Pork and wine turn up in southern European dishes in places you might not expect, so the habits that work at home need a few local words. In big cities such as Barcelona, Paris and Rome there are halal restaurants, and in smaller towns fish and vegetable dishes are the easier choice.
Spain
Watch out for: jamón (ham) and chorizo, which appear in tapas, croquetas, stews and even some "vegetable" dishes. Lard (manteca) is used in some pastries and biscuits.
Good choices: seafood paella, grilled fish (pescado a la plancha), tortilla española, patatas bravas, gazpacho.
Ask: "¿Lleva cerdo o jamón?" (Does it contain pork or ham?) and "¿Lleva vino?" (Does it contain wine?)
France
Watch out for: wine in classic sauces and stews (coq au vin, boeuf bourguignon), lardons (bacon pieces) in salads and quiche, and gelatine in mousses and pastries. Many cheeses use animal rennet.
Good choices: fish dishes, crêpes, omelettes, salads without lardons, and the many North African restaurants serving halal couscous and tagine.
Ask: "Est-ce qu'il y a du porc ou du vin dedans ?" (Is there pork or wine in it?)
Italy
Watch out for: pancetta and guanciale (cured pork) in carbonara and amatriciana, prosciutto on pizzas and antipasti, wine in risotto, and alcohol in tiramisu. Parmigiano Reggiano is traditionally made with calf rennet; see is Parmesan halal?
Good choices: margherita and vegetable pizzas, pasta with tomato or seafood sauces, grilled fish, gelato (check for alcohol flavours).
Ask: "C'è maiale o vino?" (Is there pork or wine?)
Supermarkets abroad
Ingredient lists are in the local language. The words to look for:
- Pork: cerdo (Spanish), porc (French), maiale (Italian)
- Gelatine: gelatina (Spanish), gélatine (French), gelatina (Italian)
- Lard: manteca (Spanish), saindoux (French), strutto (Italian)
- Wine: vino (Spanish), vin (French), vino (Italian)
Our checker has word lists for French, Spanish, Italian and several other languages, so you can paste or photograph a label and it will flag these terms, though a word list can miss a word, so use it alongside the table above. E-numbers are the same across the EU.
Finding halal meat
Look for butchers and restaurants run by Moroccan, Algerian, Tunisian and Turkish communities, especially in Paris, Marseille, Barcelona, Madrid and Milan. Mosques are a good starting point for local recommendations.
Prayer times
Our UK prayer times won't work abroad, but your phone's compass and any reliable prayer-time app will. Remember that summer nights in northern Europe are short, so Isha and Fajr can be close together.
Common questions
Is airline food halal? Many airlines offer a Muslim meal if you request it in advance; ask your airline how far ahead, and check what it covers.
Are all-inclusive hotels a problem? Buffets may label pork but not always wine in sauces. Ask the chef, or stick to grilled fish, salads, rice and vegetable dishes.
