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A visit to Mallorca is a pleasure for all the senses, but there is no greater delight than discovering more about a culinary culture based on the essence of the Mediterranean. Discover a variety of balanced dishes using fresh local vegetables, succulent meat and freshly caught fish, always accompanied by the prime ingredient in the Mediterranean diet: delicious local olive oil.
The range of Mallorcan cuisine is vast, and includes dishes to satisfy all different kinds of tastes. This post describes three of the best known Mallorcan dishes that we really recommend you try if you are visiting Mallorca and want to get a taste of its authentic traditional flavour. They are also all dishes that you will find in the all-inclusive Zafiro Hotels. So now you know, make a note for your next visit!
Index
- Pa amb oli to start. Simple, but oh so tasty
- Tumbet, ideal for vegetable lovers
- Ensaimada, one of the island’s greatest treats
Pa amb oli to start. Simple, but oh so tasty
What could be better than a pa amb oli to start this culinary journey? As the name suggests, it all begins with “bread with oil”, which then has a plump tomato rubbed into its surface along with a pinch of salt, and is usually accompanied by delicious local cold cuts or a tasty cured cheese such as Mahonés to add even more Mediterranean flavour.
The secret of this simple dish? Well, there are actually two. The first is the type of bread, known locally as pan de payés or pan moreno (peasant bread or brown bread) and basically made with unsifted wheat flour. The second is the ramellet tomato, a variety that can only be found in in Mallorca.
A traditional and very popular recipe amongst the islanders, who eat it practically every day and also at any time of day. Surprisingly simple and astonishingly tasty.
Tumbet, ideal for vegetable lovers
As we mentioned, there are so many Mallorcan recipes and varieties of typical dishes that it’s really hard to choose. As an introduction to Mallorcan cuisine, however, we have selected tumbet, a delightful dish that is usually eaten in summer and is very much loved by the Mallorcan people.
The dish is a mixture of vegetables fried in olive oil, also making it ideal for vegetarians. It consists of aubergine, courgette and potato in a tomato sauce with red peppers and garlic. Why is it so special for the Mallorcans? It’s particularly popular because it uses ingredients when they are in season, giving the dish an unparalleled freshness and flavour.
The dish can be served alone or as a garnish to accompany meat or fish. Some people like to serve tumbet with a fried egg, which is also delicious!
Ensaimada, one of the island’s greatest treats
And to finish, enjoy the most typical dessert on the island: the delicious Mallorcan ensaimada This sweet pastry dessert has become a symbol of Mallorca and one of the most popular souvenirs that visitors like to take home with them. Maybe it’s the ingredients or the care and affection with which they are prepared, but the exquisiteness of the ensaimada never goes unnoticed, in spite of the simplicity of the recipe.
Did you know that you can also buy ensaimadas with a range of different fillings? Chocolate, custard, cream ... They are all delicious and, if you can, we recommend you try them both with and without the filling. Either way, it’s a delight. Another of the versions is an ensaimada pudding known as a greixonera. With a light cinnamon flavour, this is an ideal dish for hot days as it’s usually eaten chilled.
And that’s not all. If you love dessert, you will find an almost endless choice of different pleasures. Almond gató, apricot coca, cremadillo cream puff pastry turnovers... The all-inclusive service at Zafiro Hotels gives you the chance to taste a wide variety of typical local dishes and also accompany your meals with a fine Mallorcan wine or a delicious craft beer.
We always seek out superior-quality, fresh, local products to guarantee the finest flavours and ensure we create unforgettable memories of your holidays.
We hope that you like our selection of dishes. As we say here on the island, "bon profit!"
