18 Terrific Tapas Recipes will make the perfect night with friends (2024)

Just a few short weeks ago we hosted a Tapas night. Each couple, we invited two couples besides ourselves, made 5 dishes plus a magnificent sangria! That was a total of 15 dishes, sounds like a lot but we managed to get through them without an issue. Some were small pintxos (just a bite), while others a bit larger! They did have one thing in common though, all were delicious. That is why I wanted to bring you this collection of 18 Terrific Tapas Recipes.

I can’t share with you all that we made as some were from cookbooks but this collection I put together for you has many wonderful options for your next tapas night.

Maybe some of you aren’t familiar with tapas. Basically it is Spanish appetizers that are usually served at a bar in Spain. One after another is served and this comprises your meal. I hope you enjoy our collection of Spanish Tapas Recipes!! I wish for you to “comer bien” or eat well!

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Table of Contents

Spanish Tapas Recipes

Spanish Tapas are canapes, snacks or tiny plates of a variety of different dishes that originated in Spain. In fact, Spanish tapas come in many different varieties and forms and can vary depending on where in Spain you are visiting.

How to Make Tapas

There are several different ways to make Tapas. Considering the variety of ingredients that can be used to create delicious small plates, there is a Tapas recipes for everyone.

From Patatas Bravas, Catalan-Style Spinach, Baked Feta Cheese with Olives and Lemon to Marinated Roasted Red Peppers and Shrimp in Romesco Sauce. The list continues with Queso Fresco Cheese and Apples, Chorizo Stuffed Mushrooms and Mascarpone Stuffed Dates with Pomegranate and Honey.

The possibilities are just as endless as the tapas will seem.

Easy Tapas Recipes

From potatoes to other veggies, to cheese or seafood and more, Spanish cuisine is one that is full of flavor! Every bite will pack a punch of delicious tastes to share with family or friends!

Tapas dishes can be served hot or cold and some can be servedeither way or at room temperature. Eating tapas evokes conversation and friendship. There will always be something wonderful to talk about as dish after dish comes out to tempt all your senses.

Olives and Spanish olive oil are very essential in tapas and almost always some dishes will include those ingredients at some point in the meal. You can start off with simple marinated oliveswith lots of crusty bread to dunk. I made something very similar to this recipe and we all adored it.

Tapas can be very easy to serve too, don’t get intimidated with the number of dishes. Some like our marinated peppers take only a few minutes to pull together and can be made ahead of time. Serving an excellent inexpensive wine with your meal will add a lot of enjoyment to the dining. We sure have loved the newLiberado with our tapas meals.

Tapas

Tapas recipes are a fantastic addition to your cooking repertoire. They make for such a fun night of noshing and are perfect for get togethers and parties. Rather than serving a big meal to your guests you can opt to serve delicious Spanish tapas. There are such a wide variety of tapas recipes from vegetarian tapas to beef, chicken, chorizo or pork tapas, there is something for everyone.

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Patatas Bravas by Noshing With The Nolands

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Spanish Omelette (Tortilla de Patatas) by Scrummy Lane

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Catalan-Style Spinach by Foolproof Living

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Marinated Roasted Red Peppers by Noshing With The Nolands

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Mascarpone Stuffed Dates with Pomegranate and Honey by Foolproof Living

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Baked Feta Cheese with Olives and Lemon by The View From Great Island

Common Questions About Tapas

What are Tapas?

Tapas are essentially tiny plates of food originating from Spanish cuisine. Basically, like bar snacks served alongside beverages.

Tapas are great as a snack or even as a meal when you make a range of different kinds. These small dishes are a great way to try a large variety of different food without overfilling you belly and emptying your wallet.

Serving these recipes are fantastic for entertaining because most are easy to make and with such a large range of recipes they are sure to suit the different tastes if your guests.

What are Three Popular Tapas?

There are cold tapas, like cheeses and mixed olives or warm tapas like chopitos. Chopitos are fried and battered baby squid.

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Shrimp in Romesco Sauce by The View From Great Island

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Spanish Garlic Shrimp by Life Tastes Good

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Patatas Aioli by Manu’s Menu

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Mushrooms in Escabeche by Manu’s Menu

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Sous Vide Octopus Spanish Tapas Recipe by Jeanette’s Healthy Living

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Chorizo Sweet Potato Spanish Tortilla Bites by Cupcakes and Kale Chips

Where Does the Word Tapas Come From?

There are many debates about the origin of tapas. Depending on which part of Spain you are from, you may have differing opinions.

It is said that the first Tapas was simply a large piece of bread that was placed over top of a drink to keep the flies out. It is said, the word “Tapas” was born from this experience.

Tapas serve as an amazing way to entertain and enjoy some delicious food. There are many recipes out there that can be used to create delicious tapas. Try your hand at this Spanish cuisine and enjoy.

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Spicy Tortilla Rollups by Vegan in the Freezer

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Queso Fresco Cheese and Apples by Noshing With The Nolands

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Chorizo Stuffed Mushrooms by Culinary Ginger

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Sauteed Mushroom and Rosemary Bruschetta by Culinary Ginger

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Queso en Aceite by Noshing With The Nolands

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Spanish Tapas Party Recipes by Flavor Mosaic

18 Terrific Tapas Recipes will make the perfect night with friends (2024)

FAQs

What is the meaning of tapas in Spanish? ›

Tapas has two meanings in Spanish. As a verb, tapas means “to cover”, revealing its origins as a way for guests to cover their drinks with pieces of food. As a noun, it references small plates of food.

How many tapas for 15 people? ›

Focus on creating five to six tapas dishes that are easy and quick to fix and can be prepared ahead of time. For example, three cold tapas and two warm tapas. Plan 6 to 8 bites per guest if you are hosting a co*cktail party (1-1/2 hour party) or 12 to 15 bites per guest for a tapas dinner party (3 hour party).

What kind of food is tapas? ›

Traditionally they are small savoury dishes, snacks or appetisers of Spanish cuisine. It might be breads and meat, or a selection of dishes from ham, stuffed mussels, fried squid, to olives, sautéed mushroom and other vegetables. Essentially, Tapas is a small plate or serving, and it's a great way to try something new.

What is a classic tapas dish? ›

Popular throughout Spain, tapas are festive and delicious appetizers and snacks. Traditional tapas include mixed olives, fried baby squid, meatballs, and chorizo. Whether you're craving briny seafood or crispy potatoes, these are our best tapas recipes.

What's the healthiest tapas? ›

5 Healthy tapas ideas to enjoy
  • Fresh fish: Grill or sear and add a salad and a side of boiled, small, new potatoes.
  • Garbanzo beans and spinach: Heat and mix together with cumin and paprika.
  • Spanish Gazpacho Soup: Served cold, this tomato-based soup is nutritious and light.
Aug 5, 2020

What are the 3 types of tapas? ›

Even in tapas, there are three types. Sattvic Tapas, Rajasic Tapas andTamasic Tapas.

Does tapas mean appetizers? ›

Tapas are Spanish appetizers, meant to be eaten in just a few bites. Traditional tapas include mixed olives, fried baby squid, meatballs and chorizo.

Is tapas Spanish or Mexican? ›

A tapa (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈtapa]) is an appetizer or snack in Spanish cuisine.

How many tapas should you order for 2 people? ›

Nonetheless, we have our 'rule': We usually order 2 to 3 tapas per person. If we are a group of 4 or more, we order certain dishes (the ones we really love!) twice. This way everybody gets enough from the dish and the selection as well as the order process is a lot easier.

Can tapas be a full meal? ›

Tapas served as snacks to keep hunger at bay before the main meal. Their popularity has grown, and tapas are now often eaten as the main meal. They can be thought of as samplers, or you can make a complete meal by combining two or more tapas to enjoy a variety of flavors.

How many tapas dishes for one person? ›

Portion sizes will vary by restaurant, but typically, ordering 2 to 3 tapas per person gets the job done. So a party of 4 would order 8 to 12 tapas between them. Don't be afraid to ask your server if you haven't ordered enough food, and remember, your friends are there to help if you've ordered too much.

What do you drink with tapas? ›

Our top ten of favorite strange and not so strange pairings!
  • Dark chocolate sause with red meat and red wine!
  • Ansjovis, soft cheese on a toasted sponge cake with white dry wine.
  • Vermouth and olives.
  • Beer and mild cheeses.
  • Blue cheese, figs and dry cider.
  • Young red wine with a chorizo bocadillo.

Is tapas a finger food? ›

Finger food in style for every taste.

If something is very typical all over Spain it is the Tapas or better known as finger food. Learn to prepare all different kinds of fingerfood in this thrilling two hour class!

How to do a tapas dinner party? ›

Pick a handful of tapas that provide a variety of textures, flavors, and time commitments. Mix cold and warm, meat and vegetable, and prepare-ahead and last-minute. And ask for help! No one would turn down an opportunity to help prepare the feast, especially if you offer a glass of wine for their service.

What is the most widely served tapa? ›

Tortilla de Patatas might be the most common tapa out there. It's also known as a Spanish Omelette however it really has no relation to the classic French dish. Tortilla is a perfect mix of softened potato slices mixed with egg that are fried into a cake like shape.

What is Spain's most famous tapa? ›

Some of the most well-known are Manchego (typical of Castilla – La Mancha), Idiazábal (Basque Country), Roncal (Navarre), Mahón (Balearic Islands) and Majorero (Canary Islands).

What do you order when you want a meal of tapas? ›

Rich cheeses, cured meats, roasted vegetables, fresh seafood, and deep-fried delights are all common players in the tapas game.

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