Happy International Bread Day! On October 16th we like to shed light onto this day to celebrate Spanish culture. Why? How could bread possibly be related to the luxury country property real estate market? Well let me tell you that it has absolutely nothing to do with the market itself. However, it has absolutely everything to do with the Spanish culture that you buy into. If you are thinking of investing in Andalucía, Spain, then you will definitely want to know more about the local traditions and cultures. Stay tuned to learn more about our use of Bread!
Bread as a form of culture
Bread is more than just bread. It is a cultural icon, a symbol of community, and a versatile ingredient that Spaniards hold close to their hearts. In Spanish culture, bread is not just a simple form of nourishment, but bread has found its way into our every day life. It enriches our culinary traditions in more ways than you can possibly imagine.
A Morning Ritual: Bread for Breakfast
In Spain, breakfast isn’t complete without bread. A slice of crusty baguette or a tender rústico paired with a steaming cup of coffee or refreshing orange juice kickstarts the day. Have you ever gone to a local bar and see Spaniards ordering oatmeal? Or even yogurt? No sir. In Spain, Andalucía, we order una tostada for breakfast. This tradition has deep roots in our history, as well as our hearts. You choose whether you want it with just fresh tomato and olive oil, or if you want it with ham, with paté, with manchego cheese, with chorizo, with salami, with chicken….
Lunch with the best companion
In Spanish culture, we have incredibly diverse dishes for lunch. If we think about warmer times, we tend to choose light meals such as fish, salads, gazpacho, etc. During the colder season, we love serving all kinds of soups, stews, meat with chestnuts and mushrooms… Throughout the entire year, we love serving rice dishes, with Paella being the most famous and delicious one! And can you already guess what we use to dip in the soups and to scrape our plates clean? Bread! In spanish culture bread really is our best companion!
Meriendas: The Sweet and Savoury Baguette
Midday snacks, or meriendas, often feature a delicious slice of bread, or what we like to call, a baguette with a twist. Spaniards enjoy inserting a whole Nestlé chocolate bar inside a fresh baguette—creating a quick, satisfying treat that balances sweetness and bread’s comforting texture. It’s a true testament to Spain’s inventive spirit and love for turning simple ingredients into delightful surprises.
Bread: The Ultimate Culinary Chameleon
Bread is not just an accompaniment; it’s an ingredient in countless dishes. Spaniards incorporate it into various meals either to create texture or to use it as a thickener. Probably the most common, and not only in Spanish culture, are the picatostes, aka croutons. Frying up some old bread and serving it with some delicious creamy soup. Another classic one, is bread as a thickener in the famous Salmorejo Cordobés. Slightly different from the traditional Gazpacho recipe, but adding bread to the recipe, creates a delicious texture.
Another fun one for the books is something we like to call “Sweet Pudding”, pudin dulce de pan. What you do is simply add extra milk to old bread, eggs and sugar. Vanilla extract or cinnamon for additional flavour. Blend and mix it well, and put it in the oven for a delicious spanish traditional highlight.
Spanish Culture enriching your tastebuds
There are so many different delicious recipes in Spanish cuisine that we could write an entire book about it. But below we highlight the crème de la crème. We know you are a real Spanish culture connoisseur if you know of the famous Torrijas. They are similar to French toast, or wentelteefjes (in Dutch). Delicious slices of bread soaked in rich milk, fried, and sprinkled with sugar, cinnamon… This is an easy try-at-home recipe. Migas de Pan is an interesting one, especially down south in Andalucía. Literally, referring to sautéed breadcrumbs, with some vegetables and meat. A great one pot meal.
Spain doesn’t only create fantastic recipes, but they celebrate their own heritage. They put their fresh produce on a pedestal, and that is why they are able to make something great, out of just bread. So, embrace the joy of bread in all its forms. Explore, experiment, and savour the endless possibilities. Because in Spain, bread isn’t just eaten—it’s celebrated.
If you want to celebrate with us, from your very own new Andalusian home, make sure to check out which properties we have for sale now! Contact us directly for more information: [email protected] or call +34 608 577 696.
Danielle Ernstsen | 16th October 2025
