This post may contain affiliate links which are marked with *
This is a sponsored post
As the nights get colder and the evenings continue to draw in, many of us are probably dreaming of some sunshine to help banish those winter blues. If you can’t get away right now, why not bring some Spanish sunshine into your life by creating your very own tapas night at home. Here are some simple ideas to enjoy tapas just like you would while on holiday in Spain.
Tapas tours in Spain are a popular way to experience both Spanish food and culture. They can also be a great way to meet new people and explore some hidden gems such as the places that the locals love to eat, away from the main tourist hotspots.
4 Ideas To Enjoy Tapas Like In Spain
If you’re planning on hosting your own tapas night, here are some ways to keep things simple so you can keep that laid back vibe and still enjoy some amazing food.
Remember tapas dishes are meant to be enjoyed slowly while the wine and conversation flow!
Before getting started, you’ll want to make sure you have lots plenty of small dishes and bowls in which to serve the tapas. Tapas is all about trying new flavours so try to plan your menu with a good range of flavours but also keep the dishes simple so there’s not too much work involved.
1. Keep It Simple
Tapas is designed so you can try a little bit of everything, but if you’re hosting a tapas party you might get rather stressed if you try to cook everything from scratch. My advice would be to choose 3-5 hot tapas dishes and do them really well. You can then pair them with simpler cold dishes where a lot of the work is done for you.
Here are some of the most popular hot tapas dishes you could choose from:
- Patatas bravas – Fried potatoes served in a spicy tomato sauce
- Calamari – Deep fried squid served with aioli
- Gambas – Large prawns sauteed in garlic
- Spanish tortilla – Similar to an omelette and filled with fried potatoes and vegetables
- Chorizo with red wine – Pieces of chorizo that have been fried and then simmered in red wine
- Ham & cheese croquetas – Deep fried potato croquettes filled with ham and cheese
- Mussels – Cooked in white wine
My personal favourite is Calimari but I would only attempt this if you have a deep fat fryer and a good fishmonger nearby. Oven-baked frozen calamari rings are just not the same!
2.Prepare Cold Dishes Ahead of Time
As well as hot tapas dishes, there are lots of cold dishes you’ll want to serve too. These can be prepared in advance and plated before your guests arrive. You can also have more of them ready in the fridge in case extra food is needed.
Here are some classic cold tapas dishes:
- Marinated Olives – You can marinade these yourself or buy them ready to eat from the supermarket or deli.
- Melon con Jamon Serrano – Melon pieces wrapped in slices of Serrano ham.
- Manchego – Sheep’s milk cheese is usually served in small squares.
- Pan Con Tomate Y Jamon – Bread served with tomato and ham
- Gazpacho – Vegetable soup which is served cold
- Anchovies – Usually served marinated in olive oil
- Ensalsa – Mixed Salad
- Ensaladilla Rusa – Spanish style potato salad
- Cured Meats – Easy to find in supermarkets or delis and easy to serve.
Don’t forget to have some nuts and bread on the table for when people arrive.
3.Share The Work
If you want to keep things super easy, why not ask some of your guests to bring a little something to add to the tapas? Most people are more than happy to oblige.
4. Don’t Forget The Wine!
Food from Spain just isn’t the same if it’s not paired with some delicious Spanish wines. Remember to start with lighter dishes and wines and then move on to more robust wines as the evening goes on.
Cava – While Prosecco has overtaken cava in the popularity stakes, this sparkling wine is perfect when served chilled and paired with seafood dishes such as crispy fried calamari.
Rioja – This red wine goes well with both Chorizo and tomato-based dishes.
Sherry – Sherry is what many people go to when they are serving tapas. Fino or manzanilla sherry? Well, that depends on what you’re serving. Manzanilla works better with seafood whereas Fino pairs nicely with cured meats and cheese.
Sangria – If you want more of a party atmosphere then you can’t go wrong with making a jug or two of sangria!
There you have it, everything you need to create a wonderful tapas evening, just like you would enjoy while in Spain.
