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!

18 Terrific Tapas Recipes will make the perfect night with friends (1)

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.

18 Terrific Tapas Recipes will make the perfect night with friends (2)

Patatas Bravas by Noshing With The Nolands

18 Terrific Tapas Recipes will make the perfect night with friends (3)

Spanish Omelette (Tortilla de Patatas) by Scrummy Lane

18 Terrific Tapas Recipes will make the perfect night with friends (4)

Catalan-Style Spinach by Foolproof Living

18 Terrific Tapas Recipes will make the perfect night with friends (5)

Marinated Roasted Red Peppers by Noshing With The Nolands

18 Terrific Tapas Recipes will make the perfect night with friends (6)

Mascarpone Stuffed Dates with Pomegranate and Honey by Foolproof Living

18 Terrific Tapas Recipes will make the perfect night with friends (7)

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.

18 Terrific Tapas Recipes will make the perfect night with friends (8)

Shrimp in Romesco Sauce by The View From Great Island

18 Terrific Tapas Recipes will make the perfect night with friends (9)

Spanish Garlic Shrimp by Life Tastes Good

18 Terrific Tapas Recipes will make the perfect night with friends (10)

Patatas Aioli by Manu’s Menu

18 Terrific Tapas Recipes will make the perfect night with friends (11)

Mushrooms in Escabeche by Manu’s Menu

18 Terrific Tapas Recipes will make the perfect night with friends (12)

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

18 Terrific Tapas Recipes will make the perfect night with friends (13)

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.

18 Terrific Tapas Recipes will make the perfect night with friends (14)

Spicy Tortilla Rollups by Vegan in the Freezer

18 Terrific Tapas Recipes will make the perfect night with friends (15)

Queso Fresco Cheese and Apples by Noshing With The Nolands

18 Terrific Tapas Recipes will make the perfect night with friends (16)

Chorizo Stuffed Mushrooms by Culinary Ginger

18 Terrific Tapas Recipes will make the perfect night with friends (17)

Sauteed Mushroom and Rosemary Bruschetta by Culinary Ginger

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

Queso en Aceite by Noshing With The Nolands

18 Terrific Tapas Recipes will make the perfect night with friends (19)

Spanish Tapas Party Recipes by Flavor Mosaic

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

FAQs

What is the most popular tapas dish? ›

The 10 most popular Spanish tapas you need to try
  • Jamon Serrano. ...
  • Tortilla Española (Spanish Omelette) ...
  • Boquerones en Vinagre. ...
  • Albondigas en Salsa. ...
  • Patatas Bravas. ...
  • Croquetas (Croquettes) ...
  • Espinacas con Garbanzos (Spinach with Chickpeas) ...
  • Calamares fritos (Fried Squid Rings)
May 12, 2022

What does tapas mean 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.

What is tapas night? ›

As Chef José Andrés has said, “Tapas are at the same time a simple way of eating and an entire way of life … they are a commitment to being together, sharing dishes, sharing an experience.” This shared experience is a great way to gather your friends and family – for dinner, for conversation, and for fun.

What is a typical tapas menu? ›

Traditional tapas include mixed olives, garlicky shrimp, fried baby squid, meatballs, and chorizo.

What is a classic tapas dish? ›

gambas al ajillo (shrimp in garlic) pinchos morunos (Moorish pork skewers) chorizo al vino (Spanish chorizo sausage cooked in wine) chorizo a la sidra (similar to the above but using Asturian 'hard' cider) salt cod stuffed piquillo peppers.

How many tapas per person for dinner? ›

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 is the difference between appetizers and tapas? ›

Although the aperitivos can be the same little amount of food that a tapa is, tapas are served radically differently. The appetizer commonly comes just before the first course. Tapas, on the other hand, are served constantly in bars all over the country to accompany drinks and long conversations.

Are tapas just appetizers? ›

Tapas are small plates, snacks, or appetizers that are typically served with an alcoholic beverage. They originated in Spain, where they're served at bars and cafés, but now you can find tapas at restaurants around the world — including cities across the United States.

What to drink with tapas? ›

In fact most tapas' sessions can start with a chilled dry sherry, then move onto a Rosado/Rosé or a Spanish white wine like an Albariño, or a crisp dry Riesling, or even a Chablis, with seafood tapas and then move onto a red Rioja Crianza or light Syrah, or a Rhône-Valley red blend with meat or mushroom-based dishes.

What is tapas appetizer? ›

Tapas are Spanish appetizers, meant to be eaten in just a few bites. Traditional tapas include mixed olives, fried baby squid, meatballs and chorizo. Papas bravas are another typical dish: It's simply fried potatoes served with a creamy sauce.

What is free tapas? ›

Free tapas are served as a generosity, and are therefore not something you are entitled to only because you have ordered a drink. You may notice everyone is receiving a tapa while the waiter seems to have forgotten yours, in which case you could kindly remind him, but it is definitely not a matter to get upset about.

Are tapas a full meal? ›

A tapa (Spanish: [ˈtapa]) is an appetiser or snack in Spanish cuisine. Tapas can be combined to make a full meal, and can be cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or hot (such as chopitos, which are battered, fried baby squid, or patatas bravas).

How many dishes should you order for tapas? ›

In general, two to four tapas dishes per person is a standard order for a meal. This may be slightly fewer if you're stopping off for a snack. Tapas do come in different sizes so it's a good idea to check with your server and potentially ask for recommendations. This way, you can ensure the right sized portion!

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

Tapas: In addition to the options under pincho, above, most traditional spots will offer an array of croquettes (savory fried fritters), empanadas (fried stuffed pastries), pulgas (bite-size sandwiches with meat or cheese), and encurtidos (pickled items that include a wide array of olives), plus lots of specialties of ...

Which tapa is known as Spain's national dish? ›

Spanish Tapas / Tortilla Española

This simple but delicious tapa is often referred to as Spain's national dish. A traditional Spanish omelet filled with potatoes. A few ingredients come together in the dish, with crispy egg forming a flaky crust that binds a filling of potato, onion, and spices.

What type of tapa is popular in Spain? ›

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 is Spain's most famous dish? ›

Paella is perhaps the most famous Spanish dish of all, and certainly one of the most abused. Authentic paella originates from the region around Valencia, and comes in two varieties: Paella Valenciana, with rabbit and chicken; and seafood paella.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Geoffrey Lueilwitz

Last Updated:

Views: 6126

Rating: 5 / 5 (80 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Geoffrey Lueilwitz

Birthday: 1997-03-23

Address: 74183 Thomas Course, Port Micheal, OK 55446-1529

Phone: +13408645881558

Job: Global Representative

Hobby: Sailing, Vehicle restoration, Rowing, Ghost hunting, Scrapbooking, Rugby, Board sports

Introduction: My name is Geoffrey Lueilwitz, I am a zealous, encouraging, sparkling, enchanting, graceful, faithful, nice person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.