Savour the Flavours of Mallorca: A Vegetarian Gastronomic Journey

Mallorcan gastronomy includes all of the key facets of the well-known Mediterranean diet, one of the healthiest diets in the world. The island’s favourable year-round climate results in an exquisite variety of all kinds of food products. Despite an offering of a wide assortment of meats and fish, the island also has a number of traditional recipes that are originally vegetarian and vegan. 

With an increased demand for vegetarian and vegan options in recent years, the number of restaurants offering these dishes has continued to grow, with the island home to 21 vegetarian and vegan restaurants as early as 2019. In 2021, there was a 25% increase in vegan offerings in Spanish hospitality, with Palma de Mallorca coming out on top as the city with the most demand for vegan-friendly food.

A traditional plant-based cuisine 

Amongst the traditional recipes suitable for vegans are dishes such as ‘trempó,’ a summer salad made with onions, tomatoes, and green peppers. ‘Tumbet’ is another Mallorcan dish that is vegetarian, made with onions, aubergines, courgettes, tomato sauce, red peppers, garlic and topped with sliced potato.

Recipes suitable for vegetarians are not in short supply either. Mallorcan soups, also known as ‘dry soups,’ are one of the traditional dishes suitable for vegetarians. They are served as appetisers and, as their name suggests, their consistency allows them to be eaten with a fork. The ingredients are always seasonal, alternating between vegetables like green beans, spinach, chard, or cabbage, amongst others. They are typically served with slices of black bread and are always served hot.

Despite having several traditional vegetarian and vegan recipes, the increased demand for this diet has led to the adaptation of dishes that are not usually plant-based. The famous ‘ensaimadas,’ which are usually made with dairy and pork lard can now be found in several restaurants across the island prepared without using animal-derived ingredients, and Mallorca’s most popular cured sausage, ‘sobrasada,’ has been successfully recreated as a vegetarian alternative using vegetables and spices.

 More than just gastronomy

In addition to food, vegetarianism and veganism have made their way into other aspects of the Mallorcan island experience. One of the most significant examples can be found in accommodation, as the island currently offers a wide range of hotels that, while focusing heavily on gastronomy, reflect the values held by vegetarians and vegans.

Some of these practices include a strong emphasis on ecological and local production or animal care. There is even room for wellness tourism, offering activities such as yoga or massage services, as well as active tourism, which goes hand in hand with the idea of maintaining a healthy mind in a healthy body.