Whether you’re going on a family trip, or you just want to try something new, you should explore all possible cuisines. At a certain point, you’ll need to let your kids enjoy other flavours and meals to expand the options.
When it comes to Spanish cuisine, there are distinct flavours you can taste with some of their meals. It’s because the most common ingredients of their dishes, including olive oil, paprika, tomatoes, and potatoes, are usually present.
If for instance, you’re going to travel to Spain soon, you should first try to visit Spanish restaurants so they can taste the most popular dishes. That way, you’ll know if they’ll enjoy eating Spanish food or not.
Meanwhile, you can also try cooking Spanish dishes at home to see their reactions. So to give you some idea, here are the most popular Spanish dishes that your kids will surely love!
1. Tortilla de patatas
Did you know that there are various names for this dish? So whether you call it tortilla de patatas, tortilla de papas, or Spanish omelet, it’s just the same. As its name suggests, it’s made of potatoes and eggs with added olive oil, onion, and salt.
If your kids love eggs, then they will surely enjoy eating this dish. If you’re not planning to visit Spanish restaurants often, you can easily make this at home. Since it doesn’t contain complicated ingredients, you can ace it even if it’s your first time making it.
You can serve it as a snack, breakfast, or main dish. As mentioned a while ago, since it contains potatoes and eggs, eating it alone can also make your kids full.
2. Croquetas
If your kids love fries, then there’s a high chance that they will add croquetas to their list of favourite snacks. If you’ve tried authentic croquetas before at Spanish restaurants, you might’ve enjoyed eating them as tapas or appetisers.
Croquetas have a lot of variations including ham, chicken, and cheese. However, the plain potato is also a must-try. So if your kids have different preferences, you can create croquetas based on their liking.
Although this dish doesn’t have a complex ingredient, it will also help your kids to broaden their taste buds. Furthermore, since this dish is simple to make but may take a while to finish, you can ask your tiny helpers to cover the dough with bread crumbs. It’ll be fun and can also serve as an exciting bonding time activity.
3. Patatas bravas
Patatas bravas is another simple yet delicious dish that kids and adults will love! In addition, it’s another form of fries but with a Spanish twist. It’s made of fried chunks of potatoes served with a spicy sauce or alioli (the Spanish version of garlic mayo).
It’s usually served as an appetiser or tapas in bars and Spanish restaurants. However, if you’re going to make this at home, you can eat it whenever you and your kids like. When it comes to the patatas bravas for the kids, make sure that the sauce is not spicy.
However, if your kids are not used to sauces and dips, just let them try the alioli. If they don’t like it now, you can still try serving them patatas bravas with different sauces in the future.
4. Paella
As you may already know, another popular dish in Spain is the paella. It’s so popular that it became the national dish of the country. Traditionally, paella contains rabbit, chicken, vegetables, and (the main ingredient) rice. Meanwhile, as the years go by, other regions in Spain have created their variations which include the ingredients that can be found in their area.
So if you’re going to let your kids taste paella for the first time, it’s best if it’s an authentic and traditional version. However, tasting other versions of paella is also not a bad idea.
Paella is usually served as a main dish, but it’s also considered a complete meal.
5. Empanadas
Have you ever tried empanadas? They’re kind of like pies but the pockets or mini versions. The traditional Spanish empanadas have beef fillings. However, nowadays, you can also see other variations such as ham, chicken, fish, and vegetables.
For your little ones, you can start them up with ham-filled empanadas. But of course, since this dish is a bit tricky, you can just bring them to Spanish restaurants so they can taste the authentic flavour.
On the other hand, since empanadas are easy to eat, you can also find stalls that sell authentic Spanish empanadas. It’ll be enjoyable to eat while strolling at the park or having a picnic.
6. Churros
Last, but not least, churros! This dish never fails to amaze kids and even kids at heart. It’s similar to fried doughnuts, but it’s like a fried stick that’s usually dipped into hot chocolate.
Just like empanadas, it’s also easy to see stalls that serve churros. However, if you want your kids to taste the authentic version, then it’s best to visit Spanish restaurants or bakeries.
Now that you know the most popular Spanish dishes for kids, then it’ll be easier to choose when you visit Spain or Spanish restaurants. Don’t forget to share with us what your kids think about Spanish cuisine by leaving a comment below!
