A Few Tapas Recipes
Tapas can be practically any kind of Spanish starters. One could
experiment with a number of ingredients from a piece of tuna to cocktail
onion or an olive skewered on a long toothpick to meat balls with spicy
sauce served hot in a small clay dish. They are routinely served in
almost every bar and café in Spain. The activity of eating tapas in
Spain ahs become such an important part of culture and social gatherings
that the local Spanish have created a special verb tapear which means to
go and consume tapas.
Starting the food with juicy appetizers in order to fire up the
appetite is a common part of the Mediterranean eating habits . Tapas ,
the Spanish starters may be served in either small or whole portions
before the main meal is consumed. Innumerable varieties of Tapas are
available in almost every bar of Spain. Some of the most famous Tapas
recipes are as under.
Oyster mushrooms with almond sauce
Spain has a beautiful variety of wild mushrooms. If you are a
resident of Spain, try going to your local fruit and vegetable market in
the Autumn and ask the stall holders how to best prepare each different
kind of mushroom. It could be fried , grilled or stewed in any manner
suiting your taste buds. This recipe combines the exotic flavour of
oyster mushrooms and almonds.
Scrambled eggs with bacon and sausage
Scrambled eggs is a traditional appetizer in Spain and Spaniards
use different kinds of ingredients to give it added flavour - asparagus,
spinach, serrano ham.. This recipe uses bacon and spicy chorizo sausage.
Roasted vegetables with serrano ham
Besides being a tapas, this dish makes an excellent side dish with
any of fish dish . Vegetarians can try this dish and just exclude the
ham. It is still scrumptious. You can vary the vegetables according the
ones available in the season you are in. Sweet potatoes roast nicely, as
do leeks, small carrots, garlic , green peppers.
Green Leaves with Grilled Goat Cheese
This is a simple dish of grilled goat cheese and baby greens, dressed
in a honey vinegar salad dressing
Jumbo Shrimp with Dry Sherry
In this recipe jumbo shrimps are marinated in a sherry or white
wine, tomato cream sauce.
Mussels Vinaigrette
In this recipe steamed mussels are garnished with a flavorful
vinaigrette and present a colorful tapas.
Octopus and Potatoes
Here tender octopus, onions and spices are combined with potatoes to
soak up the flavors.
Prawns in a Spicy Sauce
A simple dish that makes an excellent start to a relaxed meal.
Red Cabbage with Apples, Pine Nuts and Raisins
The stuffing that is used for the red cabbage leaves, balances the
sweet and the tart flavors with garlic and pine nuts.
Stuffed Mussels
In this recipe golden brown, breadcrumb-topped stuffed mussels in
their shells.
Artichokes with clams
Here clams, white wine, and garlic combine greatly with artichoke
hearts.
Cheese, leek & potato tortilla
A quick, thick Spanish omelette that's an excellent way to use up
leftover potatoes and cheese with eggs
Patatas Bravas
A perfect tapas dish - cubes of potato in a spicy, tomato sauce |
