of cheese but, when you are walking the Camino, you should sample some creamy queixo de tetilla. According to legend, during the construction of the Santiago Cathedral’s famed Portico of Glory, the church authorities ordered for Queen Esther’s bosom to be toned down; in protest, the locals created this cheese and gave it the shape of a woman’s breast.

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Padrón peppers

This popular Camino food is found on virtually every tapas menu along the Camino de Santiago and is a variety of bright green peppers that are traditionally cooked with olive oil and salt. Although most of them have a mild taste, about one in ten padrón peppers has much higher levels of capsaicin, which gives it a much hotter flavour… and there is no way to tell until you taste it. We call it tastebud roulette.

Empanadas

You will find some of the finest empanadas on your Camino journey, as the iconic crescent-shaped, savoury pastry originally comes from northwestern Spain (exactly where the Camino finishes in Santiago). Either fried or baked, empanadas are filled with a variety of ingredients such as meat, fish, seafood or vegetables. In fact, each family is said to have its own unique recipe!

Percebes barnacles

Fans of seafood (and not only) will delight in what is often seen as the most exclusive of all delicacies in Galicia. Percebes, a strange-looking briny barnacle, are incredibly difficult to find and are, for many, the best food on the Camino de Santiago. They can only be hand-harvested off the rocks of the Galician coast, often a dangerous task, which explains their hefty price tag.

Tarta de Santiago

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How about a drink?

An ice cold glass of cerveza or vino is the perfect way to reward yourself at the end of a day’s long walk on the Camino. If you are a beer fan, the local brand is Estrella Galicia (it was founded in A Coruña in 1906 and is still run by the same family) and you will find it on the menu of every bar you pass by.

If you prefer wine, you should definitely try a glass of white albariño. Crisp, aromatic and very refreshing, albariño is native to Galicia and it is one of Spain’s most distinctive grape varieties.

 

> Choose from this extensive range of Camino trips, including popular Camino itineraries especially designed for food lovers.