Planning an egg free Spain vacation can feel a bit overwhelming, but with the right considerations, knowledge, and go-to egg free meal options, you can enjoy Spanish cuisine with confidence. In this blog post, that’s exactly what I’m sharing to help you navigate your trip with egg allergies, from the pre-planning phase to choosing restaurants, navigating meals, and more. With these egg free Barcelona and egg free Madrid considerations, you’ll be well on your way to indulging in the best flavors and culinary delights of Spain.
For more tips and meal ideas for traveling to Spain with food allergies, check out my Spain food allergy blog post as well as my blog posts on traveling to Spain while eating gluten free, nut free, and dairy free.
Planning an Egg Free Spain Vacation
Eggs are a staple ingredient found in many Spanish dishes, especially at breakfast. Eggs are found in spanish omelets and other savory breakfast dishes, along with many American-style breakfast options found locally and in Spain hotels. Therefore, it’s important to be diligent about staying away from fryers due to the risk of cross-contamination from eggs being in fried items.
Many Spanish desserts also contain egg as a main ingredient, such as flan, tarta de santiago, and crema catalina. While every region and restaurant differs, you can expect breakfast and dessert to contain the most egg ingredients and cross-contamination risk.
Having an accommodation with a kitchen is helpful when navigating an egg allergy in Spain, especially at breakfast. Taking your own bread is also a good idea, as finding safe bread can be the hardest grocery item to find in Spain. Spain does follow the EU regulations for listing egg as a main allergen on pre-packaged foods, but be sure to watch out for “may contain” labels where egg may be present.
There are egg free Barcelona and egg free Madrid restaurants available, with more vegan and vegetarian restaurants popping up in these bigger cities. However, always do your restaurant research beforehand to ensure they can accommodate your egg allergies and you understand their kitchen and cross-contamination protocols.
Communicating Your Egg Allergy in Spanish
When traveling to Spain with an egg allergy, it’s important to know how to communicate your allergen and needs to restaurant staff and chefs in Spanish terms. Always carry a food allergy chef card with your allergens listed in Spanish so you can show them to chefs and staff. However, don’t rely on that alone. Be sure to learn a few key terms so you can communicate your allergies verbally, ask questions, and verify you are comfortable eating there. This is also helpful when reading food labels and menu items.
Here are some common Spanish terms to help you communicate your egg allergy:
- Egg – huevo.
- Egg free – sin huevo.
- May contain egg – puede contener trazas de huevo.
Egg Free Spain Meal Options
With these important considerations and key terms in mind, let’s take a look at what a day of eating egg free in Spain might look like.
Breakfast
As mentioned, breakfast options will be heavier on the use of eggs, but you can still find and ask for delicious egg free Spain breakfast options.
Spain is known for an array of delicious coffees, which are most often egg free, so feel free to indulge as you caffeinate for the day ahead.
Pan con tomate can be enjoyed egg free as long as the bread does not contain egg and egg is not a cross-contaminant. Double-check the ingredients in the bread if you decide to try this breakfast dish, which is made of bread, garlic, olive oil, sea salt, and tomatoes.
Vegan empanadas and authentic Spanish churros are tasty options that can both be enjoyed egg free. Always, double-check that egg is not used as an ingredient in the dough or as a cross-contamination risk in the fryer from other dishes. Vegan empanadas can be made sweet or savory, and every restaurant may have their own spin on them, so always check on the ingredients used.
Embutidos de carne is a fun charcuterie-style breakfast tray of cold cut meats, cheeses, crackers, bread, etc. This is a typical breakfast served in Spanish hotels, and can often be enjoyed egg free. Just ask about the use of egg in the crackers and bread or as a cross-contamination risk.
If you are staying at a hotel, the breakfast may be more American-style or a mix of Spanish, American, and other cuisines. This can make navigating egg free Spain breakfasts tricky, especially if buffets are involved, which poses a larger cross-contamination risk. If you choose to stay at a hotel, ask ahead of time if they can make or provide something fresh, such as fruit, yogurt, oatmeal, etc. However, booking an accommodation where you can comfortably cook your own egg free breakfasts may give you more peace of mind. It is up to you and your comfort level.
Lunch
At lunch, a common dish to try is paella, which is often made egg free. There are many different variations, depending on the region and restaurant, so always ask ahead of time what their ingredients are, how they handle egg allergies, and what their cross-contamination protocols are. The original paella is made with saffron, beans, vegetables, and a mixture of snails, rabbit, chicken, and duck. With seafood being plentiful in Spain, especially in coastal towns, you’ll often find it in paella as well. However, there can be versions with eggs or hard boiled eggs, so again, research and ask questions ahead of time and upon arrival.
Potato dishes are popular in Spain, and many can be enjoyed at lunch. Patatas a la riojana is made of potatoes, garlic, sliced chorizo, onions, and pimenton paprika, which is typically found egg free. However, it is often served with bread, so keep that in mind if you’re looking for an egg free bread. You can ask for them to hold the bread, but double-check for cross-contamination.
Tapas
Tapas are tasty small plates of Spanish delights. They can be tricky to navigate, as they are often changing frequently and each restaurant creates their own original recipes and spins, which aren’t always on the menu. They can also be served buffet-style or made-to-order. I recommend staying away from buffet tapas, as cross-contamination is a bigger risk.
Tapas may contain eggs as an ingredient or from cross-contamination in the fryer, so be sure to double-check with restaurants on their protocols. Many places can remove egg for you, so don’t be afraid to ask and request this – along with cross contamination protocols.
Patatas bravas is a tasty tapas dish made of potato cubes, spicy tomato sauce, onions, garlic, chili powder, and paprika.
In larger cities, like Barcelona and Madrid, you can find tapas restaurants that have online allergen filters available to help you get an idea of how present your allergy is or if their dishes may contain that ingredient. This can help you narrow down your search and ask questions when reaching out to restaurants.
Dinner
At dinner, simple, wholesome, fresh dishes are popular, such as grilled meat or seafood, roasted meat, and vegetarian dishes. Many dishes are served with rice or stuffed in a sandwich. Sandwiches can be tricky to navigate with an egg allergy due to the bread and sauces, so always double-check ingredients and cross-contamination. Cold cuts, cheese, fried potatoes, green salads, and grilled vegetables are common side dishes that are typically egg free. Just make sure egg isn’t found on salads, in sauces, or in the fryer.
Spanish dinners often end with a light dessert, which can be tough, as eggs are high in dessert options like flan, cakes, and more. Instead, opt for fresh fruit, authentic Spanish churros, and sorbet that you have verified don’t contain egg ingredients or cross-contamination from the fryer or scoop.
Traveling egg free in Spain may be one of the more challenging allergies to navigate, but with the right preparation, communication, and knowledge, you can still indulge in the flavors of the country with confidence. Always do your research, carry your food allergy chef card, ask questions about ingredients and cross-contamination, and then ask again to verify. Don’t ever feel bad about doing what you need to ensure you have a comfortable dining experience and vacation.
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