Tapas

Jamon Serrano or Serrano Ham is the salty, air-cured ham from Spain. Whole Serrano hams are shipped around the world, prized for their rich flavor. They are not cheap, so before slicing into one, it's important to know the parts of the ham in order to cut it correctly. Stored and sliced properly, a whole ham can last a family several months.

Pizza is very popular all over the world, including Spain. As in Italy, pizza served in Spain has thin crust and is not overloaded with toppings. Our tapa version of this pizza includes Spanish chorizo sausage and Serrano ham, which gives it a distinctly Spanish flavor. Optionally, spicy Spanish pork chunks also make a great topping. Serve 6-8...

Spanish love seafood. Fish, shellfish and mollusks are a regular part of the traditional Spanish diet. "Latillas" or little cans of marinated sardines, tuna, anchovies, squid, clams and mussels are eaten as snacks or before meal. They also make great "instant" tapas.

For the Spanish, a montado is a flavorful topping riding on a small slice of baguette. Montados or montaditos are very commonplace and popular in tapas bars. They come in all flavors - beef, chicken pork, sausage or vegetarian, and can be prepared hot or cold. To prepare many montados, no actual recipe is needed - assemble the...

Want to do something different this holiday season, but not sure what? Throw a Tapas Cocktail Party! About's Guide to Entertaining helped put together this "how to" article providing basics for hosting a cocktail party. We created a top list of tapas, Spanish wine and music recommendations.

With so many fabulous tapas, how did we choose which ones to recommend for a holiday party? First, the tapas had to have a "wow" factor very colorful, or a special flavor. Second, they had to be easy to eat at a cocktail party not a drippy, hard-to-hold mess. Last, most if not all the preparation could be done ahead of time, so you'll have...

A Spanish "tapa" dinner can be a simple, uncomplicated menu, like many Spaniards enjoy in the evening. This menu is based around the classic Potato Omelet. A link to the recipe is included with the photo of each tapa.

"Cecina" is a Spanish delicacy, made of cured, air-dried beef. Served sliced paper-thin as a "tapa." It is a unique flavor and color and takes over 9 months to make.

Warm weather means lots of grilling and this Spanish pork tapa is a simple and tasty recipe. Marinate cubes of pork overnight in a mixture of Spanish sweet paprika, cumin, mint and olive oil. Thread the marinated pork on skewers with sweet peppers and mushrooms and grill. Serve hot and accompany with a glass of Spanish red wine.

Swiss Chard stems that are thick and wide are cooked and stuffed with Serrano ham and Spanish cheese, like mini-sandwiches. Then they are breaded and fried until golden brown. The cheese melts and its flavor intensifies. These are perfect for a special dinner. Serve 2 of these stuffed "pencas" or stems for each person as a unique and very tasty first course.

This easy tapa recipe can be made with a wide variety of toppings. Spread small pieces of toasted baguette with the pate of your choice, then top with cocktail onions, smoked salmon, green or black olives or a slice of pickled pepper. This tapa is so easy it requires no cooking and takes about 15 minutes to prepare start to finish!

Mushrooms or "Setas" are a favorite in Spanish food. They are easy to prepare and are very versatile. Sauteed, baked or stuffed, they can be a simple and flavorful "tapa" or side dish for your table.

This typical Spanish tapa is simple, quick and easy. Green and yellow peppers fried with Spanish chorizo sausage and garlic make a colorful addition to the table. Served on a platter in the center of the table, and mound the mixture on slices of fresh rustic bread. It is also a great first course or accompaniment to scrambled eggs.

This "tapa" has all the ingredients of a tortilla - in miniature. The potatoes and onion are cut up and fried together, then placed in the bottom of a muffin pan. Top with a quail egg and bake. Scoop out of the pan and you have a nifty little appetizer to serve atop a slice of rustic baguette.

Rich and salty Serrano ham is combined with finely chopped mushrooms and parsley and bread crumbs for a tasty filling. Stuff the mushroom caps and bake. Serve these tasty and juicy mushrooms tops hot.

A "San Jacobo" is a popular "merienda" (afternoon snack) or tapa in Spain. It consists of a slice of cheese between 2 slices of cooked ham, which is breaded and then fried. It is delicious when the outside is crispy, while the cheese inside melts between the slices of ham. It's tasty, easy to prepare and economical – great for college students looking to prepare something different.

Finely chopped Spanish "panceta adobado" is heaped in white mushrooms, then slowly cooked in olive oil. It's quick, easy and very tasty. It's a tapa that everyone can enjoy cooking and eating, from the beginner cook to the experienced chef.

During the festival of San Pedro in Burgos, this is a popular Spanish tapa. It is simple to make, including a slice of pork loin, pancetta and a mushroom grilled on a bamboo skewer. Serve on a slice of rustic bread with a glass of Spanish wine.

Salty and full of flavor, Serrano ham makes an excellent contrast with the sweet, juicy Honeydew melon. This “tapa” takes about 5-10 minutes to prepare and requires no cooking. If you are short on time, need something to bring to a potluck or friend’s barbecue, this is the “tapa” for you! Melon with Serrano Ham is also a refreshing dish to serve at a Spring or Summer brunch or lunch.

The Super Bowl is the perfect event for a tapas buffet, so prepare some or all of these classic Spanish tapas, like "croquetas," potato omelet, "pinchos morunos" (spicy pork kabobs), "patatas bravas," and fried cod fish balls. Prepare some of these tapas ahead of time and don't serve them all at once. Save some tapas for half time and keep your...

Garlic, the "stinking rose" seems to make everything taste better, at least if you are a garlic lover! Garlic is one of the basic ingredients of the Mediterranean cuisines and adds so much flavor or "zip" to many dishes. This is a short list of the top garlic tapas of Spain.

Are you in a hurry to get to a party? Or, unexpected out-of-town guests dropped in and you need something to serve? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Try any of these Spanish tapas that you can prepare at the last minute – just two involve any cooking!

Alioli, a popular Spanish sauce, often served with meats and fish, vegetables or tapas. It is an emulsion sauce traditionally made with garlic and olive oil, eggs are usually added to it to make it more stable and easier to whip.

"Banderillas" are one of the most typical "tapas" you will see in Spain. They are colorful and tasty with a glass of wine or sherry. If you do not have time or inclination to cook, but would like to prepare an easy Spanish "tapa", "banderillas" are for you!

Eggplant, a typical ingredient of the Mediterranean diet is the base of this “tapa.” Slices of boneless chicken breast with roasted red pepper and tomato sauce are then added to the eggplant. Finally, melted cheese tops off these “montaditos.”

“Cojonudos” are another simple, but tasty “tapa” made by topping a slice of baguette with a fried quail egg and a slice of fried chorizo sausage. “Cojonudos” loosely translated means “awesome” and judging by their popularity in tapas bars Burgos, they must be! Their “sister tapa” is the “cojonuda,” made with a small slice of morcilla (blood sausage) instead of chorizo sausage.

"Croquetas" - croquettes are small, lightly breaded and fried sort of fritter. They are a sure hit as an appetizer or an afternoon snack with a glass of beer or wine. They are creamy and smooth and very tasty. The best part is you can make the dough ahead of time and freeze it. Then, take the croquetas out of the freezer and pop them into the frying pan.

"Empanadas" are turnovers originally from Galicia, a northwestern province in Spain. "Emapanadas Gallegas" or Galician Turnovers are very popular and have spread to every region in Spain, all over Latin America and beyond. The smaller version called "empanadillas" are also a practical snack for those who find themselves away from home. They make great snacks to take cycling, hiking or backpacking!

This is a simple, but delicious appetizer or "tapa" that everyone enjoys. It involves very little cooking and you can put it together at the last minute! What could be better than Spanish ham, Manchego cheese and sausage on a baguette?

Cubes of pork are marinated overnight in a spicy mixture of paprika, garlic and white wine. Then the pork is quickly stir-fried and served with bread and/or fried potatoes. This is a very easy recipe.

Pinchos Morunos are delicious pork kabobs that have been marinated for a day. These are a very popular "tapa" that are served in many bars all of Spain. Pinchos Morunos are easy to make and great for beginner Spanish cooks!

This soup from New Castilla/Madrid region is full of flavor and like our American “chile,” it seems to get even better when eaten the following day! It is a hearty soup that is wonderful in winter. If you are planning a "tapa" party, it also works well served in small bowls as one of the main "tapas" of the evening.

Entertaining in the summer often means firing up the BBQ, creating more heat and filling the patio with smoke. Why not treat your guests to a buffet of cold "tapas" and salads? All of the dishes listed below can be made ahead of time and kept chilled until ready to serve, including the light desserts.

Everyone throws cocktail parties or dinner parties. So, why not throw a different kind of party – a Spanish Tapas Party?! Learn how to make 5 easy tapas recipes to impress your friends.

What are the top Spanish "tapas" recipes?! Learn what our top recipe picks are and compare our picks to yours!

The Alpargata - Serrano ham is warmed on a piece of toast, which has been rubbed with tomato to keep it a bit moist. It is warm, salty and very hard to eat just one! It is also a wonderful dish for a light lunch or afternoon snack.

Gathering wild mushrooms is a popular hobby in Spain, especially during cool, wet Autumn days. The mushrooms are washed and prepared in many...

"Montados" are a popular kind of tapa. They start with a piece of baguette and pile different delicious foods on top. This "montado" is made of chicken breast, tomato sauce, roasted red peppers and melted cheese.

"Palmeras", or in French "palmiers" are scroll-like pastries that are sweet and flaky. Every pastry shop and supermarket in Spain carries them. Spanish serve them for breakfast or afternoon snacks, and dip them in hot coffee or chocolate. These mini-palmeras are easy to make with puff pastry, and flavor with rosemary, garlic or basil for appetizers.

Easy Spanish tapa takes a queue from the Italian pizza. This tapa is what the Spanish call a "torta" and Americans would call a pizza. Top pizza dough with foie (or pate), carpaccio and Parmesan cheese. Rich tasting and very easy!

Almonds are used in Spanish sauces, desserts and as a snack. A bowl of caramelized almonds can be served as a tapa or a dessert. Adding a touch of salt to the sweet coating can give that special touch. These caramelized almonds are so good that it's hard to just eat one...

Meatballs in a simple, yet rich-tasting sauce made from beef broth, parsley and walnuts. What a great main course for any day of the week, regardless of the season! We recommend serving these delicious meatballs and sauce with home-fried potatoes or lots of crusty bread to soak up the sauce. These meatballs also make a good "tapa."

Fish, shellfish and mollusks such as squid, clams and mussels are a regular part of the traditional Spanish diet. The Spanish simply call the canned version latillas, or little cans. Every Spanish family's pantry has a supply of latillas, and serve them as a small snack or appetizer before a meal, or if unexpected guests pop in for a visit. In...

Looking for cucumber recipes, or in Spanish "pepino" recipes? The Spanish use fresh cucumbers in salads and cold summer soups. From gazpacho to Spanish Cucumber Salad, there's a recipe for every palate.

With morcilla, prepare an authentic Spanish tapa in less than 10 minutes. Morcilla de arroz, the Spanish blood sausage made with rice is often served as a tapa in Spain. It is very easy to prepare by cutting in thick slices and lightly frying on both sides. Place pieces on a slice of baguette and serve hot.