6 Street Foods You Have to Try in Mallorca, Spain

The coca de trampó is one of the most typical snacks in Mallorcan cuisine. Similar to the Italian pizza without cheese, and with a pastry crust (the “coca”) more like that of a quiche, it certainly makes for an easy, on-the-go belly filler. Typically, these deliciously colorful slices are covered with a topping (the “trampo”) of thin little chunks of roasted red and green peppers, white onions, tomatoes and fresh parsley. Head to the boisterous Santa Catalina Market on a Saturday morning to sample this dish shoulder-to-shoulder with locals.

Tumbet is similar to that of a French ratatouille or Spanish pisto. It is a simple dish of gently fried vegetables topped with homemade tomato sauce and baked slowly in the oven. Alongside huge pans of simmering paella at many outdoor markets, you will often see an equally large dish of tumbet on offer with fried eggs plonked on top giving the dish some extra body and vibrancy. Alternatively, on Wednesday evenings, the fancy Restaurant el Casal hosts a barbecue by their pool where you can enjoy frito Mallorquin(fried seafood) accompanied by fish tumbet packed with prawns and shellfish.

To start the day, many locals pair their coffee with a traditional pastry known as ensaïmada. This sugar-dusted delicacy is similar to the croissant and has been proudly produced on the island since the 17th century. In Catalan, the word saïm is translated as pork lard, and it’s this key ingredient that gives the treat its distinctive taste and texture. Although most ensaïmadas come just as a spiral of feather-light pastry, some bakeries stuff them with cream or chocolate for special occasions. In 2017, Palma hosted the first ever Ensaïmada World Championship and crowned the famous Forn Sant Francesc patisserie kings.

This straightforward snack consists of a thick slice of hearty moreno bread rubbed with garlic, over which comes a layer of freshly squished ramallet tomato, a drizzle of olive oil and flaked sea-salt. The Catalan variations on this dish, known as pa’ amb tomàquet, see an embellishment of either cured jamón serrano, anchovies, or slices of hard, tangy manchego cheese. Visit the hugely popular restaurant Mesón C’an Pedro in Génova, established in 1976, which is well-known for its speciality in such rustic Mallorcan fare and its gorgeous views across the countryside.

Throughout the Easter season it’s difficult to resist a photo opportunity in the small and rustic age-old bakeries throughout the island. Freshly baked, bulging panades with molten hot fillings of lamb and peas are piled high at this time of year. Recognizable by their rotund buttery pastry casing and pinched tops, these take-away delights scream “comfort-food.” Tuck into a couple of these wholesome meat pies from the renowned Al Fornet de la Soca bakery and you will not be disappointed, or hungry for long.