Spanish Cooking Methods

Whilst looking at a menu in Spain, you may recognise ingredients. But if you are learning, you may find this list of Spanish cooking methods helpful too! Enjoy!

a la plancha / a la parilla – grilled / griddled
a punto – medium (esp. steak)
adobo / al adobo – deep fried / in batter
ahumado/a – smoked
al horno – in the oven / baked
asado con espeton – on the spit
asado/a – roast
bien hecho – well done (esp. steak)
brasa / a la brasa – barbecued
cacerola / en cacerola – casseroled
cazuela – casseroled
cocido al vapro – steamed
cocido/a – boiled / stewed
crudo – raw
empanado/a – breaded
en su tinta – in its ink
escabechado/a / en escabeche – pickled / marinated
estofado – stewed
fresco/a – fresh
frio/a – cold
frito/a – fried
guisado/a – stewed
gusto/a – to your taste
hervido/a – boiled
pais / del pais – local
parrilla / a la parrilla – barbecued / grilled
picado – minced
plancha / a la plancha – grilled (on a griddle)
poco hecho/a – underdone/rare (in Lanzarote I was told to order my steak “poco poco” for as blue as I liked it
rebozado/a – battered/breaded and fried
rehogado/a – sauteed
relleno/a – stuffed
romano/a – deep fried / in batter
salteado/a – sauteed
vapor / al vapor – steamed
vinagre / en vinagre – pickled

Elle Draper

Elle, along with Alan, is the owner of Spain Buddy and the busy web design business – Spain Web Design by Gandy-Draper.
Born a “Norverner”, she then spent most of her life “Dann Saff” before moving to Spain in 2006. Elle’s loves are Alan, the internet, dogs, good food, and dry white wine – although not necessarily in that order.