15 Vegan Food Products I Found in Madrid, Spain
My first time in Spain as a vegan had to become an adventure. Just like it was a few months later in Argentina. I was so excited to find out what vegan foods Spanish people eat. I had only been there as a vegetarian, and I could then rely on tortilla and some other traditional meals that happen to be vegetarian-friendly. Nonetheless, vegan is always so much difficult, even though it’s becoming more available in some places–lucky us! In case you’re going to Madrid, or anywhere in Spain, I prepared this list for you so you can have an idea of what vegan products you can find in this beautiful country, as plant-based diets are more sustainable, and are a great way to be an overall more sustainable person.
I visit Madrid quite often because my parents-in-law live there, and I also have a special love for this city because I did one semester of my Bachelor’s Degree there. I spent my days walking around the city, trying to get lost, walking instead of taking the metro because I couldn’t envision losing the opportunity to find a new picturesque corner, to discover a new coffee shop hidden at the top of the stairs that take you from one street to the other. Falling in love with Madrid isn’t a difficult task. It can be done in a few hours. In any neighborhood you can burn the hours drinking una caña in the terrazas (in the tables set on the street or the sidewalks), visiting an architectural wonder, hearing the madrileños laugh and drink, no matter what (even if there’s an economic crisis, or political uncertainty, or a zombie apocalypse, the locals will be making the most out of their day, a drink in hand, an appetizer on their plate, a group of friends sat in their table). You can read more about how in love I am with Madrid in my sustainable travel guide.
Regarding vegan food, I visited different supermarkets in search of vegan products. There is a 100% vegan market I went to in Chueca called Only Vegan, which I recommend visiting to buy specifically vegan products, including vegan cheese, prepared foods, and even sustainable products like bamboo toothbrushes. They sell a lot of Heura products, a brand that offers a wide variety of plant-based meat alternatives. Nevertheless, you can also find lots of vegan food products at the supermarkets. In my case, I also went to Lidl and Supercor and found all these products you will get a glimpse of in this post. Good news is you have a lot of vegan alternatives for the classic Spanish foods, even palmeritas and tortilla. Even better, some traditional Spanish foods have always been vegan, like asparagus, artichoke hearts, olives, and azafrán.
To find more vegan products, look for the Vegan certifications, even though some vegan products are sometimes not labeled (or just labeled as 100% vegetal), as happens in lots of countries, including the U.S. I must warn you, however, that there is one label, the European Vegetarian Union’s, that is a bit confusing. They use the same drawing for vegetarian and vegan products, so at a first glance you can be easily confused. You have to carefully make sure that the word written below that drawing says ‘vegano’ and not ‘vegetariano’. There are also organic and fair-trade certifications you can look for, to make your food even more sustainable.
THE AMAZING VEGAN PRODUCTS I FOUND IN MADRID, SPAIN
1) NUGGETS
by Heura
My mother-in-law made my day by buying these nuggets. I had never tried plant-based nuggets before, as they are usually covered in panko and therefore not gluten-free (I’m a celiac). These, however, are GF! They are mostly made with soy protein, and are a good source of protein and fiber. Heura products are the perfect alternative for anyone who misses traditionally-meat-based foods, and wants to eat some comfort food once in a while. On my next visit I’ll make sure I try other products from this brand.
2) eggless Tortilla
by Vemondo
Another product my monther-in-law spoiled me with, and one I had always loved, ever since I first stepped on Spanish ground: tortilla! For potato tortilla to be vegan, they replace eggs with chickpeas. This once has onion, but I think they also sold the onion-less version, and it’s also gluten free. This traditional and yummy product can also be eaten as a bocata de tortilla (a tortilla sandwich). I recommend you try both!
3) CHOCOLATE PALMERAS
by ADPAN
In case you are craving palmeras, I found a vegan and gluten-free option at Supercor. They are more palmeritas–because of their size– as there are some really big palmeras in Spain (similar to New York’s big pretzels). They come covered in chocolate, and are great for the merienda, to accompany with coffee or tea, or to satisfy your sweet tooth.
4) VEGwurst
by Vegalia
Since I became a vegan, I started eating a lot healthier than when I was just a vegetarian. I learned a lot about nutrition, and incorporated way more veggies into my meals. However, just like anyone, vegans also crave ‘junk food’ every once in a while. If your craving consists of a hot dog with mustard, which I sometimes crave myself, these sausages are great for that. They are already cooked, so you just need to heat them up a bit. Eat them as hot dogs, or add them to your meals for extra flavor.
5) VEGAN PIZZA
by Vemondo
Ever since I was a kid, my favorite meal has always been pizza, and I believe it’s an eternal love that will die with me. There’s something majestic about the combination of dough, tomato, and (vegan) cheese, and my body and soul can hear the angels sing ‘hallelujah’ whenever I take a bite.
Check out the lower shelf in the photo–those are the vegan pizzas. The ones on the top shelf are only vegetarian. The one on the left is stone-oven-cooked pizza with tomato, spinach and mushrooms. The one on the right is a bruschetta-style pizza with tomato and onion.
6) SHREDDED MOZZARELLA
by Violife
Violife is a vegan brand I already knew because it’s also sold in the United States. My favorite Violife product is the parmesan cheese wedge, which I shred over pasta, and it’s one of the most delicious things ever.
I was glad to know they have their products in Spain too, like this vegan shredded mozzarella I found at Supercor. It’s gluten-free and preservative-free, and perfect to use it for your homemade pizza.
7) ICE CREAM
by Ben & Jerry’s
I didn’t get to try this product–I’m not the biggest ice cream fan–but I hope you do! Sometimes people don’t embrace a plant-based diet because they don’t want to miss the foods they love. If ice cream is one of those, there are lots of vegan ice cream options in the U.S., and also in Spain. This chocolate fudge brownie ice cream by Ben & Jerry’s is one of them, and it’s certified vegan.
8) VEGAN YOGURT
by SojaSun
This vegetal soy bifidus comes in a 6 pack, and is a good source of protein and calcium. For anyone who likes yogurt, this is a good plant-based alternative.
You can even enjoy them with cereals, seeds, cacao, moringa, or any superfood you like adding to your regular yogurt.
9) Natural tofu
by El Corte Inglés
A must in a vegan’s fridge, tofu offers a lot of nutritional benefits, and is very versatile when it comes to preparing it. You can use it to replace eggs, to make vegan ricotta or tofu sticks covered in panki, add to your bowls, pad thai, or anything really.
This product also has the euro-leaf, a certification of ecological agriculture in Europe. It’s one of the strictest certifications in Europe, and they make sure that a lot of specific criteria regarding health, animal well-being, and respecting the environment.
10) SOY MILK
by Alpro
Fortunately, at the supermarket, I found a lot of plant-based milks, and I chose to share this one made from soy. There are other options, including oat milk and almond milk, all vegan, of course.
Vegan milks are so varied, and you can use different sources for different purposes. For instance, I love using soy for cooking my oats, whereas I prefer oat milk for my coffee. Whichever you choose, they have a much lower environmental impact than cow’s milk.
11) oats
by Alpro
This product has a similar consistency to yogurt. It consists of oats and blueberries, it is rich in fiber, has probiotics and natural ferments.
You can eat it as it is, or add cereals, fruits, or seeds, as a nutrition boost.
12) MINI CRACKERS
by Flor de Espelta
Here’s a snack option for you! You can take these mini crackers in your backpack while traveling around the gorgeous streets of Spain. They can also be dipped in vegan cheese or jam.
They are made of whole wheat (so not an option for celiacs or gluten-intolerant people), have a high content of fiber, extra virgin olive oil, and are organic.
13) soy drink
by Milbona
Another soy milk option, without added sugars and gluten-free. It’s Bio Organic, and certified with the European leaf as well as the local ecological certification in Spain (which changes in the different provinces).
14) VEGAN SAUSAGE
by Vemondo
Vemondo keeps on being featured in this post; that’s because they offer a wide range of plant-based products. These ‘salchiveggies’ (a combination of the words ‘salchicha’, meaning ‘sausage’, and ‘veggie’), are made with tofu and are a good source of fiber and proteins. It also has several certifications, including the vegan one, Bio Organic, European Leaf, and the local Spanish certification.
15) BLACK OLIVE PATé
by Conservas Calanda
The last product I’ll recommend is this black olives paté, which was delicious, and is perfect for spreading it on toast, although you can eat it in many ways. This is a beloved traditional vegan product you should try when visiting Spain.
It doesn’t have any preservatives or colorants. What I like most about it is that it has only two ingredients: black olives from Teruel and salt.
That’s my list of 15 vegan food products I found in Madrid, Spain. Hopefully you get to visit this amazing country soon and try all these and many more!
Is there one that tempts you more? I’d definitely choose the eggless tortilla. Let me know in the comments below.
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Hi, I’m Melina,
I’m the creator of Sustainable Rookie, and my goal is to share what I learn throughout my sustainability journey, so that I can help other people live a more conscious life.
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