VEGAN NOMADISM: HOW TO SURVIVE IN SPAIN

Traveling with Dietary Restrictions

The slow-travel lifestyle is gaining popularity for people all around the world, and it’s easy to see why. Having the freedom to explore new areas of the world, meet new people, and experience different cultures, all while building your career and working on projects you’re passionate about? Sign me up! It’s hard to imagine a downside.

If you have specific dietary restrictions, however, the big question is: how can you be sure your food needs will be met in a place that you’ve never been before?

For people who eat vegan, fortunately things are easier than they ever have been. It’s a popular diet, and you can find great vegan restaurants (or at least menu items) everywhere. The world is your oyster, so all you really need to do is decide where to go!

When considering your travel options, Spain is a natural contender for a long-stay location. The weather is hot and beautiful, and the country is alive with culture and history. Picture yourself finishing your next assignment from your laptop on a beach in Barcelona or at a café in Madrid. Sounds pretty good, right? And food-wise, eating vegan in Spain can be a great experience, as long as you’ve prepared yourself a little bit first. Let’s take a look at a few ideas to have you feasting confidently in Spain in no time. 

Research Local Cuisine

Spain is a big country, and you’re going to find some very different food options depending on where you go. Be sure to take some time to do a bit of research on the specific area you’ll be visiting. If you haven’t chosen one yet, it makes sense to base a part of the decision on the results you find in this research. It’s important to think about what specific sort of food you’re looking for because somewhere will have it! Depending on the region of Spain you’re visiting, there might be particular regional vegan dishes or vegan adaptations of traditional dishes. 

For example, in Andalusia, salmorejo (soup made from tomato, bread, olive oil, & garlic, usually served cold) and ajoblanco (another cold soup made with almonds, called “white gazpacho”) are traditional dishes, and quite popular. Be careful though: the salmorejo is sometimes made with egg & garnished with ham. You may find many other dishes in Spain are like this: great for vegans, as long as you can make a couple of easy modifications. Which leads perfectly into our next tip…

Learn Basic Spanish Phrases

Remember that ham garnish I just mentioned? Well, no need to worry about it at all, as long as you practice saying, “sin carne, por favor” before you get there. You know your diet better than anyone else does, so take care to study any key Spanish phrases that will help you out when you get there. “Soy vegano” or “soy vegana” (I am vegan), and “sin carne” (without meat) are obviously going to be important to have in your Spanish vocabulary. This will instantly make it so much easier to communicate your dietary restrictions in restaurants and markets. Be clear and patient, and it’s very likely that the restaurant and waitstaff will easily be able to accommodate you.

Visit Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurants

The easier route, of course, is to seek out restaurants that specialize in vegetarian and vegan food. These places will be already equipped and prepared to serve you. Not everywhere in Spain will have a ton of options when it comes to vegan restaurants, but you should have luck if you stick to the major cities like Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, and Seville. Be sure not to miss the wonderful restaurants that these cities have to offer, like Bubita Sangria Bar in Barcelona, or Vega, which has a couple of locations in Madrid. The Vega website is particularly helpful, with allergen lists for every menu item.

Restaurants like these are great because they’re already ready for you. No special requests, no worry when ordering, just delicious food.

Tapas and Pinchos

Getting into a few different types of dining you might encounter, let’s talk about tapas and pinchos. A fun and social way to eat, designed to be shared with friends, tapas involve small bite-sized portions of shareable dishes. Pinchos are similar, but different from tapas because they are stuck through with a toothpick to make them easy to pick up. Some are naturally vegan, like patatas bravas and pimentos de padrón, but most can be easily modified to fit a vegan diet as well.

Paella

For a main course, I can’t recommend paella enough! Although traditional paella is made with seafood and meat, it’s usually fairly easy to find vegetarian or vegan versions. Just be sure to confirm that they don’t use animal products at any time in the preparation process.

Desserts

A favorite category, at least for those of us who love sweets. A lot of Spanish desserts contain milk and eggs, but there are a few notable exceptions that will have you jumping for joy. Look for sorbets, granizado (slushies), and other fruit-based desserts, and you’ll be able to keep cool and satisfy that sweet tooth at the same time.  

Check Labels

This may be tougher if you aren’t comfortable reading Spanish, but it’s important to be able to make sense of a simple ingredient list. Whether you take some time to improve your Spanish reading, or you spend some time getting the hang of a translator app, this is a tip that could really save you some trouble. Occasionally, processed foods will be made with hidden animal products, so diligently keeping an eye on the labels will help you avoid any unpleasant surprises.

Cook At Home

There is no way to be more certain that you’re eating exactly what you want and need than by cooking at home. If you have the luxury of staying somewhere with a kitchen, then you’ll be on easy street. In most Spanish markets and grocery stores, you’ll be able to find fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, grains, and other vegan ingredients fairly easily.

It’ll take a bit of preparation on your part, but if you’re thorough, polite, and patient, you’re likely to have an ideal vegan dining experience in Spain. Remember your phrases, check into all of your options from markets to restaurants, and be sure to enjoy yourself! Exploring the vegan food that Spain has to offer will be a fun adventure, so what are you waiting for? Iqué aproveche!