The essence of our gastronomy: eight must-try dishes

Welcome to the Costa Brava and Girona Pyrenees. a part of Catalonia where the local cuisine captures the essence of this region’s rich culture and spectacular landscape, becoming a delicious narrator of its history and tradition.

In this article, we recommend eight essential dishes. If you are planning to visit our destination, you simply must try them. Every bite will transport you through the history and rich variety of flavours that define this region. An unforgettable and unmissable sensory experience for anyone who wants to understand our authentic gastronomic character.

1. Pa amb tomàquet (Bread with tomato)

Bread, with its crispy crust on the outside and soft crumb texture on the inside, is rubbed with ripe tomato and seasoned with extra virgin olive oil and salt. This technique was traditionally part of daily life in the countryside, where dry bread from the previous day was softened with tomato juice. Despite its apparent simplicity, this is a tasty dish with complex flavours which make it a true culinary delight. It is more than a simple recipe; the gesture of rubbing ripe tomatoes on bread has become a symbol of Catalan identity. That is why you will find pa amb tomàquet all year round in every house and every restaurant in Catalonia.

2. Arròs mar i muntanya (Sea and mountain rice)

Sea and mountain rice is the most authentic expression of the Costa Brava’s rich culinary diversity. This dish blends seafood flavours with robust mountain meat and seasonal local vegetables to create a fusion of tastes that captures the essence of this region. It is a real delight for rice lovers, especially when cooked with Pals rice, an outstanding locally grown variety renowned for its exceptional quality.

The tradition of sea and mountain rice stems from Catalonia’s geographical diversity, and the strong connection with the land and the sea that defines this territory. Whether in a seaside restaurant or a farmhouse in the mountains, this rice dish will captivate you.

3. Trinxat de Cerdanya

A delicious combination of winter cabbage, potatoes and bacon cooked and mashed together to form a creamy texture. This is the most typical dish in the county of Cerdanya, in the Girona Pyrenees.

Originally a way to use up leftovers and deeply rooted in the region’s culinary history, this warming and hearty recipe was cooked in the winter months, taking advantage of the availability of locally grown products. The addition of bacon provided extra nutrients and calories as well as a more intense flavour. Nowadays, you can find it in restaurants in the area all year round, so if you are in Cerdanya, you must try this dish which is a genuine tribute to mountain flavours.

4. Bunyols de Bacallà (Cod fritters)

This exquisite seafood appetiser, made from cod, garlic and parsley in a light and crispy batter, is among the most genuine culinary specialties of our gastronomic tradition. Historically, it is a dish associated with Lent, due to the Christian prohibition of eating meat during this period of abstinence.

Although in Catalonia we have many types of fritters, these are the most popular, especially those made with salt cod. For centuries before refrigerators existed, salt cod was one of the few products that could be preserved and consumed throughout the year.

5. Suquet de Peix (Fish stew)

Suquet de Peix is one of the most emblematic dishes from the Catalan coast and a reminder of a legacy of centuries of fishing activity. This delicious speciality is typical on the Costa Brava. The simple recipe includes fish (which varies depending on the catch of the day) with potatoes, sauteed garlic, onion, peppers and tomatoes and the typical Catalan picada seasoning of hazelnuts and herbs.

This recipe was invented by the coast’s fishermen. Initially, it was a popular creation cooked and consumed on board the boats, using fish that had not found a buyer in the market. Nowadays, however, suquet de peix can be found in most coastal restaurants, and has become a living testimony to our ancestors’ close relationship with the sea.

6. Pollastre amb llagosta (Chicken with lobster)

This may seem like an unusual combination, but we assure you that it is delicious. It is one of the most popular and best-known of the ‘sea and mountain’ dishes. Tender chicken is combined with the irresistible sweetness of lobster to create a dish that celebrates the richness of our region’s produce.

For centuries, this recipe was prepared especially during festivals and celebrations using chicken that had been raised for months beforehand, combined with lobster to bring out its flavour. Nowadays, however, you can find it in most restaurants on the Costa Brava. A delicacy that will infuse your taste buds with our region’s traditional cuisine.

7. Xuixo de Girona (Cream-filled fritters)

Immerse yourself in the delicious essence of Girona through its most iconic pastry: the xuixo, a deep-fried pastry filled with cream and dusted with a crunchy layer of sugar that is simply irresistible. While the classic version is filled with cream, this authentic delicacy can also be found in the city’s patisseries in a wide range of flavours, such as chocolate, apple, pumpkin jam and many others.

With its firm texture and characteristic sweetness, a xuixo makes the perfect breakfast or afternoon snack for anyone visiting the city of Girona.

8. Taps de Cadaqués

These are little sponge cakes from Cadaqués, one of the most beautiful and popular fishing villages in Catalonia. Taps date back to the 18th century, when local fishermen, influenced by the trade route between Cuba and the Costa Brava, began to soak their sponge cakes with Cuban rum, discovering that it improved the texture.

The Taps’ distinctive shape came about by chance when a pastry chef from Cadaqués decided to use individual moulds to bake the cakes. As they were baking in the oven, the batter overflowed, creating the shape of a cava bottle cork, or tap in Catalan, hence the name.

These little cakes with their fascinating history have survived to this day, and nowadays, if you visit Cadaqués, you must buy them at the Can Cabrisas patisserie, which continues to make them as they did centuries ago.

Eight recipes that have marked our cuisine

Now that you have discovered these eight essential recipes, we invite you to enjoy a unique culinary experience in the Costa Brava and Girona Pyrenees. With its unique combination of landscapes and flavours, this region will captivate your heart and palate. Uncover the gastronomic secrets of this land and let its authenticity invite you to return again and again. Bon appetit!