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 are the best tapas dishes? ›

The 10 most popular Spanish tapas you need to try
  • Boquerones en Vinagre. ...
  • Albondigas en Salsa. ...
  • Patatas Bravas. ...
  • Croquetas (Croquettes) ...
  • Espinacas con Garbanzos (Spinach with Chickpeas) ...
  • Calamares fritos (Fried Squid Rings) ...
  • Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic Prawns) ...
  • Pá amb tomàquet (bread with tomato)
May 12, 2022

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.

How many tapas for 15 people? ›

You'd be surprised how well these small portions can fill you up. As a rule of thumb, two or three tapas per person is usually enough. So, if you're making tapas for two, then four to six dishes would be the perfect amount.

How do you serve tapas at a dinner party? ›

You can serve tapas at a dinner party by creating a variety of small plates that guests can share. Make sure to offer a selection of vegetarian and meat dishes, as well as some gluten-free options. You can also create a charcuterie board with cured meats, cheeses, and olives.

What are tapas name three popular tapas? ›

Tapas
NameDescription
Chorizo a la sidraChorizo sausage slowly cooked in cider
CroquetasA common sight in bar counters and homes across Spain, served as a tapa, a light lunch, or a dinner along with a salad
EmpanadillasLarge or small turnovers filled with meats and vegetables
35 more rows

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 do Spaniards drink with tapas? ›

Tapas are Often Enjoyed With Wine

Traditional Spanish tapas cuisine is often paired with drinks, most of the time with wine.

Do you eat tapas for dinner? ›

Tapas in Spain

The most popular times for tapas is midday or early evening before dinner (la cena). Bear in mind that in Spain lunch is normally eaten around 2.30pm and dinner around 10pm! An afternoon treat known as la merienda is taken around 6pm and tapas sometime later around 8/9pm.

Why do Spanish people eat tapas? ›

Tapas are an important part of Spanish culture and cuisine, and are often associated with socializing and spending time with friends and family. Many Spanish bars and restaurants have a selection of tapas on offer, and it is common for people to go out for a “tapas crawl” (bar hopping) on weekends or after work.

What is the etiquette for tapas? ›

  • 1) Stand at the bar. · ...
  • 2) Grab the waiter's attention. · ...
  • 3) Order a drink first. · It is always good to have a drink while you peruse what is on offer. ...
  • 4) Wait for your free tapas. · ...
  • 5) Order raciones or platefuls to share. · ...
  • 6) Don't order everything at once. · ...
  • 7) Move from bar to bar. ...
  • 8) Don't start too early.
Nov 16, 2020

What is usually served alongside tapas food? ›

Tapas are basically small plates of food. They're essentially bar snacks served alongside beer or wine.

Should tapas be served all at once? ›

There's no need to order all your tapas at once. Take it slow and order as you go. Savouring your tapas is all part of the quintessential dining experience in Spain. The Spanish are masters of the art of enjoying food, so watch and learn how to eat tapas from the locals.

What is the most popular ingredient in tapas? ›

Olives and olive oil: Just about the most important ingredient in all tapas dishes, olives and olive oil are covered in detail in their own sections. Serrano ham (jamon): The best known of the Spanish jamónes is Serrano ham and the best jamón Serrano comes from the black Iberian pig.

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.

What country has the best tapas? ›

Sure, you can find them in some American cities, but for the true tapas experience, you must go to Spain. The experience is like an edible scavenger hunt, where I collect small portions of seafood, salads, meat-filled pastries, and deep-fried tasties, and piece them together for a light evening meal.

How many tapas dishes should you get? ›

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.

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