14 Spanish dishes you absolutely must try in your lifetime.

To be fair, Spain was a little late in discovering the global power of food.

While Italian and French cuisine are in the spotlight, Spanish cuisine is still waiting for its moment. However, in recent years, its culinary scene has gradually become known for its unique flavors and diverse offerings.

Leading chef Ferran Adria and the Roca brothers, founders of El Celler de Can Roca, have contributed to elevating the country's cuisine to an international level. The soul of Spanish cuisine lies in preserving the raw, simple flavors of nature, the result of a time when Spaniards worked tirelessly to harvest whatever the land provided.

CNN presents 14 dishes you absolutely must try when visiting Spain.

Paella Valenciana - Valencian mixed rice dish. (Source: CNN)

Paella Valenciana - Valencian mixed rice

Mixed rice is perhaps the most famous dish in Spain. This mixed rice dish originated in the areas around Valencia and is divided into two types: Valenciana mixed rice cooked with chicken and rabbit, and seafood mixed rice.

Saffron is used to color the rice, and the bottom is charred to create an attractive crust called socarrat. This dish is usually eaten for lunch. A place to try it: La Matandeta near Albufera, Valencia.

Patatas bravas. (Source: CNN)

Patatas bravas

As one of the small dishes that make up a classic appetizer menu, patatas bravas – "brave potatoes" – a name referring to the spicy sauce coating, is rarely seen in this country that generally avoids spicy food.

Potatoes are cut into cubes, fried, drained, and served in the same way everywhere. The sauces are prepared in various ways, from spicy tomato sauce to garlic mayonnaise with sweet chili powder, or both.

"Tapas are appetizers that originated in southern Spain," says Shawn Hennessy, who runs tapas tours in the Seville area. "It's important to remember that tapas crawls aren't strictly a drinking party; they're more suited to family and friends in a relaxed atmosphere. Drunkenness or hooliganism is rare. People mainly share about the food, and it's an opportunity to try a variety of dishes in one meal. In short, tapas are a lifestyle."

Place to try it: La Taverna del Clínic, Barcelona

Gazpacho - a Spanish cold soup. (Source: CNN)

Gazpacho - Spanish cold soup

This Andalusian tomato soup is famous for being eaten cold. This might shock some, but in the hot, dry summer climate of Seville, its appeal is easily understandable.

The main ingredients of the dish, besides tomatoes, include pepper, garlic, bread, and plenty of olive oil.

Pimientos de padrón - padrón peppers. (Source: CNN)

Pimientos de padrón - padrón peppers

A popular appetizer, pimientos de Padron is made with green chilies originating from a town in Galicia in the rainy northwestern region of Spain.

This dish is simply sweet peppers that are fried and sprinkled with salt. Although it has a mild sweetness, it is actually famous for the occasional burst of spiciness – creating a surprising sensation for the eater.

Fideuà. (Source: CNN)

Fideuà - Spanish noodles

Very few tourists know about fideuà, a Spanish pasta dish that is similar to noodles, but looks very much like paella.

This dish is very popular in Catalonia and Valencia, cooked with seafood, and rivals mixed rice dishes in terms of flavor and complexity. It is often served in a dish similar to that of mixed fried rice.

Place to try: Enrique Becerra, Seville

The best of all: Ham made from black pork. (Source: CNN)

Jamón - Jambon

Ham, or smoked ham, is Spain's most celebrated food. It's a smoked ham leg that's traditionally salted and hung to dry so it can be preserved through the long, cold winters.

Serranio ham (from the mountains) is the most common type, made from white pigs, while Iberico ham is made from black pigs. The best way to enjoy it is when sliced ​​thinly, so thin it "melts in your mouth," and eaten with bread.

"Hamburger is a classic on the Spanish dinner table," says chef José Pizarro. "We eat it before meals; the salty, oaky flavor is the perfect accompaniment to Sherry and Cava, and it makes you hungry even before the meal arrives. It's fantastic, and a ham can keep for a very long time if you store it properly. Look at the 'wax' of the fat; it melts into your skin like candle wax."

Place to try: Museo del Jamón, Madrid

Migas. (Source: CNN)

Migas

Migas is a perfect example of how much Spanish cuisine relies on farmers' food. This dish is made from crumbled, fried dry bread, combined with various toppings – mostly bacon or spicy sausage.

This dish originated when farmers had to be extremely frugal with the ingredients they had, and it has recently begun appearing on the menus of renowned restaurants.

Like many traditional dishes, the 'rustic roots' of the dish are primarily reflected in the use of leftover scraps. For a modern country like Spain, appetizers make up a high proportion of locally sourced foods.

Where can I try this dish? Eustaquio Blanco, Cáceres

Bacalao - salted cod. (Source: CNN)

Bacalao - salted cod

Bacalao, or salted cod, is a highly prized dish in Spain. The cod is brought back by Spanish fishermen from distant places like Norway or Newfoundland, and due to the long journey, it is salted to preserve it throughout the trip.

When preparing it, the fish must be soaked in water for at least 24 hours to remove some of the saltiness. Bacalao is served in various ways, and one of the most popular is with a pil-pil sauce made from olive oil, garlic, and the fish's juices.

Where to try this dish? Bar Gatz, Bilbao

Tortilla. (Source: CNN)

Tortilla

This simple Spanish omelet can be made with peppers, onions, spicy sausage, and other ingredients, but purists would argue that it should only include potatoes and eggs.

The potatoes are diced and lightly fried before being tossed into the egg mixture and fried over high heat. The hardest part is flipping the tortilla. If you do it right, someone will exclaim "Ole!", otherwise, you'll have a half-cooked, half-cooked tortilla splattering everywhere.

You can try this dish at any appetizer shop.

Churros - Fried dough sticks. (Source: CNN)

Churros - Fried dough sticks

Churros are a very popular snack made from fried dough, cut into sausage-like sticks, and rolled in sugar, resembling Vietnamese fried dough sticks. Sold at street food stalls, this snack is a favorite at festivals and street parties.

You can dip churros in melted chocolate for an extra delicious treat.

Enjoy this dish at San Ginés, Madrid

Croquetas. (Source: CNN)

Croquinas

Another quintessential appetizer, croquetas look like béchamel sauce wrapped in fried breadcrumbs, but with a much richer flavor profile than the traditional method of preparation.

Ham and salted cod are the two most popular additions to this dish. It requires skill from the chef and is often enjoyed with cold beer.

Where to try it? Casa Julio, Madrid

Albondigas - Meatballs. (Source: CNN)

Albondigas - Meatballs

Meatballs are an indispensable appetizer. Albondigas, or meatballs in tomato sauce, are served throughout Spain.

Another delicious variation of this dish is meatballs topped with almond sauce, rather than tomato sauce. The meatballs in the photo are squid meatballs, prepared by chef José Pizarro.

Where to try it? Cafe OMKA, Granada

Fabada. (Source: CNN)

Fabada

A favorite dish of the Asturias region, primarily made with white beans, fabada is typically served in a pot with various pork cuts. Spicy sausages, pork belly, and bacon are common accompaniments, along with blood sausage, which greatly enhances the dish's flavor.

Where to try it? Casa Gerardo, Prendes

Leche frita - fried milk. (Source: CNN)

Leche frita - fried milk

If you think milk can't be fried, think again. Leche frita, or fried milk, is a very popular dessert made from condensed milk (made into a cream), egg yolks, and flour. All the ingredients are mixed together, then rolled in breadcrumbs and fried until golden brown. This dish can be enjoyed both hot and cold.

Where to try it? Casa Alvarez, Madrid.

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