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30+ Best Food Ingredients In Spanish You Must Know

Génesis Villar

By Génesis Villar
Last updated November 19, 2025
Published on September 21, 2022

Table Of Contents

Traveling to Spain soon as a chef or a food enthusiast? Then you must be interested in knowing different food ingredients in Spanish. Don’t worry, you are in the right place. Spanish have a lot of delicious cuisines like the famous Paella Valenciana, Gazpacho, and Tortilla. If you have never tried those dishes out, please do! In today’s blog post, we want to explore the popular food ingredients and their Spanish names so that you can impress the locals. Without further ado, let’s get into this article

Major Ingredients Used In Spanish Cooking

Food Ingredients

Let’s take a look at the popular ingredients that are usually used in most Spanish food. If you are traveling to Spanish-speaking countries soon, then keep these phrases handy. Who knows, you may want to try out a Spanish recipe.

Aceite de oliva – Olive oil

aceite de oliva

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If you don’t find olive oil in at least one out of three Spanish food or Spanish kitchen, then maybe you are not in a Spanish country. Olive oil is essential for most Spanish food like the famous Pallela and Tortilla. Olive oil is used for different things. It can serve as a dressing or a drizzle for meat, it also functions as a preservative for fruits like olives.

Pimentón – Paprika

Pimentón

Another ingredient on the list is Pimenton, no wonder the Spanish have three different Paprikas. You have the mild and sweet, bitter and hot, and the smoked paprika. I mean, you can’t go by a famous Spanish food, especially meat dishes, without having a taste of this important ingredient.

Azafrán – Saffron

Azafrán

Good saffron is extremely expensive, thanks to its versatile use and its strenuous extraction. Saffron is a key ingredient in the traditional Paella unique to the Spanish, and it is often used in some of their cuisines. Although it is generally expensive, you can still afford small amounts.

Ajo – Garlic

ajo

You have to find garlic in most Spanish food in one form or the other. In fact, there are a few Spanish delicacies that do not contain garlic in one form or the other. Also, onions are a non-negotiable ingredient in most Spanish food as well. So, if you are a fan of garlic and onions, you will enjoy Spanish cuisine.

Aceituna – Olive

Aceituna

As you may have guessed, olive is a must in Spanish; with over 200 types of olive grown in Spain alone, there are a few things you can do with this fruit. Apart from making olive oil, olive can be eaten as a snack in Spain or used in salad. Better yet, it is an integral part of your Spanish cooking.

Food Ingredients In Spanish To Know

Fruits

Various Fruits
EnglishSpanishPronunciation
strawberryla fresa la fresa
blackberryla mora la mora
watermelonla sandía la sandía
orangela naranja la naranja
applela manzana la manzana
lemonel limón el limón
pearslas peras las peras
melonel melón el melón

 

Vegetables

If you are a vegan or a big lover of vegetables, then you will find these Spanish words for these delicious vegetables useful!

EnglishSpanishPronunciation
asparagusespárragos espárragos
avocadoel aguacate aguacate
beetrootla remolacha remolacha
cauliflowerla coliflor coliflor
brocolliel brócoli brócoli
courgetteel calabacín el calabacín
cucumbersel pepino pepino
lettucela lechuga lechuga
mushroomslas setas setas
spinachlas espinacas espinacas

Herbs And Spices

Food Ingredients In Spanish; Herbs And Spice
EnglishSpanishPronunciation
saltla sal sal
thymeel tomillo tomillo
pepperla pimienta pimienta
cinammonla canela canela
basilla albahaca albahaca
cuminel comino comino
guavaguayaba guayaba
passionfruitmaracuyá maracuyá
oreganoorégano orégano
gingerjenjibre jenjibre
nutmegla nuez moscada nuez moscada

 

Meat And Animal Products

EnglishSpanishPronunciation
beefla carne de res carne de res
monkfishel rape rape
codel bacalao bacalao
salmonel salmón salmón
rabbitel conejo conejo
fishel pescado pescado
chickenel pollo pollo
butterla mantequilla mantequilla
sausageel chorizo chorizo
minced meatla carne picada carne picada
lambcordero cordero
duckpato pato
pork meatcarne de cerdo carne de cerdo
cheesequeso queso
milkleche leche
yoghurtlos yogures los yogures
hamjamón jamón
seafoodlos mariscos mariscos
chickenbreastla pechuga de pollo pechuga de pollo
eggslos huevos huevos
crabel cangrejo cangrejo
hakela merluza merluza
prawnslas gambas gambas
troutla trucha trucha

 

Others

Vegetables And Fruits
EnglishSpanishPronunciation
riceel arroz arroz
cold waterel agua agua
flourla harina harina
cornmaiz maiz
beansfrijol frijol
plantainplátano plátano
potatopapa papa
breadel pan pan

 

Food-related vocabulary

EnglishSpanishPronunciation
bakehornear hornear
peelpelar pelar
cutcortar cortar
mixmezclar mezclar
addagregar agregar
choppicar picar
washlavar lavar
fryfreír freír
boilhervir hervir
roastasar asar

 

Cooking Utensils You Should Know

EnglishSpanishPronunciation
frying pansartén sartén
knifecuchillo cuchillo
potolla olla
spooncuchara cuchara
ladlecucharón cucharón

 

Final Thoughts

Spain has a lot of delicious delicacies that will make you come back for more, no matter how much you try to resist. It is only fair also to know the main ingredients used in most of these dishes just in case you want to try cooking Spanish dishes or buy these from a local market. Whatever it is, I hope you are able to remember some of these Spanish ingredients.

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