If you've been following our Spanish blogs to date, you'll know that we were really excited about sampling some of the most famous, and more niche, Spanish foods made vegan. Spanish cuisine is so iconic, and we were positively giddy at the chance to try some of these famous dishes in their home land. The first thing we tried, when visiting the beautiful city of Córdoba, was the cold soup that was born there, salmorejo. Even though Córdoba is a slightly less common part of the tourist trail, there was so much to do and see here - I particularly enjoyed visiting some of the recently excavated Roman ruins!
We were really impressed by the range of vegan offerings to be found in Cordoba. While there were fewer places to eat than in some of the bigger cities, what we found there was both delicious and convenient - and the prices were really good too! Now, one of the foods that I was most excited to try in the whole of Spain was empanadas... and we were so happy to discover some vegan empanadas that not only looked and smelled amazing (like seriously, after we'd seen them, it was hard to wait until we had our video camera!) but also were so conveniently located right in the centre of the tourist area! These empanadas are literally only a few metres from the Mezquita - which is a must see while you're in the city. I genuinely can't wait to share them with you!
But wait, what exactly are empanadas?
These delicious filled pastry parcels are known worldwide, but did you know that they originally come from Spain? The first known mention of these in print was in the 1500s, but it is thought that the empanada was eaten in Spain from the 1300s. Back then, these pastries were filled with seafood, but as time has gone on, their fillings have become far more diverse!
The humble empanada spread across the world through a particular association with former Spanish colonies, and is now more famously associated with Argentina - though it is a strong part of cuisine in Venezuela, Belize, Ecuador, Brazil, Chile, Indonesia, El Salvador, France, Sicily, the USA, and the Philippines too. Each country has its own version of the dish, and what it is filled with - though the shape may differ considerably, the empanada is always a pastry, with a tasty filling at its heart. The Spanish empanadas that we tried in Córdoba were more rectangular, with a flaky pastry. We can't wait to try more empanadas across the world!
Where did we try vegan empanadas in Córdoba?
We headed to Manolas, a specialist empanada bakery, which is so conveniently located. I can almost guarantee that if you are heading to see the tourist sights in Córdoba, you will pass Manolas! This is a grab and go place, so when you visit the Mezquita you'll almost certainly see people sitting on the outer ledge eating empanadas from Manolas.
This place is super popular for a reason. They have a big menu outside listing all the different empanadas that they offer - and a couple listed on specials boards inside too! The menu is really clearly labelled with allergens, and the many vegetarian and several vegan options are highlighted on this board too. They had four vegan flavours in total when we visited; we opted for one of their meal deal boxes, in which we could select three empanadas and a drink for a special price. Whether it's just you, or you're travelling with friends or a big family, they offer box sizes from 2 to 12 empanadas! You can, of course, just head in and pick up one empanada too - I dare you to walk into this bakery, smell that pastry, and leave without one! I would have found that impossible!!
So come on - tell us all about the empanadas! How did they taste?
My mouth was watering when we opened our box of three empanadas - genuinely, I could not wait to try these! Both of us are big pastry lovers (this is a pretty common thing among Brits, I think, we love a good pasty!)
Of the three vegan empanadas we tried, we started with the vegan bolognese and quinoa empanada. This one started the tasting off on a really strong note. The sauce was rich and tomatoey, and packed with vegetables, quinoa, and imitation mince. Minced beef is a pretty common empanada filling nowadays, so it was great to try this plant-based version of one of the world's faves. The filling to pasty ratio was strong, with neither overpowering the other: the filling was really tasty, and the pastry soft yet crisp and deliciously buttery. Genuinely, this empanada melted in the mouth - and I was a big fan of the seeds that decorated the top, too.
Next we moved onto the wok fried veg and soy sauce empanada. The crunchy veggies were really tasty, and this was a pretty cool fusion of European and Asian delicacies. Honestly, it was overshadowed in our minds by the bolognese one - the latter was just so much more flavoursome, so our tastebuds were a little underwhelmed by the wok fried veg empanada. But that's not to say it wasn't a good choice, it was yummy in its own respect. Just if we were to try these again, we would have eaten this one first!
Our third and final empanada was my favourite though... I have a sweet tooth, so jumped at the opportunity to try a sweet empanada. The apple, walnut, and sultana empanada really earned a special place in my heart. This pastry is so versatile, it works perfectly topped with seeds for the savoury empanadas, and topped with sugar and cinnamon for the sweet ones! This one was filled with juicy chunks of apple, crunchy walnuts, and sultanas that were bursting with flavour - I could have kept eating this all day, it was so delicious!
How much did the empanadas cost - and were they worth it?
The individual prices of the empanadas differed slightly depending on how fancy your choice of filling was. The wok fried veg empanada and the apple empanada were both priced at €3.50 each (approx. £2.99 or $3.80); the more premium bolognese empanada, meanwhile, was €3.90 (approx. £3.33 or $4.24).
For a hearty pastry that filled us well and set our tastebuds alight, we thought that these prices were really good. Especially since we got the three, along with a drink from their fridge, for the meal deal price of €10.90 (approx. £9.30 or $11.85). This food was convenient (probably the most convenient vegan option you'll find in Córdoba), it was tasty, and it was a fun cultural experience too. What's not to love?
Have you tried vegan empanadas in Spain? Or elsewhere in the world! Where did you go and what did you think of them? Let us know in the comments below.
Recommendations
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Where should I stay?
After our trip to Barcelona, we were relieved to discover that accommodation is much more affordable in Andalusia! Córdoba is full of quaint hotels with great reputations, at reasonable prices. One of the most highly rated hotels is Patios del Orfebre which offers clean and comfortable rooms close to some of the best tourist attractions. For even more affordability, there are lots of great hostels in Córdoba. Líbere Córdoba Patio Santa Marta is really highly rated across the board, with a choice of private or dorm rooms, a pool, and newly refurbished, modern facilities - including simple smartphone check in - with a really convenient location too.
Tours & Experiences
Córdoba is the ancestral home of flamenco, and while we were in the city we visited Tablao El Cardenal for their flamenco show. This authentic courtyard performance wowed us both: the performers were so talented, and this booking link provides you with a free drink too! We had the sangria and very much recommend it!
There's so much to see and do in Córdoba though, so if flamenco isn't for you, why not check out some of the top-rated Viator tours displayed in the widget on the left!
Please note that the tours displayed on the left are automatically selected for their popularity by Viator, not chosen or recommended by us. Please check whether any food or drink based tours are suitable for your dietary requirements, and any animal-based experiences are ethical, before booking!
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