Spanish Tapas Dishes to Serve with Drinks at Your Next Party
Talking about Spanish food and you do not touch upon the conversation about Tapas, it is not possible. Along with paella, it's probably the best-known part of Spanish cuisine. As you start this festive season and dive into parties, it would be great to know what are tapas, and what are typical, traditional examples of tapas.
Tapas are basically small plates of food. They're bar snacks which are served alongside beer or wine. Traditionally, tapas are served free of cost with each drink but as times changed and people entered the era of consumerism, tapas are to be paid for.
The Origins of Tapas
The origins of tapas, like many long-held traditions, are a bit vague. There are some tall tales about former kings, but the most plausible story links to the name.
'Tapa' means 'lid' in Spanish and this is where many stories find their origin. It is said that some bartenders started using a piece of bread as a lid to keep flies out of the glasses of beer. Over time food was added on top and that’s how tapas were born.
Types of Tapas
Spain serves tapas in a variety of forms. However, there are four main groups which go as follows:
Pinchos/Pintxos
These are small snacks, generally slices of bread with various different toppings, though you can also get little skewers of food without bread.
Cheese and Charcuterie Platters
Charcuterie is known in Spanish as "embutidos" and presents a wide variety, ranging from jamon serrano (serrano ham) and chorizo (a kind of salami with paprika) to more regional cured meats like fuet (a thin cured salami-type sausage from Catalunya/the Balearics).
Cold Tapas
These can be everything from salads to cold soups and snacks like olives and anchovies. A slice of Spanish tortilla can also be included in there.
Hot Tapas
These tapas allow you to get creative with pincho toppings. These dishes can be combined to make a meal of sharing plates. Some popular hot tapas include Patatas Bravas (potatoes with a spicy sauce), Blistered Padron Peppers, Gambas Al Ajillo [Shrimp in Garlic], etc.
Popular Spanish Tapas Dishes to Serve with Drinks at Your Next Party
As mentioned above there is a great variety of tapas to choose from, you need to know the best tapas to shine at your next get-to-gather. Here’s a list of some popular choices that you can try and add a Spanish twist to your party.
Extra-Crunchy Calamares Fritos
These are often confused as an Italian appetiser, but the fact is that fried squid is eaten widely throughout Spain as well, and this is from where it gets its name ‘calamares fritos’. To give them a twist, skip the marinara and serve with lemon wedges or aïoli instead.
Pintxos Matrimonio
This appetiser consists of frozen puff pastry and tinned anchovies which means that you can make these popular Spanish tapas in a flash and will be ready to enjoy with guests at your next party.
Empanadillas Gallegas
It is a large savoury pie from Galicia, Spain, which is stuffed with tuna, hard-boiled eggs, and chopped olives. The filling is held together with jammy sofrito, an aromatic vegetable base of long-cooked tomatoes, onions, and garlic. Sounds difficult? It is not. Try it for your next festive occasion.
Pork Belly, Shrimp, and Pickled Tomato Pintxos
Pintxos joined the tapas clan from the Basque region of Spain. These are simple, one-bite snacks that are quick to assemble and can be grilled when the guests arrive. Sticky-sweet pork belly; tender, meaty shrimp; and bright, quick-pickled tomato variations have something for everyone.
Vegetable Tortilla
This form of tapas, which is packed with spinach, zucchini, bell pepper, and potato, is cooked on the stovetop the entire time and due to the same, it creates a lovely custard-like texture. To serve this as tapas, cut the tortilla into bite-size squares and skewer onto toothpicks and they are ready to be served.
Tapas are not just going to be great appetisers for your next party but also outstanding conversation starters as you serve something different from your regular starters. And now that you know everything about tapas from their origin to their types to which tapas are your favorite, do not hesitate to give them a try. You can always put your own spin on these dishes and make them your signature food.
Drink responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
