1. Ajoblanco
Ajoblanco is one of Málaga’s most traditional dishes. It is a soup made with bread, almonds, garlic, water, olive oil, salt and vinegar. The name may be misleading, for garlic is not the main ingredient. The ‘white’ element (‘blanco’ in Spanish) comes from the almonds used to prepare it.
2. Málaga salad
A summer essential both at the restaurant and at home, the Málaga salad carries a curious mix of ingredients, including orange, potato and cod.Olives and olive oil are optional.
3. Fried fish from Málaga
Anchovy, hake, squid right from the frying pan, with a pinch of lemon or mayonnaise: this is the core of the dish known as fritura malagueña. You can wash it down with a cool beer as you stare at the sea. The secret ingredient for fried fish to taste great is, of course, olive oil.
4. Sardine skewers
Sardines are the queens of the Costa del Sol beach bars. No stroll down the waterfront promenade can be complete without the smell of charcoal-grilled sardines. The roasting technique goes beyond charcoal and sardines themselves; you have to take wind direction into account and pick your skewers carefully before sticking them into the sand.
5. Porra antequerana
Another summer essential, porra antequerana is just another cold soup, like gazpacho or salmorejo. It can have egg, ham or tuna as well.
6. Tenderloin mountain-style
This dish, whose main ingredient is larded pork tenderloin is typical of Málaga’s mountain inns, known as ventas in Spanish. It can be served hot or cold.
7. Pipirrana
Pipirrana is a cold vegetable dish. Ideally refreshing in the summer, it can have octopus, raw peppers or tomato. Of course, a good dash of olive oil is a must – to dip your bread in between one spoonful and the next.
8. Migas
Migas are a simple dish, consisting of bread, fried peppers, fried eggs and chorizo.
9. Anchovies in vinegar
Among the wide variety of fish dishes you can try on the Costa del Sol there are anchovies in vinegar. Anchovies are marinated in vinegar-based sauce with olive oil, garlic and parsley. Potato chips make a great side dish.
10. Fried or garlic prawns
Prawns are cooked in a zillion ways on the Costa del Sol. They can be accompanied by pil-pil sauce, carrying a variety of ingredients, or fried to a crispy golden brown.
