Vegan food in Ronda; where there’s a will, there’s a way!
I adopted a vegan lifestyle around 9 months ago now. Non-vegans, including me prior to changing my lifestyle, may believe that veganism equates to bland and boring meals and limited choice when it comes to food. I discovered that it was quite the opposite – while eating vegan food in Ronda, you can still eat most of the things you used to eat before, you simply use delicious and nutritious plant-based ingredients.
As I was preparing for my year abroad, I was silently bracing myself for the struggle of finding something to eat (unless I cooked it myself)! In the UK, I can rely more on shops to provide me with a quick snack, most restaurants have vegan options and some even have a separate vegan menu these days. While bigger cities in Spain do not pose much of a problem, smaller places prove to be more of a challenge. Fear not! It is possible to get by as a vegan in Ronda. If your reasons for being vegan are important to you- wanting to avoid animal exploitation, health reasons, etc. – then you will find a way!
You can find alternatives to a lot of things in Ronda’s supermarkets – plant milks such as soy, rice, oat and coconut milks as opposed to dairy milk, soy-based yoghurts, veggie burgers, agave nectar instead of honey…and don’t forget that a lot of the food that you already eat is probably plant-based – whole grains, fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds.
Restaurants and cafes that provide vegan food in Ronda options
Café de Agata – Milkshakes (made with plant milk) and freshly made juices, a vegan sandwich and a selection of vegan tapas – check what is available with the staff. There is a ‘vegan’ crepe on their menu, but beware, I discovered that it contains egg!
El Lechuguita – This place is ideal if you are looking for somewhere cheap (most tapas are only 80 cents each!) to grab a quick snack. Choices include champiñones a la plancha, aceitunas and pisto de verduras.
Toro Tapas – a selection of vegan tapas e.g. gazpacho and patatas con tomate as well as ones that can be made vegan (check with restaurant staff).
Al-Zahra – A Moroccan restaurant located on Calle de las Tiendas which has some options that may be suitable for vegans, including hummus and tabbouleh.
In other restaurants, see if what you want to order can be veganised; e.g. if you are looking for pizza, ask for it sin queso. In Las Martirio, I asked for the wok de verduras without the langoustines. These are just a couple of examples.
Another tip: As veganism and the word ‘vegan’ may still be poorly understood by some, it is advisable to say “Me puede traer esto plato sin carne/productos lácteos/huevos etc.…” or “No como productos animales.”
Supermarkets and smaller shops vegan food in Ronda (for home cooking and snacks)
- Supersol and Mercadona – these are two of the best supermarkets for finding vegan-friendly items – some products include labels indicating that they are suitable for vegans. Supersol has a great range of plant milks, while Mercadona has a selection of soy-based yoghurts and yummy veggie burgers.
- Aldi and Día – a range of vegan -friendly items, although less than other supermarkets.
- La Tienda – located in Calle de las Tiendas, this place sells plant milks (soy, rice and oat), as well as a small selection of fruit and vegetables, legumes and wholegrains such as pasta, rice, bread, etc.
- Hiperfruta (several in Ronda) – offers a great range of fresh fruit and vegetables.
- El Herbolario and La Ventana Natural – although slightly more expensive, both offer a selection of foods suitable for a vegan diet.
How to veganise some popular Spanish dishes
You can still eat your favourite Spanish dishes at home. Simply swap the non-vegan ingredients for plant-based ones! Some examples are:
– Gazpacho, Ajoblanco and Salmorejo cordobés – simply don’t include ham and cheese.
– Churros – great news! Authentic Spanish churros are vegan, however the chocolate included with them often isn’t – use dairy-free chocolate to make the chocolate sauce.
– Tortilla de patatas – Spanish omelette – many vegan versions replace the eggs with gram flour (also known as chickpea flour) – a range of vegan versions can be found online.
And let’s not forget:
– Paella de verduras – vegetable paella – it’s often already vegan!
– Garbanzos con espinacas – Chickpeas and spinach – a popular dish in Spain, this is delicious!
Visit our website to learn more about the Slow Food movement, where to go shopping for vegan food in Ronda, and how you can learn to adapt iconic Spanish dishes to your vegan lifestyle.
- Written by @SlowRonda Team