Majorca, one of Spain’s stunning holiday destinations, is surrounded by the vast expanse of the sparkling Mediterranean Sea. It is host to a desirable climate and a tantalizing array of delectable food, making it one place that should make it on to your must-visit list of destinations.
A foodie’s delight, Majorca is worth a visit for the food alone. Tapas, a popular type of food which consists of perfect little individual dishes in small portions, are a great option to accompany sunset drinks or share socially with friends. Above all, they are delicious and the small portions are ideal for sun-depleted appetites.
Majorcan cuisine fits the place it originates from like a glove. Lovely ripe vegetables grow flawlessly in the delectable climate are key to many Majorcan dishes. Imagine bright red, sun ripened tomatoes, crisp green lettuce leaves, and olive oil derived from the island’s superb olive-growing environment. These ingredients alongside home-cooked breads, plenty of garlic and not forgetting fine cuts of meat all combine to make the scrumptious cuisine of Majorca.
Majorcan food is rich in tradition and many of the tapas we see here today are modern versions of what was once peasant food. This food fills people up cheaply and quickly. Pork is present in most dishes of Majorca, a tradition that probably derives from the old celebration of Matanca, which is the annual winter slaughter of pigs. This highly celebrated festival marks the slaughter of pigs for the year and during the festivities, sausages and hams are made or cured.
You can find a variety of scrumptious sausages on offer in Majorca. A really famous one is a mix of mixed pork and hot red peppers. You can find hot red peppers in many other tapas dishes, too. Cured meats are popular as they were traditionally easily kept as they did not have to be refrigerated.
This tradition of sausages lives on; Botifarro and Chorizo are both popular types today which are cured pork with various spices. Jamon Serrano is available in many parts of Spain but derives from this region, and consists of an entire ham that has been cured and placed attractively on a chopping board.
Old fashioned offal is a required taste but one which has lived on in this part of the world. Find it fried up with onions and tomatoes in many traditional restaurants in Majorca. Just ask for Frit Mallorqui. The Majorcan version of ratatouille is also highly delectable and usually found on the menu next to other classics like Mallorquines, a kind of savoury bread and butter pudding. It consists of layered brown bread and vegetables in a thick soup.
Fish is a popular dish here but is not usually locally caught. Instead fish comes from elsewhere and is imported to Majorca. There is still an extensive selection including lobster, prawns and sea bass. Be warned that because of import costs, customers will pay more than they will for the widely available counterpart, pork. If you love fish, you must try the Majorcan speciality of fish with rock salt, which is truly delicious.