El Faro de Triana in Sevilla, not only serves up delicious prawns, it has a great Semana Santa vantage point to watch the processions. © Michelle Chaplow |
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Easter Food
Guide to Holy Week / Semana Santa in Andalucia
Semana Santa processions explained in detail
(the hooded figures) are available in local pastelerias.
Semana Santa, like any other festival, has its own special flavours and this is especially during this week because traditionally Catholics are not supposed to eat meat. A great time for seafood.
The exact dishes will vary to some degree depending on where you are celebrating in Andalucia. However, you can expect local "Menus of the Day" to feature fish and vegetables. The Andalucian garbanzos con bacalao (chickpea and cod stew) is a favourite in many areas as well as a vegetarian dish called garbanzos con espinacas (chickpeas with spinach, which usually has a lot of garlic and is a wonderfully tasty way to eat spinach).
A favourite dessert during Holy Week in Andalucia is rice pudding, arroz con leche, and you can expect most local bakeries to be offering torrijas. These are slices of bread dipped in egg then soaked in wine or milk, fried and sweetened with sugar and sprinkled with cinnamon. Another typical sweet at this time of year is the pestiño (fried, honey-glazed pastries).
It's worth asking locals of any village you visit to point out their favourite Holy Week specials on any menu or at the bakery. You may have the once-a-year chance to try things most tourists miss out on. It's also a great way to practice your Spanish and mix with the locals, as food is one of the Spaniard's most loved topics of conversation!
Guide to gastronomy in Andalucia
Guide to Holy Week / Semana Santa in Andalucia
Semana Santa processions explained in detail