A Guide to Seville’s Food and Traditional Dishes

Seville’s food is a sensory experience that captures the essence of southern Spain. Its flavours reflect centuries of history and a fusion of cultures that have left their mark on every dish. This guide to Seville’s gastronomy is your passport to the Andalusian capital’s culinary treasures.

To explore these flavours with a local guide, compare our food tours and wine experiences in Seville.

Typical dishes to try in Seville

Seville is famous for its Andalusian cooking, a blend of flavours with dishes that have become icons of local food culture. Here are some you should try:

• Cazón aliñado: marinated dogfish with a flavourful seasoning that wins you over at the first bite.
• Pescaíto frito: a selection of small fish fried until crisp and golden.
• Andalusian gazpacho: the classic chilled soup, refreshing and nutritious.
• Cod in tomato sauce: a delicious combination of flavours.

These dishes are only an introduction to Seville’s rich culinary culture, known for recipes filled with history and flavour.

Which chilled soups are most popular in Seville?

Chilled soups provide relief under Seville’s sun and have become a symbol of its cooking. Here are the favourites:

1. Gazpacho: a balance of tomatoes, peppers, cucumber and olive oil.
2. Salmorejo: thicker than gazpacho, made with bread, tomato and garlic and topped with ham and hard-boiled egg.
3. Ajoblanco: an almond, garlic and bread emulsion served with grapes or melon.

These refreshing soups capture Andalusian tradition and offer an escape from the summer heat.

Traditional Seville desserts to try

Desserts deserve their own chapter in any guide to Seville’s food. Discover these characteristic sweets:

• Torrijas: bread soaked in milk or wine, fried and sweetened with honey or sugar.
• Yemas de San Leandro: handmade sweets made from egg yolk and sugar.
• Pestiños: fried pastries associated with Holy Week, flavoured with aniseed and honey.

These desserts are part of local tradition and a sweet way to finish a meal.

Which cultures have influenced Sevillian food?

Seville’s cooking draws on the cultures that have inhabited Andalusia. Greek, Roman, Arab and Jewish influences have left their mark on the way food is understood and enjoyed. Every dish tells a story, passing a cultural legacy from one generation to the next.

What do people drink with food in Seville?

The food experience is completed by its accompanying drinks. Sherry, manzanilla and fino are excellent places to start. There is also local Cruzcampo beer, served very cold, and rebujito: manzanilla or fino mixed with 7UP, a favourite at the April Fair.

Frequently asked questions about Seville’s food

What is Seville’s traditional dish?

Cazón aliñado is a characteristic local dish, while pescaíto frito and gazpacho are also emblems of Sevillian cooking. Each reflects the region’s identity and love of authentic flavours.

Which fish is eaten in Seville?

Dogfish is particularly characteristic, alongside fried fish and seafood such as wedge sole, anchovies and squid. Quality and freshness are essential to Sevillian cooking.

To complement this guide to Seville’s gastronomy, watch the following video showing the preparation of some of the city’s best-known dishes:

Sevillian food is a flavour adventure every visitor should experience. From typical dishes to traditional desserts, the city delights every palate. Explore a place that tastes of history, culture and a passion for good food.

TOP 10 DISHES TO TRY

These dishes offer a taste of the region’s flavour, history and culture:

1. Gazpacho

• Description: a chilled soup made with tomato, pepper, cucumber, onion, garlic, bread, olive oil, vinegar and salt. Refreshing and perfect for Seville’s hot summer days.
• Interesting fact: gazpacho is popular throughout Andalusia; Sevillian versions can have a softer, creamier touch.

2. Salmorejo

• Description: similar to gazpacho but thicker and creamier, made mainly with tomato, bread, garlic, olive oil and vinegar. Served with chopped hard-boiled egg and Iberian ham.
• Interesting fact: originating in Córdoba, salmorejo has been adopted and adapted in Seville.

3. Pescaíto frito

• Description: small fish and seafood, such as anchovies, squid and dogfish, coated in flour and fried in olive oil. Served hot and crisp.
• Interesting fact: an April Fair favourite, often enjoyed with a glass of manzanilla.

4. Huevos a la flamenca

• Description: eggs baked in an earthenware dish over a base of tomato, peas, peppers and chorizo.
• Interesting fact: its bright colours evoke Seville’s vibrant flamenco culture.

5. Carrillada de cerdo

• Description: pork cheeks slowly stewed in red wine or oloroso with garlic, onion and spices until tender and juicy.
• Interesting fact: a traditional hearty dish particularly enjoyed in the colder months.

6. Tortillitas de camarones

• Description: thin, crisp fritters made with chickpea and wheat flour batter mixed with tiny shrimp and fried.
• Interesting fact: originally from Cádiz, they are also appreciated in Seville, especially near the river.

7. Chickpeas with spinach

• Description: a classic of Lent in Seville, made with spinach, chickpeas, garlic, paprika, cumin and a little vinegar.
• Interesting fact: a good example of Arab influence in Andalusian cooking.

8. Cazón en adobo

• Description: strips of dogfish, a small shark, marinated in vinegar, paprika, garlic and oregano, then coated and fried.
• Interesting fact: also called “bienmesabe”, it is a classic in Seville’s tapas bars.

9. Solomillo al whisky

• Description: pork tenderloin slices cooked in a sauce of whisky, garlic and lemon juice.
• Interesting fact: an example of outside influences entering Sevillian cooking through an international spirit.

10. Flamenquín

Interesting fact: originating in Córdoba, it has become a familiar dish in Seville’s taverns and bars.

Description: pork loin rolled around serrano ham, breaded and fried, often served with chips and salad.

Sevillian gastronomy is an adventure in flavour every visitor should experience. Its typical dishes and traditional desserts delight the palate with history, culture and a passion for good food.

Explore an itinerary capturing the essence of this southern Spanish gem in our three-day Seville guide.

For a different souvenir, visit our online shop.