15 Spanish Summer Recipes to Beat the Heat

When it gets hot in Spain, there are a few dishes you’ll see on our table all summer long. With a focus on cold soups and salads using market-fresh produce, simple seafood and refreshing wine-based drinks, these are the Spanish summer recipes that we turn to when the thought of turning on the oven is just too much.

When the temperatures rise, there's only one thing to do: eat summer foods! These are our favorite authentic Spanish recipes for summer when it's just too hot to turn on the oven. From gazpacho (vegetarian!) to easy tapas for dinner, there's something for everyone in these traditional recipes. #tapas #foodie #recipe #foodblog #spain #europe

Spanish Summer Recipes: Cold Soups

Gazpacho

By far Spain’s most famous contribution to the world of cold soups, gazpacho is a tried-and-true classic, and Spanish summer staple. Our co-founder Lauren’s recipe takes the best part of some 20 gazpacho recipes and combines them to make the ultimate cold soup.

Gazpacho recipe

Gazpacho, a cold tomato soup, is one of our favorite Spanish summer recipes.
Beat the heat with cool gazpacho on a summer day.

Watermelon Mint Gazpacho

When you’re ready to take your gazpacho to the next level, add watermelon and mint for a surprising and refreshing combination.

Watermelon mint gazpacho recipe

Gazpacho is a classic soup for a hot summer's day. This watermelon mint gazpacho recipe is a unique take on an old favorite.
For a unique twist on gazpacho, try adding watermelon and mint.

Salmorejo

Gazpacho’s richer cousin, salmorejo is also a cold, tomato-based soup, but it takes things to the next level with additions of stale bread and lots of olive oil.

Salmorejo recipe

One of our favorite Spanish summer recipes is salmorejo. We eat this rich tomato soup non-stop during the summer, and love it garnished with ham and hard boiled egg.
Salmorejo is a thicker, richer version of gazpacho.

Ajoblanco

This Malaga staple is a creamy white soup, with a base of almonds! It dates back to the times of Moorish rule in Spain—centuries before tomatoes made it to the Iberian Peninsula, making ajoblanco the original cold Spanish soup, and one of our favorite Spanish summer recipes.

Ajoblanco recipe

Creamy garlic soup topped with mushroom is one of the oldest ways to cool off in Madrid!
The traditional ajoblanco is the original cold Spanish soup!

Spanish Summer Recipes: Salads

Ensalada Mixta

Vegetarians might be surprised to learn in Spain that your typical Spanish mixed salad isn’t a vegetarian dish—it usually includes tuna! Our recipe is no exception, but the beauty of this recipe is that you can customize it to your heart’s content.

Ensalada mixta recipe

We love a simple ensalada mixta during the summer months. Lettuce topped with tomato, tuna, egg and more is one of our favorite Spanish summer recipes.
The classic ensalada mixta is delicious, no matter what combination of ingredients you employ.

Ventresca Salad

We’re back with the tuna! Ventresca is tuna belly, one of Spain’s gourmet tinned goods that will make you re-think your whole relationship with canned tuna. This fresh salad pairs it with blood orange and avocado to bring out the flavors in each ingredient.

Ventresca, blood orange and avocado salad recipe

Refreshing salads like this tuna belly, avocado, and blood orange one, are some of our favorite Spanish summer recipes.
Ventresca will make you think twice about canned tuna!

Ensalada Malagueña

Ensalada malagueña is a summer salad of potatoes, oranges, cod and olives. It’s a refreshing salad with Moorish origins. This surprising combination is incredibly helpful in keeping locals – and visitors – cool during the hot summer months..

Ensalada malagueña recipe

Papas Aliñás

If you want to get particular, “papas aliñás” are really patatas aliñadas—but it’s a recipe from Cádiz and that’s just too many syllables! Papas aliñás are potatoes “dressed” in olive oil and tuna, and they’re perfect for a summer day.

Papas aliñás recipe

Zanahorias Aliñadas

Cousin of the above papas aliñás, these marinated carrots are vinegary, garlicky, and one of our absolute favorite Spanish summer recipes.

Zanahorias aliñadas recipe

Ensaladilla Rusa

Step up your potato salad game by bringing Spanish potato salad (or is it Russian?!) to your next barbecue! Potatoes, tuna, hard boiled egg, peas, carrots and lots of mayonnaise come together to make this summer classic.

Ensaladilla rusa recipe

Ensaladilla rusa is one of the best Spanish summer recipes because it's so simple and delicious.
A cool tapa of Spanish potato salad straight from the fridge is sure to keep you cool during the summer.

Spanish Summer Recipes: Seafood

Boquerones en Vinagre

If you think you don’t like anchovies but you’ve never tried boquerones en vinagre, we beseech you to withhold your judgement and give them a try. And if you still don’t like them afterwards—sorry, we can’t be friends.

Boquerones en vinagre recipe

Boquerones en vinagre are one of our favorite Spanish summer recipes, though truth be told, they aren't the most simple!
The vinegary punch of marinated anchovies is great all year round, but we especially love it during the summer.

Gambas Cocidas

There’s a wealth of delicious fresh shrimp to be found at your local Spanish fish market, and they’re best enjoyed simply. Boil them up, pair with cold beer or manzanilla sherry, and enjoy on a terrace. Best. Summer. Day.

Gambas cocidas recipe

Gambas cocidas are one of the Spanish summer recipes that we couldn't live without. We love a simple mountain of shrimp with lemon, like in this picture.
Simple is best when it comes to gambas cocidas.

Spanish Summer Recipes: Drinks

Tinto de Verano

You’ve heard all about sangría, we’re sure. But tinto de verano is the local’s choice for a refreshing summer wine cooler. It doesn’t get much simpler than red wine + lemon soda, but if you need a recipe, we’ve got you covered.

Tinto de verano recipe

Person's hand holding a glass of a red wine cocktail garnished with a lemon slice.
A refreshing tinto de verano is in store for these hot summer days.

Summer Sangría

This super fruity and light sangría is perfect for a summer cookout. As an added bonus, you can serve it on the Fourth of July because of the red, white and blue fruit included!

Summer sangría recipe

This sangría is the perfect Spanish summer recipe for all those beautiful days spent outside.
We don’t usually order sangría while out, but we do love to take it to cookouts with friends!

Cherry Ginger Gin and Tonic

If you’re surprised to see a gin and tonic on this list of Spanish summer recipes, then you clearly don’t know that Spain was the country that consumed the most gin in the whole world in 2017! Join the Spanish gin-tonic craze with this cooling cherry ginger combo.

Cherry ginger gin and tonic recipe

Make your own refreshing gin and tonic this summer, like one of the three pictured here! Our recipe is for a delicious version with cherry and ginger.
Gin tonic is the unofficial cocktail of Spain.

0 Comment

  1. Cindy says
    July 26, 2018 at 9:39 am

    Looks delicious!!

    1. Devour Tours says
      July 26, 2018 at 10:30 am

      You’re right about that!

  2. Dee says
    May 1, 2019 at 10:46 pm

    Do bars serve non-alcoholic drinks or cocktails? My husband and I are visiting Madrid in July, one of the hottest months, I believe. My husband would definitely enjoy some cerveza and rioja. As for me, it would be great to enjoy refreshing drinks without alcohol.

    1. Devour Tours says
      May 3, 2019 at 3:55 pm

      Bars definitely serve things like water and soft drinks. Most traditional bars will barely serve cocktails at all, and definitely not non-alcoholic cocktails. Newer/more trendy spots and dedicated cocktail bars would be a good bet for that! One non-alcoholic drink you can find at more traditional spots in “mosto,” grape juice from the winemaking process before fermenting! Enjoy!

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