World Tapas Day: Try these Spanish recipes to make delicious appetizers for your next cocktail party
Get into the Spanish spirit by having some friends round and sharing a host of delicious tapas following these recipes.
Sharing food isn’t always the done thing in most countries, but it’s a common part of Spanish culture, especially if you’re dining out.
The norm for those of us from other nations may be to order our own dish in a single restaurant, but it’s not unusual to try five or six different delights in one sitting while in Madrid, Seville or Granada, or even embark on a tapas crawl, taking in several establishments in the space of a few hours.
This World Tapas Day (June 19), you can bring a little bit of Spain to you - why not invite some friends round to celebrate? - by making your own tapas at home, following these recipes put together by Food & Wine.
Spanish food is hugely varied, but you can’t go far wrong with the following 20 dishes, which include some you might be familiar with and others you may not.
Happy World Tapas Day! 😋 #WorldTapasDay pic.twitter.com/ZlEkrGhd8j
— Hays Travel (@HaysTravel) June 16, 2021
Dishes to try at home for World Tapas Day
Gambas al ajillo
What is it? Shrimp in Garlic Sauce
Pintxos matrimonio
What is it? Frozen puff pastry and tinned anchovies
Calamares fritos
What is it? Fried squid
Empanadillas gallegas
What is it? Savory pie stuffed with tuna, hard-boiled eggs and olives. Originally from Galicia in the northwest of Spain.
Pork belly, shrimp, and pickled tomato pintxos
What is it? “Pintxos” are similar to tapas, but usually smaller and often served on bread. They originate from the Basque Country in the north of Spain.
Vegetable tortilla
What is it? Spinach, zucchini, bell pepper, and potato omelette.
Albóndigas with mushrooms
What is it? Meatballs with mushrooms.
Open-faced crab empanadas
What is it? In case you’ve forgotten from a little bit up the page, an “empanada” is a savory pie.
Fingerling papas bravas with smoky aïoli
What is it? Spanish fried potatoes with aïoli sauce.
Chicken croquettes
Tip: Don’t decide to make these at the last minute, the whole process takes approximately six and a half hours.
Berenjenas con miel
What is it? Fried eggplant with honey
Chorizo-filled dates wrapped in bacon
A recipe from American-Greek food author Penelope Casas, an expert in Spanish food.
Cauliflower fritters
Suggested by José Andrés, whose minibar by Jose Andrés restaurant in Washington D.C. has two Michelin stars.
Lamb meatballs with mint
As served at Enrique Becerra, one of Seville’s most iconic restaurants.
Chorizo poached in red wine
Tip: Stand the poached, unsliced chorizo in the wine for one hour.
Shrimp and chorizo flatbreads
Tip: Pair with a spicy, medium-bodied Tempranillo wine.
Olives stuffed with almonds, anchovies, and peppers
Tip: Use homemade stuffed olives over store-bought olives.
Tomatillo toasts with prosciutto and manchego
What is it? Bread rubbed with fresh tomato. Using Spanish ham (ibérico, Serrano) instead of prosciutto would be more traditional.
Pan-fried tuna croquettes
Tip: Like earlier croquettes, the whole process several hours and can even be done from one day to the next.
Pincho ribs with sherry glaze
What is it? Remember “pintxos” from earlier? You might see these “mini-tapas” written as “pinchos” outside the Basque Country.
The story behind World Tapas Day
World Tapas Day was established by Spain’s tourism agency, Turespaña, in 2016 to promote Spanish cuisine and the country’s dining experience. It is celebrated on the third Thursday in June each year.
In recent years, Spanish cuisine has been growing in popularity, with a growing number of Spanish restaurants opening in the United States and outside Spain in general.
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