Balearic Island Recipes: The Healthy Heart of the Mediterranean

Discover delicious and healthy Balearic island recipes from the sun drenched heart of the Mediterranean.

The cuisine of the Balearic Islands is a close relation of those of Catalonia and Valencia. As a result, Balearic Island recipes are often overlooked. And while there are similarities between the cooking styles of these regions. They each have their own identity to appreciate.

Balearic Island recipes are often very simple. Celebrating fresh ingredients to deliver one of the healthiest diets in Spain. The secret to this style is the quality of produce on the Islands. Sweet and aromatic olive oil. High-quality fruit and vegetables. And prime Mediterranean seafood. Is it any wonder that the locals like to keep it simple?

Soups, stews and a taste of the sea

Soups and stews are a good introduction to Balearic Island cuisine. Sopa Mallorquina is a stew with its roots in the countryside. It is an example of how to extract flavour from simple ingredients like vegetables and bread. More extravagant soups and stews use top quality seafood such as lobster and crab. In Menorca, you’ll find sample a variety of shellfish soups, cooked in large pots over open flames.

Other typical Balearic Island recipes include the pastry-based tarts known as flaos. These can include sweet or savoury ingredients. Cocas, like pizzas but without the cheese, are also popular in Valencia and Catalonia. Tombet is a vegetable stew like ratatouile or pisto Manchego. While, ensaïmadas are the typical Majorcan pastries.

Cheese production is prominent in Menorca. Mahon is the most famous variety. It is sweet and fruity with a sharp edge. This versatile cheese appears in both sweet and savoury Balearic Island recipes. It is also believed that mayonnaise originated in the Menorcan capital of Mahon.