Affordable Spanish Gourmet: 12 Stunning Meals Under $12 Using Budget Ingredients

🇪🇸 1. Spanish Garlic Shrimp (Gambas al Ajillo)

Ingredients:

• 1 lb raw shrimp, peeled and deveined

• 4–5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

• Salt

• Lemon wedges (optional)

Instructions:

1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.

2. Add garlic and red pepper flakes, cook until fragrant (about 1 minute).

3. Add shrimp and sauté until pink and cooked through (about 2–3 minutes per side).

4. Season with salt, sprinkle with parsley, and serve with lemon wedges and crusty bread.

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🥔 2. Tortilla Española (Spanish Potato Omelette)

Ingredients:

• 4 medium potatoes, thinly sliced

• 1 onion, thinly sliced

• 6 eggs

• Olive oil

• Salt

Instructions:

1. Cook potatoes and onions in olive oil over medium heat until tender (15–20 mins).

2. Beat eggs with salt, stir in potato mixture.

3. Pour into skillet, cook slowly on low until set. Flip and cook the other side.

4. Cool slightly, slice and serve warm or at room temp.

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🔥 3. Patatas Bravas (Crispy Potatoes with Spicy Tomato Sauce)

Ingredients:

• 4 potatoes, cubed

• Olive oil

• Salt

Bravas Sauce:

• 1/2 cup tomato sauce

• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

• 1 garlic clove, minced

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• Salt

Instructions:

1. Roast or fry potatoes until crispy and golden.

2. Simmer sauce ingredients for 10 minutes.

3. Drizzle over potatoes before serving.

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🍞 4. Pan con Tomate (Tomato Bread)

Ingredients:

• Rustic bread or baguette

• 2 ripe tomatoes

• 1 garlic clove

• Olive oil

• Salt

Instructions:

1. Toast bread slices.

2. Rub with garlic.

3. Grate tomato and spoon onto bread.

4. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.

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🥬 5. Chickpea and Spinach Stew (Espinacas con Garbanzos)

Ingredients:

• 1 can chickpeas

• 3 cups spinach

• 3 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 tsp smoked paprika

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• Salt & pepper

Instructions:

1. Sauté garlic in olive oil.

2. Add chickpeas and paprika, cook 2 minutes.

3. Add spinach and stir until wilted.

4. Season to taste and serve.

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🌶 6. Spanish-Style Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients:

• 4 bell peppers

• 1 cup cooked rice

• 1/2 lb ground meat or lentils

• 1/2 onion, diced

• 1/2 tsp cumin & paprika

• Tomato sauce

Instructions:

1. Cook meat and onion with spices.

2. Mix in rice.

3. Stuff peppers and top with tomato sauce.

4. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 30–40 mins.

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🥘 7. Seafood Rice Skillet (Budget Paella Hack)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rice

• 2 1/2 cups broth

• 1/2 cup frozen seafood or shrimp

• 1/2 bell pepper

• 1/4 cup peas

• 1 garlic clove

• 1/2 tsp turmeric or pinch of saffron

Instructions:

1. Sauté garlic and bell pepper.

2. Stir in rice and seasonings. Add broth.

3. Simmer 10 minutes. Add seafood and peas.

4. Cook until broth is absorbed.

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🐷 8. Chorizo & Potato Skillet

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb Spanish chorizo, sliced

• 3 potatoes, cubed

• 1 onion

• Olive oil

Instructions:

1. Sauté chorizo until crisp. Remove.

2. Cook potatoes and onion until golden.

3. Return chorizo, stir, cook a few more minutes. Serve hot.

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🥣 9. Spanish Lentil Soup (Lentejas)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup lentils

• 1 carrot

• 1 potato

• 1 grated tomato

• 1 garlic clove

• 1 tsp paprika

• 4 cups broth

Instructions:

1. Sauté garlic and paprika. Add tomato.

2. Add lentils, chopped veggies, broth.

3. Simmer 30–40 minutes until tender.

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🍅 10. Gazpacho (Chilled Tomato-Cucumber Soup)

Ingredients:

• 4 tomatoes

• 1 cucumber

• 1 bell pepper

• 1 garlic clove

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• 2 tbsp vinegar

• Salt

Instructions:

1. Blend all ingredients until smooth.

2. Chill for 1 hour. Serve cold with chopped veggies or croutons.

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🍄 11. Spanish Garlic Mushrooms (Champiñones al Ajillo)

Ingredients:

• 1 lb mushrooms, sliced

• 4 garlic cloves, sliced

• 3 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tbsp parsley

• Salt

Instructions:

1. Sauté garlic in olive oil.

2. Add mushrooms, cook until browned.

3. Finish with parsley and salt.

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🍚 12. Spanish Sweet Rice Pudding (Arroz con Leche)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup rice

• 4 cups milk

• 1 cinnamon stick

• Lemon peel

• 1/4 cup sugar

• Ground cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Simmer rice, milk, cinnamon stick, and lemon peel for 45 minutes, stirring often.

2. Add sugar and mix well.

3. Remove cinnamon stick and peel.

4. Serve warm or chilled with cinnamon on top.