A guide to summer cuisine in the Region of Valencia

What does summer taste like in the Region of Valencia? Think vegetables picked fresh from the huerta, seafood recipes passed down through generations, fruit at its juiciest and the simple pleasure of finding a shaded terrace for a cold drink. You might be by the sea, or in a town square somewhere inland, but either way, this is the season when the region’s cuisine really comes into its own.

With the fields at their best and the markets full of colour, summer is a brilliant time to eat your way from Castellón to Valencia and on to Alicante. Follow the coast for rice dishes, fish and long lunches by the water, then head inland for local produce, traditional recipes and the kind of food that tells you exactly where you are.

Which traditional dishes from the Region of Valencia are best enjoyed in summer? 

When the temperature rises, the Region of Valencia's cuisine makes the most of its outstanding huerta. These are the seasonal ingredients and local favourites that define summer on the table. 

• Tomate de El Perelló – Grown in the sandy soil beside l'Albufera Natural Park, this beautifully fleshy tomato is packed with flavour and is the star of any summer salad. 

• Coca amb tonyina – A savoury pastry filled with vegetables and salted tuna, this Alicante speciality has long been a summer favourite. 

• Escalivada – Roasted peppers and aubergines dressed with good olive oil, such as the excellent varieties produced in the Sierra de Espadán, and served with freshly baked bread from a traditional local bakery. 

• Espencat or esgarraet – Roasted red peppers are paired with salt cod, fresh garlic and olive oil in this simple yet deeply satisfying dish. 

• Tomate rosa de Altea – Fleshy, delicately sweet and low in acidity, this distinctive tomato has become one of the culinary hallmarks of La Marina Baixa. 

• Titaina del Cabanyal – This traditional tomato-based stew from València's historic fishing quarter combines tomato, peppers, pine nuts and tonyina de sorra, a locally cured tuna. 

• Tomata de penjar de Alcalà de Xivert-Alcossebre – Full of character and steeped in tradition, this intensely flavoured hanging tomato is the perfect finishing touch to crusty bread at lunch.

Region of Valencia cuisine: seafood specialities and summer favourites 

Summer in the Region of Valencia is made for eating by the sea. Whether you're stopping for something simple or settling in for a long lunch, these local specialities deserve a place on your table. 

• Fideuà from Gandia – The signature dish of La Safor, in which fine noodles soak up the rich flavours of locally landed fish and seafood. 

• Tellines or coquinas – Small, sweet clams quickly cooked with a splash of olive oil and, if you like, a little garlic. The perfect seaside snack to share. 

• Steamed clòtxines – The Region of Valencia's own Mediterranean mussels need very little to shine. Steamed for just a few minutes, they're an ideal dish for sharing on a warm summer's day. 

What is the Region of Valencia's traditional summer drink? 

No Valencian summer is complete without a glass of horchata de chufa de Alboraya, which is made with tiger nuts and is protected by Designation of Origin status. Served ice cold, you can enjoy it in its classic liquid form or as a mixta, traditionally accompanied by soft fartons for dipping or crisp rosquilletes.

You'll also come across two much-loved homemade refreshments throughout the Region of Valencia: lemon granizado and coffee granizado. Many families make these iced-drinks at home during the summer months, although you'll find them in cafés and ice cream parlours almost everywhere you go. 

This summer, discover the traditional dishes that give the Region of Valencia its unmistakable seasonal flavour. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok and YouTube for more inspiration and to explore the cuisine of the Region of Valencia.