You’ve heard of Spanish tapas. Maybe you’ve even tried them. But do you know how to prepare them yourself? Not many people outside of Spain do. But in this guide, we’ll teach you how to make tapas so you can whip up delicious Mediterranean treats for your next mealtime gathering.
Not only that, we’ll also teach you all there is to know about tapas. Not only will you find out how to cook them, you’ll also be able to show off your knowledge of Spanish cuisine. Ready to up your chef game and learn all there is to know about tapas? Let’s dive in.
Spanish Tapas Explained
First and foremost, what are tapas? Well, they’re not one particular type of food. Tapas can be pretty much anything. What makes them tapas isn’t so much the ingredients. It’s more about the portion size.
Tapas are little dishes of food, about a quarter of the size of a meal for one, although occasionally, tapas can be as large as a third of a meal or even half. They were originally served in bars as a free accompaniment to a drink.
Nowadays, especially in the more traditional bars, you can still be given a free tapa with your drink. The influx of tourism in Spain, however, has turned tapas into a delicacy.
You can now find tapas restaurants not only in Spain but across the world. Customers will order a range of tapas and enjoy little servings of different things, rather than one meal, on a single plate.
If you want to learn more about tapas, their history, and their fascinating story of origin, see our Ultimate Guide to Tapas from Spain.
How to make Tapas
Have you ever heard of a cazuela? This is a type of bowl that’s specific to holding Spanish tapas. If you can get yourself some cazuelas, your tapas evening will be about as Spanish as it gets. If not, you can use small dishes, but cazuelas give you that perfect tapas portion size.
Next, you have to fill these cazuelas with portions of Spanish food. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular tapas options from around the country.
Madrid Tapas
Diced and fried cubes of potato, smothered in Spain’s most popular sauce, is also known as Patatas Bravas. Although the dish originates from Madrid, it’s popular in every corner of Spain.
You can use the same sauce to prepare Season Vegetables with Salsa Brava, a vegetarian-friendly dish with a flavorful kick from the delicious sauces.
Andalus Tapas
Known in Spain as ‘albondigas’, meatballs are a popular tapas dish. With a drizzle of salsa sevillana on top, the result is this delightful Meatballs Sevilla Style recipe.
Likewise, Presa Iberica Sevilla Style is another meat and salsa sevillana combo. Pork is the most consumed meat in Spain and dishes like this one will help you understand why.
To make chicken the way they do in a tapas bar in the sun-drenched south of Spain, try your hand at these simple Sevilla Style Fired Chicken Lollipops.
Pintxos and Montaditos
Pintxos are the most popular kind of tapas found in the north of Spain, especially in the Basque Country. Essentially, they’re little pieces of bread with an additional ingredient on top, which can be anything from cheese to fish or meat, held together by a skewer or toothpick.
Montaditos are similar to pintxos but are two small pieces of bread together with a filler ingredient. You could say they’re simply little Spanish sandwiches like this Mantecadito of Pork Loin Sevilla Style.
A Tapa For Everyone
No matter what part of Spain you’re in, every Spaniard loves a slice of Spanish Omelet. As a tapa, this can be served on a small piece of bread like a pintxo, or simply on its own and consumed with a toothpick or small fork.
Valencian Tapas
Valencia is more famous for being home to Spain’s national dish, the paella, than it is for tapas. But you can prepare a paella or paella-style dish in tapas form. Try doing so with Black Rice with Salsa Alioli.
Canarian Tapas
When speaking of Spanish cuisine, let’s not forget the little Spanish islands that sit on the north-western African coast, the Canaries. Their most famous dish, often served in tapas form, is Papas Arrugás with Mojo.
Similarly, you can cook the potatoes in a slightly more conventional way and opt for this Potatoes with Mojo Picón recipe as an alternative.
For more Spanish-inspired recipe ideas, see our recipes and tapas.
