10 Most Delicious Galician Dishes to Try along the Camino
If you plan your Camino de Santiago trip, you’ll likely visit Galicia soon. One of the best parts about travelling is trying all the local dishes, especially if you’re a foodie. We’ve picked the ten most delicious Galician dishes you must try on your Camino adventure.
1. Octopus
The ultimate Galician traditional dish. You will find it referred to as ‘pulpo á feira’ (in Galician), ‘pulpo a la gallega’ (in Spanish) or simply ‘pulpo’. Cooking octopus is an art in Galicia, boiled to a perfect point and served with paprika, salt, and olive oil.
It can’t be too hard or mushy; it must be perfect. Don’t be fooled by the dish’s simplicity: a great ‘pulpeiro’ (someone specialising in cooking octopus) is not easy to come by!
If you are walking the Camino Frances via Melide, you should stop at A Garnacha for a taste of delicious octopus. Many pilgrims have recommended it to us.
2. Padrón Peppers
The little green peppers from Padrón are unique and should be eaten in the right season (summer). Fried and sprinkled with rock salt, they are the food equivalent of Russian roulette. The Galician expression goes: ‘Pementos de Padrón; uns pican e outros non’ (some are hot, and some are not).
And it is true: they are primarily sweet little peppers, but there is always the odd one as hot as a chilli. Many people have different theories to guess which ones will be spicy: is it the ones with the pointy end? Would it be the smaller ones? or the larger pepper? Nobody knows, but it is all part of the fun.
3. Empanada
Galicians would eat anything in empanadas. These savoury pastries or pies come in many fillings and shapes, but the most popular ones are filled with seafood or fish. Cod (bacalao/bacallao), mussels (mejillones/mexillóns) and tuna (bonito) are some of the most popular empanadas. The quality of your empanada will depend on the bakers, the type of pastry, and the quality of the filling… but they are all delicious.
4. Caldo Galego
Beware, vegetarians! Caldo galego (Galician broth) might look like a harmless veggie-friendly dish with its cabbage, green leaves and beans, but it tends to be ‘seasoned’ with pork lard and sometimes with other pork meat. Caldo is a hearty, homely Galician dish cooked in every home, especially in wintertime.
5. Squid: all shapes and sizes!
Crispy squid rings (calamares or luras in Galician) and baby squid (chipirones) are cooked in a light batter and eaten with a sprinkle of lemon juice. Hot or cold, they are one of the most delicious snacks.
6. Queixo de Tetilla
Cheese lovers might not be familiar with Galician cheese, which is mainly softer, mildly cured cow cheese. It is usually eaten with quince jelly as a dessert.
For its pointy shape, Galicia’s most characteristic and unique-looking cheese is called ‘queixo de tetilla’ (meaning ‘little breast’). On your way to Santiago, along the Camino Frances, you will pass Arzúa, famous for its pointy ‘tetilla’ cheese.
7. Shellfish
Galicia is considered to be the shellfish and fish capital of Spain: clams, mussels, cockles, lobsters, prawns, crab, or the extravagant gooseneck barnacles, tuna from Burela, hake, monkfish, sardines… the variety of seafood found in fish shops and restaurants in Galicia is impressive, seasonal, and of premium quality. Go for a stroll to the Market in Santiago, and you will understand. If you are visiting the coast, you are in for a treat.
8. Galician Beef
Also greatly appreciated in the rest of Spain is the ‘Ternera Gallega’ or Galician beef. You can always go for beef if you are not into sea creatures.
9. Tarta de Santiago
The traditional almond cake with Santiago’s cross is a perfect sweet treat to go with a coffee or after a meal. Many other towns in Galicia have similar almond tarts, but each has specific differences. Check out our recipe for Tarta de Santiago.
10. Flan
Crème caramel, or flan, is a popular dessert in Galicia. During autumn, many restaurants and bars create a particular version of flan made with chestnuts. If you get the chance, give it a try! It’s delightful, especially with a dollop of whipped cream.
If you’re looking for a nightcap to aid digestion, try a small ‘chupito’ of herb liqueur or coffee liqueur.
For food enthusiasts, the Mercado de Abastos in Santiago de Compostela is a must-visit. It’s the city’s main attraction after the cathedral!
You can download our new Camino Food eBook before your next trip if you need to know everything about food along the Camino routes.
For more information about the Camino de Santiago or to book your Camino trip, contact us.
Thank you for the thoughtful article regarding Galician cusine. If I may ask, do you recall a Galician salad that was primarily black-eyed peas? My grandmother on my mother’s side was first-generation Cuban as her parents migrated to Cuba from A Coruña. Thank you in advance for any insight you can provide to my request.