If you’re planning your next trip to Mallorca and love discovering the local cuisine, here’s a guide to the island’s must-try traditional dishes. These authentic Mallorcan specialties are all incredibly delicious.
In recent years, there’s been a revival of traditional cooking and a renewed appreciation for the island’s culinary roots. Mallorca boasts excellent products, a deep love for fresh produce, and a fondness for spices. This island spirit of self-sufficiency and creative cooking has given rise to a variety of savory pastries and a wide array local delicatessen. Mallorcan cuisine is also influenced by the diverse cultures that have passed through over the centuries, including Arabs, Jews, French, and English. With a rich variety of farm-fresh and seafood ingredients, their traditional recipes offer a unique blend of flavors.
Here are the essentials to ensure you take home a delicious memory:
Tumbet – This dish is a tribute to fresh vegetables, similar to La Mancha’s pisto or Catalonia’s sanfaina. In France, it’s called ratatouille, and in Sicily, caponata. Traditionally, pine nuts and raisins are added.
Cocas – A prime example of Mallorca’s savory pastries, cocas are a must-try. They resemble pizza but have a different texture and no cheese. A dough base is topped with various seasonal fillings. In summer, the “trampó” coca, with a salad of peppers, tomatoes, and onions, is especially popular. It’s baked and ready to eat.
Empanadas – These Mallorcan empanadas trace back to Jewish cuisine, made with unleavened bread, lard, and/or sobrasada. They can be filled with meat, chicken, peas, and countless other ingredients that will make your mouth water.
Arrós Brut – This dish varies widely, with each family having its own recipe. It always includes brothy rice with ingredients like game meat (rabbit, chicken, or pork), mushrooms, and vegetables.
Frito Mallorquín – A hearty dish traditionally made with lamb offal, though pork can also be used, mixed with various vegetables like potatoes, onions, tomatoes, red peppers, peas, garlic, bay leaves, and fennel.
Sobrasada – Made from pork, black pepper, and paprika, sobrasada is prepared during the island’s pig slaughtering season (matanza). It’s deliciously spread on bread or in a sandwich, sometimes even warmed up with melted cheese.
Caldereta de Langosta – This traditional fisherman’s dish is a lobster stew with a sofrito base of tomatoes, onions, peppers, garlic, and spices. The sauce is perfect for dipping bread—you can´t miss it!
Ensaimada and Valldemossa Potato Cakes – Along with sobrasada, ensaimada is one of Mallorca’s most famous dishes. This sweet pastry dates back to the 17th century and is made with flour, water, eggs, sugar, and lard. You can find them plain or filled with angel hair (a type of pumpkin jam), and there are even versions filled with sobrasada. Valldemossa potato cakes are perfect for dipping in hot chocolate or coffee. Don’t miss these when you visit Valldemossa, one of the most beautiful inland villages in Mallorca.
After a day filled with culinary adventures and unforgettable dishes, it’s a perfect time to return to your hotel, take a refreshing swim, and enjoy the sunset from the terrace. You might enjoy the Vibra Beverly Playa or Vibra Palma Cactus, known for their comfort, great value, and excellent locations on the island. Their wonderful facilities will enhance your stay, making your Mallorcan experience even more memorable.