Cooking/Food in Madrid

Cooking for myself living abroad

I absolutely love city life. It’s been such a blessing to live in an apartment that is located in the center of the city — Gran Vía (the Broadway street of Madrid) is located just a few feet away!

I was really excited when I moved to Madrid to explore the bustling food scene, but I also knew I wanted to cook for myself. Also being vegetarian, cooking comes in handy — although Madrid does not have a lack of vegetarian/vegan options in the slightest! Not only am I saving money but I also get to live more like a “local”, exploring local supermarket options and practicing budget-friendly recipes that are not very time consuming.

I usually go to the local Carrefour (a France-based supermarket) or Mercadona (a Spanish supermarket chain) for my groceries. Usual staples in my pantry are oats, yogurt, berries, fresh fruit, pasta, eggs, tofu, and vegetables. With these, I can whip up many different meals over the course of the week.

These are an array of what I usually make for lunches and dinners. I love simple salads or pasta with tofu, eggs, or legumes for dinner along with one of my favorite soft cheeses of Spain - queso de burgos.

For breakfasts, I love a sweet bowl of yogurt, fruit (fresh berries, cherries, or whatever is in season), with some oatmeal or sugar-free granola and almond milk. Other days I love having a fresh bread roll with some avocado and eggs.

I’m always excited to come home from work and prepare a nice lunch for myself. Although prepared with minimal ingredients, I’ve learned that simple goes a long way. That being said, I have been going out into the city and soaking in the vibrant restaurant scene. More on that coming soon.

Till then.

Hasta el próximo