In case you didn’t know, a tapa is a Spanish appetizer or snack that is loved locally and internationally. Some tapas, like the traditional tortilla, can be made ahead of time and served cold. It’s finest when you’re having a little get-together with friends while being served with drinks. With that in mind, here are 15 delicious and creative Spanish tapas recipes to try!
Tapas definitely have started to take over the world! Well, “the world” maybe a bit of an exaggeration but what we can be sure of is that tapas has started to pop out over the place. It has certainly become a trend all over places. And it’s for a pretty good reason. Today, in this piece of blog, we are going to talk about Spanish tapas ideas that you can enjoy in the comfort of your home.
What Are Spanish Tapas?
So first things first. What are Spanish tapas anyway? Well, if we are talking about a single dish, tapa pertains to a Spanish word that means “appetizer”.
Another way of understanding tapa is through the word “top” which says a lot about how tapas are presented as a meal.
Let me tell you a story that’ll tell you all about how tapas originated. Once, there was a king who had an illness. Due to this illness, he could only eat small portions of food at a time. This may seem strange since most of the time, kings are known to eat in feasts. But this one particular king had to eat small portions of food. With that, the need for tapas began.
Here’s another origin story for tapas. People used to drink Sherry a lot. It’s a sweet and fortified Spanish wine. At that time, people used to cover their wine glass with slices of bread or meat to keep flies from touching it.
These wine coverings are usually salty which is a good thing for the bartenders or the servers since people would get more thirsty and would be inclined to drink more wine. To make good business, these bartenders would also serve tapas along with wine.
Why Should You Eat Spanish Tapas?
When it comes to food, people like to feast, regardless of whether you are a king or not. But that may not be what’s most beneficial to your health. If you want to live a healthier lifestyle without having to sacrifice the meals that you love the most, the trick would be to eat in much smaller portions. And that’s something eating tapa style can offer you.
But that’s not the only reason it’s worth eating Spanish tapas. I don’t know if you’ve ever visited a Spanish Tapas restaurant before but if you’ve tried dining with a friend before, you’d notice how it’s a lot easier to split the bill. That’s because everyone gets to eat each dish that you order which makes everything fair for the ones splitting the payment for the bill.
Apart from that, tapa menus also let you select from a long list of food. This makes it perfect for people who have certain dietary conditions because they won’t be limited to just specific menu items.
If you ever find yourself on a diet, there are lots of grilled plates of seafood and vegetables to choose from. The same goes if you are trying to give yourself a treat. You can’t go wrong with any of the tasty fried meals they have on the menu.
Most Recommended Spanish Tapas
Alright! Now that we know what tapas really are. We are pretty much in a better space to start exploring this food selection even more.
Let me tell you about some of the most recommended Spanish tapas (because there are actually a lot!).
- Cured Ham
Well, what did we just recently talk about tapas? Theyér usually small portions of food. It’s not pretty surprising that cured ham would be part of the list.
If you can find Iberian cured ham, that’ll be perfect. But if not, any good old cured ham will do the trick. And it’s best served with bread.
- Cheese
If you love cheese then good for you. When it comes to Spanish tapas, you can expect to taste a bit of every type of cheese you can think of, even the ones you haven’t heard of yet. Some examples of cheese popular with tapas are Manchego, Majorero, and Idiazábal.
- Croquettes
You’re probably pretty familiar with ham croquettes but these days there are much more varieties to choose from. You can get croquettes made out of prawns, mushrooms, king crabs, and so much more.
Spanish Tapa Ideas Closest To My Heart
Now let’s dive into some of my favorite Spanish tapa ideas. It hasn’t been long since I was introduced to Spanish tapas but I’ve grown to love them ever since. So, here are my favorite Spanis Tapas.
- Mussels
Seriously, who wouldn’t love these? Such a simple dish. They’re mainly steamed but they taste like heaven. You’ll love them a bit more if you could add some lemon or perhaps tomato, onion, and pepper.
- Black pudding and chorizo
When you pair these things with ham, these two are simply the greatest cooking invention made for tapas. Black pudding works so well with rice and chorizo, on the other hand, is best served grilled or maybe cooked in cider.
- Paella
I was able to visit the Valencia region one time and this had to be the most popular tapa meal in that part of the country. It only took one taste to get me to figure out why. It’s one of the best things out there. Rice is the main ingredient. It’s paired with vegetables. Some Paellas are also served with meat but it all depends on the type of Paella that you order.
- Octopus a feira
What can I say? It is certainly the best way to enjoy your good old octopus!
Spanish Tapas That You Can Cook At Home
I certainly had a blast eating in some Tapa restaurants back when I visited Valencia. But you know what? There are still a ton of ways you can cook your own Spanish Tapa at home. As a matter of fact, I wanted to share some tapa ideas that would be perfect to make at home.
- Mushroom Croquettes
Didn’t we just talk about this a while ago? The first one was Ham croquette but mushroom croquettes are a lot easier to make. And so, I really recommend making your own.
- Garlic Shrimp With Lemon and Parsley
They look like you can only get them at a fancy restaurant. It’s quite shocking how you can easily make them at home.
- Spanish Cheese Board Easy Tapas Dish
This one is really my favorite! Lots of cheese – just how I like it.
15.
Whip up this tasty classic Spanish Omelette in 25 minutes with 4 simple pantry ingredients. This tortilla recipe is delicious served hot or cold and makes a great breakfast, lunch, dinner or tapas.
Check it here.
14. Air Fryer Spanish Spicy Potatoes (Patatas Bravas)
When we were in Spain earlier this summer, we visited about 8 different tapas bars and I must have had a this dish at every single one of them because I love it so much. Patatas Bravas as they call it in Spain is simply potatoes in a spicy tomato sauce and it is absolutely delicious.
Check it here.
13. How To Make A Spanish Potato Omelette
Today is our son Kyle’s 15th birthday. To celebrate his favourite foods today we are walking you through his favourite Spanish tapas dish and talking about when we had it on holiday in Spain earlier this year.
Check it here.
12. Manchego Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates
At any holiday, these Manchego Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates are always a must. I have been making bacon wrapped dates for years after trying them at a local tapas restaurant.
Check it here.
11. Fried Goat Cheese Bites with Arrabbiata Dip
Tapas is a Spanish style of serving food where small plates, such as appetizers or snacks, are served instead of a large dinner entrée. We love tapas because it gives you a chance to try a bunch of different plates, without getting too full!
Check it here.
10. Ajillo Mushrooms (Spanish Garlic Mushrooms)
Ajillo Mushrooms (Spanish garlic mushrooms), is an easy mushroom tapas recipe which is takes less than 10 minutes to make.
Check it here.
9. Spanish Meatballs – Best Albondigas Recipe (Tapas)
Spanish meatballs, albondigas or tapas, these are the best meatballs in tomato sauce I’ve ever had, Spanish food at its best.
Check it here.
8. Spanish Leek Croquettes (Croquetas de Puerro) Tapas Menu
These Spanish leek croquettes are perfect for a tapas menu. They’re easier to make than you would imagine and you won’t believe how incredibly delicious they are!
Check it here.
7. Spanish Patatas Bravas Recipe (spicy) and Tips for Visiting Barcelona
This authentic patatas bravas recipe will make you feel as if you are back in Spain, enjoying a leisurely tapas in the evening. If you’ve never been to Spain, it will give you an idea of what deliciousness awaits you, and learn some tips for your visit to Barcelona.
Check it here.
6. Chorizo and Potato with Cheese (Chorizo con Patatas y Queso) – A Spanish Tapas Recipe
This Spanish tapas recipe for chorizo and potato with cheese is one my daughter raved about and re-created when she came back from her latest trip to Barcelona. It was a hit with everyone who tasted it!
Check it here.
5. Gambas al Ajillo (Spanish Garlic Shrimp)
Can we make #TapasTuesday a THING?? Probability is you are going to make #TapasAnyDay… or #TapasEntertainingDay… or #TapasDateNight after taking one look at my shrimp. All of these sound wonderful.
Check it here.
4. Espinacas con Garbanzos (Spanish Spinach with Chick Peas)
Tapas Time… Bite sized stories you can create right in your own home… Espinacas con garbanzos! Recreate this classic traditional tapa from Seville. This Andalusian favorite will win your heart right off the bat.
Check it here.
3. Air Fryer Garlic Shrimp
This Air Fryer Garlic Shrimp is made in just 10 minutes making it the perfect meal for busy weeknights! Garlic and dry white wine are a match made in heaven and those are just a couple of the ingredients included in this recipe.
Check it here.
2. Cream of Sardines with Smoked Salmon and Capers
Canned sardines go upscale in this easy Cream of Sardines tapas recipe, created by celebrated Basque Chef Martin Berasategui for Gastro Bar by MB, at Paradisus Los Cabos, Mexico.
Check it here.
1.
These Spanish beans with tomatoes and smokey sweet spices are so easy to make in one pot in less than 20 minutes with just 7 ingredients. Only 125 calories per serving, this Spanish bean stew recipe is perfect as tapas, main meals or a side dish.
Check it here.
15 Favourite Spanish Tapas Recipes
Tapas are best served when you are on a little get-together with friends while being served with drinks. Here are 15 delicious and creative Spanish tapas recipes you will love!
Ingredients
- Spanish Omelette
- Tortilla
- Potatoes
- Manchego Stuffed Bacon
- Ajillo Mushrooms
Instructions
- Choose any spanish tapas recipes from the post that you like.
- Click on the link below the photo to get the full recipes and instructions.
- Try the best spanish tapas recipes and share your photo under my pin on Pinterest!
I’m Anastasia and I’m a full-time blogger, online entrepreneur, and Pinterest marketing strategist. I help digital entrepreneurs and bloggers drive targeted traffic from Pinterest either through my online courses or through Pinterest consultancy.