The great cuisine of Spain relies on Mediterranean flavors - garlic, olives and olive oil, tomatoes, and a memorable thin-sliced ham, peppers, rustic breads, and world-class wines. The cooking of the Iberian peninsula is probably the least known and most misunderstood of the world's great cuisines. Spanish cooking flavors are very similar to those of Italy and Provence, which Americans have come to love. But Spain blends them with the exotic tastes contributed by the Moors, who ruled Spain for almost 800 years. You will find many similarities between Spanish food and the cuisine of nearby Morocco, just across the Straits of Gibraltar.
The Moorish heritage shows up in the use of ground almonds and spices, such as saffron, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sesame, in both savory and sweet dishes. But, there are many differences. Spanish cooking makes great use of pork, ham and sausage, foods forbidden in the Muslim diet.
Spanish may be their common language, but don't expect the foods of Spain to be like Mexican or South American.
There's really no such thing as "typical" Spanish cooking. Food in Spain is a varied as its climate, cultures and geography. Most regional dishes are based on quality local ingredients and a relatively simple preparation.
The best known "tourist dish" is probably paella, a rice dish which comes from the Mediterranean area around Valencia. If you want genuine paella, you'll find it in Valencia, or (sometimes) in a specialty restaurant in Madrid or Barcelona. The typical tourist paella bears little, or no, resemblance to the real thing.
In the big cities like Madrid and Barcelona, you'll find every type of regional cuisine and some great restaurants. Despite its distance from the sea, Madrid, for example, has some of the best fish restaurants in all of Europe.
The Basque country has some of the best food anywhere. When in doubt, lamb is always a good option.
Remember that Spaniards are accustomed to dine in several courses:
Appetizer: - Cured ham, oysters, shrimp, etc.
Starter: - Soup, salad or vegetable dish
Main Course: - Meat or fish
Dessert: - Sweet fruit or cheese
Coffee: - Normally expresso-type coffee
Here is a basic list of the most typical regional dishes: