Spanish Recipes - Tempting Tapas Dishes
Spain is famous for its tapas and, whichever Spanish bar you
frequent, in whichever area of the country, you are sure to
find them.
So, what exactly are "tapas" and where did the name come from?
Tapas are, essentially, snacks and the word literally means
"cover". The name originates from the card which used to be
placed on top of your drink to protect it from the flies
(this can be a hot country!).
At some point in time, it became popular to place a little
snack on top of this card. At first, this would just have
been something simple like a few nuts and olives, or a fresh
slice of crusty Spanish bread plus topping.
In those, not-so-far-gone days, the tapas were free! That
is not usually the case these days, although you will
occasionally be presented with a small dish of crisps or
olives to go with your drink.
Nowadays, there is a wide variety of (paid) tapas, with
some bars really going-to-town on them and offering
highly original, magnificently presented snacks.
But, even a fairly humble bar will present you with the
opportunity to enjoy a slice of tortilla (Spanish omelette),
boquerones (fresh, marinated anchovies preserved in olive
oil and garlic), calamares (squid), champiñones al ajillo
(garlic mushrooms), jamón serrano, Manchego cheese, etc.
Are you keen on cooking? Then perhaps you would like
to try out this tapas potato recipe called "Patatas
Bravas". An old Spanish favorite, it is simple to
prepare, using fairly basic ingrediants but, it should
only be savored by the courageous as it is quite spicy!
Ingrediants are for four people.
Ingrediants
750 g potatoes
4 dessertspoons olive oil
Salt and black pepper
2 teaspoons sweet paprika
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 dessertspoons red vinegar wine
2 teaspoons tomato purée
Method
1. Peel potatoes and cut into chunks.
2. Fry in oil for 3-4 minutes until lightly colored.
3. Add salt and pepper to potatoes.
4. Cover pan, lower heat and cook for 20 minutes.
5. Sprinkle with paprika and cayenne. Increase heat.
6. Mix wine vinegar with tomato purée. Add to pan.
7. Cook a couple of minutes, constantly stirring.
8. There should be no loose liquid or oil in the pan.
Should you fancy coming to the country to try the original
version, there are plenty of afternoon Tapas Tours available
throughout Spain for you to enjoy!
Linda Plummer is webmistress of
Top Tour of Spain
providing comprehensive information on Spain for travel, food,
language and living.
MORE RESOURCES:
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Chicken Mushroom Marsala - Easy and Elegant for the Amateur Gourmet
If you are having company and want to make something easy but really flavorful, try this chicken Marsala recipe. This is my favorite way to eat chicken for a few different reasons.
A Simple Technique to Remember Grocery Items
Whoops! I Forgot the ..
Home Made Ice Cream Recipe for Coffee Can Ice Cream
The very best thing about having birthday cake is the ice cream that goes along with it. This delicious home made ice cream recipe can be made with a few simple ingredients and a couple of coffee cans.
Weird Foods Of The World - Chinese
I have eaten some weird and wonderful dishes around the world but some of the more interesting concoctions have been served up to me in China.A particularly interesting delicacy I ate some years ago consisted of Cow's bronchial tubes - the airways between the cow's lungs and windpipe (gruesome!) in a light white wine sauce.
5-Minute Strawberry Jam
Nothing tastes better than fresh picked strawberries. For many people, making homemade jams and jellies conjures up memories of grandmother in the kitchen preparing bushels of fruit, stirring and straining, and sterilizing jars.
Do You Know How Many Ways There Are To Eat A Cat Head Biscuit?
A time honored Southern tradition, the infamous "Cat Head" biscuit has become as much an icon of southern cooking as fried chicken. Just say the words "Cat Head Biscuits" almost anywhere in the South and you will instantly conjure up memories childhood and of mouthwateringly delicious meals.
Swiss Cheese Fondue
Ingredients600g white bread (I recommend baguette or any other kind of white bread with a lot of rind)600g Swiss cheese (e.g.
Wonderful Holiday Recipe Ideas
The Holiday Season is upon us and soon we will be frantically searching for yummy recipes to serve our family and friends. Many of the leading food manufacturers have spent 1000's of hours testing and perfecting recipes for you to enjoy.
Weight Loss Recipe: Veal Mango
Just because you are watching your weight does not mean you can't prepare fantastic meals for company. "Veal Mango" is one of range of hunger fighting, low fat recipes that will assist you manage your weight.
No Bake Cookies Are Easy to Make and Fun to Eat
Got an urge for a homemade cookie snack but don't feel like mixing up a bunch of ingredients and baking? No problem. Whip up a batch of no bake cookies to satisfy your hunger craving.
Swordfish, a Nutritious and Healthy Addition to Any Diet
Swordfish belongs to the group of fish that have recently become more appreciated for their contribution of omega-3 essential oils to the diet. These fats, which have to be provided by the diet, have now been shown to have a host of health giving benefits including combatting rheumatoid arthritis, heart attacks, high blood pressure, clogged arteries, psoriasis, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, multilple sclerosis and even mirgraine headaches.
Wild Watercress Soupt (Nasturtium officinale)
Wild Watercress soup is a delicious and nutritious recipe with the leaves available in spring and early summer. Watercress is rich in Vitamins A and C, iron, iodine and phosphorus.
Chicken Adobo
This particular recipe is Phillipian. Here are the ingredients you need to make a meal for 2:4-6 Chicken Thighs
3 cups of Vinegar
3 cups of Soy Sauce
Pinch of Garlic (Optional)
Rice (I use Uncle Ben's Instant Rice)Warning: You can get very sick if you don't cook Poultry for at least one hour!!Directions:1.
Making Whoopie!
Whoopie Pies that is! Other known as "Moon Cakes"Wicked WhoopiesAmy who loves to bake would have never thought to earn a living baking whoopie pies?! It sounds crazy now, she says because no one else has done such a thing. She loves to bake (even now, four million whoopie pies later.
Tantalizing Turkey
You too can make a spectacular turkey dinner!TT has what you need to help you at every step. You even get carving directions with graphics, guidance about the best way to thaw, stuff and roast your turkey, recipes and more.
Planning Help: Meal One
It's nice when I find a meal where the foods compliment each other because it simplifies my life by knowing what to serve with what. Of course I don't have to stick to any one meal plan; I can mix and match the main dishes and sides, but a lot of the time I'm in a hurry and don't have a lot of time to think about it.
Oatmeal-Apple-Raisin Muffins
These muffins are not only tasty, but they're also a good source of fiber. In recent years, health experts have come to realize that fiber is an important part of a heart-healthy diet.
Paella, The Most Famous Spanish Dish
First of all, paella is not exactly the dish but the recipient this typical plate is cooked in. We all have seen the paella pan before when visiting Spain or browsing the net for paella recipesThe typical paella a la valenciana was "invented" in a small village called El Perelló close to the city of Valencia.
Low Carb Christmas Enchiladas!
FELIZ NAVIDAD..
Teas from Wild Plants and Their Benefits
All these teas (unless specified) are brewed with one teaspoon of dried
leaves or two teaspoons of fresh leaves to one cup of water.
You should always steep the teas.
|