Top 10 culinary specialities in Salamanca

Why do we travel to Spain? One in two people is likely to say gastronomy. After all, there’s no love more sincere and real than the love of food, is there? The country is renowned for its colourful cuisine, with many regional dishes becoming global favourites. As a result, Spain proudly stands out as one of the countries with the best culinary specialities to try. There’s a tasty dish waiting for you in any city. This time, we’re not taking you to Madrid, Seville or Barcelona, but to Salamanca for the city’s best dishes!

What to eat in Salamanca Our top 10 specialities.

1. Hornazo

In Salamanca, the most popular food is undoubtedly meat, especially ham. This is where you can try the tasty hornazo: a pie stuffed with ham and chorizo. This bread, stuffed with a variety of meats, is usually served on “Water Monday”, which is in fact Easter Monday, a public holiday. However, you can easily find it in any restaurant at any time of year, as it is such a popular dish. Many people like to eat it with a hard-boiled egg, which adds even more flavour to the tender meat.

2. Morucha meat

Carnivores and lovers of good food be warned, your little heart is likely to be turned upside down. And why is that? Because the excellent quality of Morucha meat is guaranteed by the Salamanca Protected Geographical Indication. This means that biting into a tender steak with its intoxicating quality and aroma will make your taste buds tingle like never before. Morucha beef is known for being a rustic breed reared in the open air, and its refined flavour comes from being fed 100% organic Crau PDO hay. Pair it with a glass of wine and you’re ready to go!

3. Armuña lentils

You may have tasted them before, but you didn’t know that these exquisitely flavoured little pearls come from the Salamanca region. In fact, Armuña lentils are known for being extremely fine, much finer than normal lentils. They are also considered an excellent source of vegetable protein, as they contain a lot of fibre. They are also a source of iron and calcium, and rich in vitamins B1, B2 and B3. With their low fat content, they go perfectly with a small fresh salad. Simple to prepare, this is one dish that won’t leave you feeling bloated!

4. Ledesma doughnuts

Oyé! Oyé! Let’s make room for Ledesma doughnuts! Here’s a treat that even those with a sweet tooth won’t be able to resist. These little doughnuts, no bigger than 3 centimetres in diameter, are baked in the oven before being made into pastry. These little sweets actually originated in the Castile region. However, many shopkeepers and chefs in Salamanca bake them for their customers because they are so popular. A tip for accompanying them? Their slightly crunchy, yet dry texture goes perfectly with a delicious coffee or a glass of hot milk.

5. Serrano ham

Earlier, we mentioned that the city of Salamanca is famous for its divine ham. Now we’d like to introduce you to what is known as “Jambon Serrano”, produced exclusively in Salamanca, but also in Seville, Cordoba and a number of other parts of Portugal. This meat, obtained from pure-bred pigs, is left to mature naturally in specially designed warehouses. Its salty, slightly dry texture gives it a flavour that goes perfectly with a few vegetables or rice. Its pinkish hue is a real eye-catcher, with a scent that would make carnivores shudder.

6. Bollo Maimón

This is a very old cake that originated in Salamanca in honour of weddings. In fact, it is a festive dessert that is usually eaten at weddings. The Bollo Maimón marks the union of two people who are truly in love with each other. It’s typically the kind of pastry to be enjoyed with your other half, eye to eye. Easily recognisable thanks to its sponge cake shape, it is sprinkled with icing sugar before being served piping hot. Many people also like to dip it in hot chocolate, so why not give it a try?

7. Wines from the region

We’ve been talking a lot about food, but what about drinks? What do you serve with a slice of ham? Salamanca is one of the Spanish regions with the widest variety of wines in the country. The city has some quality wines: the fruity whites are the most popular with tourists. We recommend the famous “Uvas de Cámbrico 2017”. Imagine yourself gazing at the magnificent sunset, with a sweet nectar flowing down your throat. Are you there yet? Buy your ticket now!

8. Chanfaina

This dish contains a multitude of ingredients that make it unique. Legend has it that this dish was originally used to give peasants courage and tenacity in winter, so that they could cultivate their land. They would regain their strength and feed an entire village. Chanfaina is cooked with lamb, beef or pork offal, boiled blood (yes), chilli, a little bay leaf, onions and garlic. Some people like to prepare it with asparagus and a few potatoes.

9. Meneás Potatoes

Meneás potatoes are a typical Spanish dish. Why are they so famous? They were used in times of famine to feed the population. The most common way of cooking them is with paprika and pieces of smoked bacon. This typical food from the Salamanca region goes well with all kinds of dishes. You’ll find them on almost every dining table, ready to be eaten!

10. Cochinillo al Fuego

Translated as “roast suckling pig”, this is a dish cooked in clay pots and served piping hot. Cooked in practically every region of Spain, this is a very tender meal, with delicate meat on the plate. The secret? It’s all in the way you roast it! Cochinillo al Fuego is often the star of traditional Spanish family meals. If you get the chance to try it, let us know – we’re very curious!