What to eat in Toledo? Our Top 10 culinary specialties of the city

1. Tapas

Who here doesn't love these delicious appetizers called tapas? These appetizers have their roots in Spanish cuisine and are among the most widespread dishes in kitchens all over the world. In the city of Toledo, you'll have the opportunity to taste tapas almost everywhere: it's rare to find a restaurant that doesn't serve these little treats. The filling? It's like Spanish cuisine: varied! You'll have a wide choice: charcuterie; cheese; seasonal vegetables; fish; olives... There's something for everyone!

2. Judías de Ávila

Judías de Ávila are actually large dried beans highly appreciated in the Toledo region. White in color and larger than average beans, these are easily recognizable and constitute the typical accompaniment to many dishes. Want a tip for preparing this simple and delicious recipe? It's best to cook the beans fresh, or soak them the night before. The taste will be even better and the beans will be both soft and tender.

3. Yemas de Ávila

Time for some sweets. Yemas de Ávila are a Spanish confectionery highly appreciated in the Ávila region, and more broadly throughout Spain. In fact, in Spanish, "yemas" means "egg yolk": one of the main ingredients for preparing this unique dish. In the morning, when you start your day, Ryo strongly advises you to go to one of Toledo's bakeries to savor these creamy pastries dusted with powdered sugar. The recipe is still carefully guarded and secret, passed down from generation to generation.

4. Partridge Pâté

Gastronomy in Toledo is based on dishes with pronounced flavors, and partridge pâté is the perfect illustration. Much consumed during the Middle Ages period, partridge pâté is one of the oldest dishes, but still current and highly appreciated in the city of Toledo. Originally, its composition was made from minced meat or fish cooked in pastry. In Spain, partridge pâté is eaten with onions, eggs, and spices. Everything is baked and served with bacon slices and bay leaves.

5. Garlic Soup

No, no, don't leave! How do you know you don't like it without even having tasted it? Garlic soup is one of the traditional dishes of the city of Toledo. It's usually prepared in a clay bowl and eaten at the end of the year, when temperatures start to cool down. What does this soup contain? Garlic of course, oil, ham, paprika, bread, eggs... And the star product: ñoras. These are dried peppers with a rounded shape, typical of Spanish cuisine.

6. Cuchifrito

Originally from Segovia, cuchifrito has spread to many Spanish regions, and Toledo is no exception. It's actually a mixture of several foods fried in olive oil and garlic. If you love the delicate flavor of roasted suckling pig, tender inside and crispy outside, then you'll be happy to taste this dish with the accompaniment of your choice. Very easy to prepare, the dish is generally composed of lamb, pork, and goat, which first go through double cooking before being fried to better tenderize the meat.

7. Toledo-Style Rice

Rice is one of the most eaten and widespread foods, easily found in all world cuisines. During your stay, put aside the traditional white rice we all know, to adopt Toledo-style rice. This one is prepared with chicken, squid, and mushrooms. We also find certain other garnishes, which we leave you the opportunity to discover once your first spoonful of this delicious dish is absorbed. Very easy to cook, it will undoubtedly be a recipe you'll want to make after your stay.

8. Gazpacho

We absolutely had to include in this ranking one of the most typical recipes of Spain, making the country's worldwide reputation. Gazpacho is a traditional cold soup found in practically all Spanish regions. It's a very healthy dish, based on garlic, peppers, and tomatoes. Very light and appetizing, it's somewhat the typical dish that restaurants proudly display at the top of their menu when it starts to get warm and temperatures rise.

9. Tinto de Verano

Here is very certainly THE star drink of all Spain. Tinto de Verano is a beverage that is savored slowly, and particularly during summer. Everywhere you go in Toledo, in bars and restaurants, you'll have the opportunity to drink this nectar with such a sweet and refreshing taste. Locals and tourists love it and enjoy tasting it with a small sweet specialty. The freshness of fruits marries perfectly with the combination of red wine and soda, and delights your taste buds even more. It's the ideal drink for your little summer breaks, during your visit.

10. Caldereta

To finish this somewhat succulent ranking, here is Caldereta. A seafood dish eaten in Spain, but this time with lamb from the Toledo region. The meat is carefully simmered with garlic, tomato, onions, pepper, peppers, but also white wine. It's a meal highly appreciated among visitors to the city, who are always happy to savor tender meat mixed with several ingredients all as succulent as each other.