10 Easy Spanish Dishes

Ready in an hour (or less).

December 2022 – The Spanish Radish Blog

One of the best things about Spanish dishes is that so many of them are quick and easy to make. With a focus on fresh, flavorsome ingredients, you can still whip up delicious dishes in under one hour. 

We’ve chosen 10 of the best that might surprise you with their simplicity but we promise they’re all tasty. From tempting tapas dishes to hearty winter warmers, come on a cooking extravaganza that everyone can join.

Here are our top 10 easy Spanish Dishes ready in under 1 hour!

1. Catalan Fish Stew in Romesco Sauce (Romesco de Peix)

This is an absolute classic from the region of Catalonia. Don’t be fooled by such a quick cook time for a stew (total time 30 minutes), it’s a guaranteed flavor sensation that will have guests demanding a second or third helping. 

It combines white fish fillets with a rich romesco sauce. You can use any white fish you choose and the homemade sauce includes paprika, lightly toasted nuts, garlic, and more…Always serve with plenty of fresh bread as this recipe deserves a good mop-up! 

Go to the full romesco de peix recipe here

2. Spanish Garlic Soup (Sopa de Ajo)

Garlic soup you ask? Yes, and it works. The garlic is gently fried so not bitter or overpowering but it’s still a rich and complex dish with special ingredients like sherry vinegar and smoked paprika. Plus, it will take you 30 minutes from start to finish. 

Traditionally, the soup calls for chicken broth but we make it with vegetable broth to make a vegetarian option and the result is virtually the same. Like the Chinese egg drop soup, Spanish garlic soup has whisked eggs slowly poured into the steaming soup, making this a great main meal option or a small side or starter (and it’s filling!). 

Go to the full Spanish garlic soup recipe here

3. Spanish Garlic Zucchini (Calabacin al Ajillo)

This Spanish garlic zucchini dish can be a tapas or a side. We often grate some parmesan or cured manchego over the top but you can make this vegan by omitting the cheese or using your favorite vegan hard cheese. 

Ready in 45 minutes it’s healthy, tasty, and sure to become a staple in your home! This recipe is perfect for midweek dinners, or as a side to your favorite meat, poultry, or seafood dish. 

Go to the full Spanish garlic zucchini recipe

4. Chickpea Stew (Potaje de Garbanzos)

This 50-minute / 1-pot vegan recipe is a winner. Throw some gorgeous-looking veggies and chickpeas in a pot with plenty of herbs and spices and you’re set. 

Along with being super tasty, it’s also really healthy so a win-win. It also freezes well, so why not make a big batch so it’s ready when you need instant comfort food?

Go to the full chickpea stew recipe

5. Smoky Sweet Potato & Chorizo

It’s all in the name here, you get a smoky flavor from the chorizo and smoked paprika along with the sweetness of the potatoes. Flavor explosion ready in one pot in just 30 minutes! 

The prep time is just 5 minutes too so literally chuck all your ingredients in one big pot and wait for greatness. The Spanish really have it down with the key ingredients in this dish, hence you’ll find smoked paprika sprinkled throughout a lot of our recipes. 

Go to the full smoky sweet potato & chorizo recipe

6. Poor Man’s Potatoes (Patatas a lo Pobre)

There’s nothing poor about this dish except in the name. A winning combination of easy-to-find ingredients makes this recipe not only taste spectacular but also very easy to make. Great as a side or a main, it’s vegan, healthy, and utterly delicious. 

While recipes vary, this dish has six core ingredients. We use 10 and invite you to experiment too because it’s quite versatile and a great way to use up any seasonal root veg lying around and spruce them up. 

Go to the full poor man’s potatoes recipe

7. Spanish Seafood Pie

We’ve taken a traditional British fish pie and given it a Spanish twist. This is the ultimate winter comfort food and it’s impossible not to reach for a second helping! 

Just about any seafood works in this recipe as we’ve tried it plenty of ways. We used cod, haddock, salmon, and mussels here, which is probably our favorite. But honestly, a bag of frozen mixed seafood also delivers great results too. It’s all in the heavenly creamy sauce and all of the extra herbs and spices. 

Is this a lose-weight kind of meal? Afraid not. This is a treat or something to make to warm the crowd on a cold winter’s day. Although, it’s loaded with plenty of nutritious ingredients so there’s no need to feel guilty about enjoying this fantastic recipe from time to time. 

Go to the full Spanish seafood pie recipe

8. Chicken and Chorizo Stew

Looking for a quick one-pot recipe with oodles of flavor? Then this is for you. Ready in 35 minutes, this dish combines classic Spanish flavors, including a decent splash of Spanish sherry to help soften the meat and enhance flavor. 

It contains plenty of lentils making a filling meal all on its own. Mop up the sauce with lots of fresh bread. 

Go to the full chicken and chorizo stew recipe

9. Canarian Wrinkly Potatoes (Papas Arrugadas)

Canarian wrinkly potatoes (from the Canary Islands) come with mojo verde and a spicy mojo picón sauce. Now, if you’ve never tried these sauces, shoot this straight to the top of your to-do list. 

Mojo sauces are ridiculously delicious, so much so that when we have friends over they head straight to the fridge, hunting for the sauces (you always need some lying around). Mojo is great with wrinkly potatoes, but also ideal as a dip with some fresh bread. 

For this authentic Papas Arrugadas recipe, the mojos are served with potatoes that have been boiled in very salty water. It’s a fun tapas to make and tasty. Vegan, ready in 45 minutes, and colorful to the max, it’s great when friends come around and even for larger party sizes. 

Go to the full Canarian wrinkly potatoes recipe

10. Spanish Seafood Stew (Suquet de peix)

Originating from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea from the Catalonia and Valencia regions, this scrumptious stew may be all you need this winter. It’s ready in 45 minutes but if you want to make your own fish stock (details in the recipe) leave an extra 30 minutes. 

This seafood dish takes full advantage of Spanish smoked paprika and saffron to elevate the seafood and vegetables to the next level.

This recipe often uses potato to bulk up the seafood, but this recipe is also great served with plenty of fresh white bread to encourage a good mop-up of the delicious stew sauce. 

Go to the full Spanish seafood stew recipe