Best Spanish Salad Bowl Recipe

It is time for you to bring a touch of authentic Spanish flavor to the table, and there is nothing better than classic Spanish recipes to help you with this task.

If you are in need of a recipe that works both for everyday meals and festive occasions, then the Spanish salad bowl is the best choice.

Although there is a wide variety of salad bowl recipe ideas, we will focus on the traditional Andalusian version, providing the full recipe, with some tips for storing, serving, and ingredient substitutions that you can make.

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Pssst…!!?? You can’t get enough of Spanish salad recipes? Have a look at my other posts:

• Spanish potato salad with tuna

• Spanish mixed green salad

• Spanish octopus salad

Background of the Dish

The Spanish salad bowl recipe is one of the oldest recipes to be developed in Southern Spain, and it was passed down through families

This recipe highlights fresh, vibrant regional ingredients while having a simple preparation, capturing the essence of Andalusia’s culinary heritage.

Today, different Spanish salad ideas have gone mainstream, such as the ensalada campera or the ensalada de brocoli, yet the Spanish salad bowl continues to hold a special place in many kitchens.

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Things You’ll Need for Spanish Salad Bowl

The ingredients needed to prepare the Spanish salad bowl are potatoes, tomatoes, red onion, garlic clove, pitted green olives, and optionally, fresh parsley and Serrano ham.

Ingredients

• 750gr potatoes
• 3 ripe tomatoes
• 1 red onion
• 1 garlic clove
• 1/2 cup (100gr) pitted green olives
• 1/4 cup (60ml) olive oil
• 2 tablespoons Sherry vinegar
• Salt and pepper (to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika (optional)
• 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley (optional)
• 200gr slices Serrano ham (optional)

How to Make Spanish Salad Bowl – Step by Step Guide

1. For the first step in this Spanish salad bowl recipe, peel and chop the potatoes into bite-sized squares. Place them in a bowl with enough water to cover them and boil for about 20 to 25 minutes or until tender. Set them aside to cool.

2. In the meantime, wash and chop the tomatoes into small squares. Peel and chop the onion into small pieces, and also mince the garlic cloves. Chop the olives in half and set everything aside.

3. After that, grab a large bowl and mix all of the Spanish salad ingredients. Season the salad with salt, pepper, and paprika (if desired).

4. Then, using a small bowl, mix the olive oil and vinegar. Pour it into the Spanish salad bowl and toss until everything gets covered.

5. Optionally, you can top this traditional Spanish salad with chopped parsley and Serrano ham slices. If not, simply use the halved pitted olives. 

6. Like most salad bowl recipes, you can serve this one as a Spanish side salad or as a main dish, adjusting the serving size on each case.

Substitution of Ingredients

The best salad bowls often include some crazy mix of ingredients, so we encourage you to let your imagination run wild by experimenting with different flavors, textures, and colors.

First, you can take inspiration from the freshest salad bowl recipes, such as the Spanish summer salad and the ensalada de pepino, and add some greens to this bowl with cubed cucumber, arugula, or lettuce.

Besides that, like most healthy salad bowls recipes, feel free to use your favorite dressing -even if it isn’t the one listed here-. A zesty lemon vinaigrette or a dash of creamy aioli are some great options.

Finally, you can make the Spanish salad bowl heartier if you include some sort of protein, similar to what you would do with the Spanish tuna salad or the ensalada de cangrejo.

If seafood isn’t the right fit for you, then you can leave it as it is or use other ingredients like grilled chicken, chorizo, tofu, or hard-boiled eggs.

Tips on Serving Spanish Salad Bowl

The Spanish salad bowl is typically served as a side dish, traditionally placed on the table for guests to help themselves to as much as they desire.

Still, you can serve the Spanish salad bowl as a main dish, especially if you top it with some type of protein like hard-boiled eggs, grilled chicken, or tuna.

The mix between olive oil and vinegar is the classic dressing for most Spanish salad recipes, but you can add a twist of flavor by topping the bowl with a drizzle of hot sauce, Spanish garlic sauce, or lemon juice.

If you are hosting a summer lunch or dinner, then you might want to make a salad bar filled with different traditional Spanish salads, such as the ensalada de mango and the warm octopus salad to have a nice variety.

How to Store Spanish Salad Bowl

With salad bowls recipes you have some of the freshest dishes from Spain, which also means that they are better if served right away.

However, once you finish preparing the recipe for the Spanish salad bowl, before adding the dressing you can store it covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.

When you are ready to serve it, adjust the seasoning and pour the dressing to cover everything (if the flavor or texture seems off then it is better to avoid consuming it).

Some Andalusian dishes that can be stored for longer than this one are the unique ensalada de coditos and the traditional Spanish lentil salad, which maintain their quality well over time.

Recipe Card: Spanish Salad Bowl

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