June 16th_ International Tapas Day

In 2010 tapas were acknowledged internationally when UNESCO declared it as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Tapas are considered healthy food, also conservation of traditional and artisanal activities. Many different civilations were established in Spain for centuries, and tapas are just a bit of all those gastronomical years. 

Since 2011 few Spanish gastronimical associations are celebrating the International Tapas Day. Every year more and more countries are joining us. "Going for tapas" is our hallmark. Everywhere in Spain: big cities, small town, bars in from of the sea... you´ll find Tapas everywhere! 

If you are travelling around Spain these days, you´ll find all tapas route available these days.  www.diamundialdelatapa.es 

If you just feel like celebrating International Tapas Day at home, I´d like to help you with that. Check out some easy recipes and enjoy your meal!

100 TAPAS

Tapas History

Some people do believe that tapas started in Andalusian taverns (southern province of Spain). The word "tapa" can be translated as "cover". This was a practical measure meant to prevent fruit flies from hovering over the sweet sherry (see below for more explanations).Tapas traditionally have been a complementary piece of sliced ham served on top of a glass of wine, however we know them today as small portions of food typically served as a snack before lunch or dinner. Tapas can be as simple as a bowl of olives or slices of Serrano ham.

Others believe that the tapa was born when the Spanish king Alfonso the 10th was ill. The Wise had to take small bites of food with some wine between meals. Once recovered from the disease, the wise king decreed that no wine was to be served in any of the inns in the land of Castile, unless accompanied by something to eat. This was a wise precaution to counteract the adverse effects of alcohol on those people who, through lack of money to buy a nourishing meal drank alcohol on an empty stomach. Apart from the story of the royal disease we should consider the theory that the tapa first appeared because of the need of farmers and workers of other unions to take a small amount of food during their working time, which allowed them to carry on working until time for the main meal. This main meal, rich in fat, was so heavy to digest that a "siesta" had to be taken for a couple of hours before going back to the fields or to the workshop. Longer working hours in the morning meant an easier workload after the meal.

Another popular explanation says that King Alfonso XIII stopped by a famous tavern in Cádiz (Andalusian city) where he ordered a cup of wine. The waiter covered the glass with a slice of cured ham before offering it to the king, to protect the wine from the beach sand, as Cádiz is a windy place. The king, after drinking the wine and eating the tapa, ordered another wine "with the cover"

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Wine was the natural accompaniment to this snack, as it induced a mellow mood and increased strength, while in winter it warmed the body as protection against very cold days in the fields and in the workshops of the Middle Ages. In summer, the drink taken in the South was "gazpacho" (cold tomato soup), instead of wine, which increased body heat rather than providing the necessary cold refreshment.

The snack is called "alifara" in northern Spain , Aragón and Navarra; and later, in the Vasque Country, it began to be called "poteo", because the wine had to be drunk in "potes" (jars).

Once the "botillerias" (bottle-shops) and "tabernas" (taverns) became established throughout Spain , the wise King’s decree remained in place. For that reason, the glass or jar of wine was served covered with a slice of either smoked ham or cheese, for two.

Gambas al ajillo (Prawns with garlic)

1⁄2 cup extra virgin olive oil
4-5 garlic cloves, minced or sliced
1-2 dry red chillies
500 gr./1 lbs prawns, peeled and deveined
salt
fresh ground pepper
4 tablespoons flat leaf parsley, chopped

Usually served as a Tapa, is so delicious it can be made as a main course!

In a pan or earthenware dish, warm the Olive Oil , add the garlic and sliced chillies.

When garlic starts to change colour, add the shrimps, and sauté quickly for about 2-3 minutes(until shrimps change colour), add salt and groud pepper, and sprinkle the parsley and serve at once in a warmed serving dish.

 If you wish, you can add lemon juice and paprika at the same time as the salt.

WARNINGS:

If you use frozen shrimps, you have to make sure they are dry when you add them to the pan.

Serving canned food at a dinner party. Yes, you can!

You may already know that is Spain canned see food is very popular. If you like cooking and canning  your recipes, it will be very easy for you to organize an unexpected nice dinner with family or friends. It is a good way to  fix the seasons. 

Check out some recipes that you use to prepare nice tapas only using some canned food. 

Vinegar Whitebait with garlic and parsley

Mussels and avocado spread

Asparagus cannelloni with Red Pepper Sauce

Red pepper salad with tuna and egg

Mussels in pickled sauce

Piquillo peppers jam (Mermelada de pimientos de piquillo)

300 gr or 2 1/5 cups of piquillo peppers or red peppers
150 gr or 1/2 cup sugar
80 ml or 5 1/2 wine vinegar
80 ml or 5 1/2 water







Remove seeds from piquillo peppers and cut. Placed in a saucepan with the sugar, water and wine vinegar and let it do a low heat, stirring occasionally.

Let cook for 35 to 40 minutes, watching not to burn . When it has the texture of a jam, remove from heat and store in a jar.

Recommended to be used with any type of cheese. Just great with Manchego cheese. 

Canning Tips

Cod Fritters (Buñuelos de Bacalao)

250 gr of desalted cod 
1/2 green pepper 
1 clove of garlic 
200 g flour 
10 g yeast 
1 egg 
50 g butter 
200 ml milk 
vinegar 
olive oil 
salt 




Melt the butter and put in a bowl. Add the flour, yeast, milk, egg, butter and a pinch of salt. Blend with a stick and left to ferment a couple of hours. 

Finely chop the green pepper and 1 clove of garlic and lightly fry in a pan with a little oil. Crumble the cod and add to the pan. Saute briefly and add the dough. Mix softly. Set aside and let it cool. 

Set plenty of olive oil in a saucepan and cook over high heat. When hot pour small amounts of dough with a spoon. Remove the fritters when they are golden brown and let them drain on kitchen paper.


Tips_ Dip Buñuelos in Alioli as we do traditionaly in Spain. You can add a bunch of parsley
1/2 teaspoon of cumin to the alioli before mixing for extra flavour. 

Spicy Romesco sauce with potatoes (Salsa Romesco con patatas.

5 large chillies
10 roasted almonds
6 roasted hazelnuts 
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 thick slice of country bread
3 tomatoes 
1 clove garlic
parsley
1/2 lemon juice
1 tablespoon of white wine
salt



Remove the seeds and stems from the chillies. Soak in warm water, and after 10 minutes dry them with paper towels. 

In a frypan heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil and fry the slice of bread on both sides until golden brown. Let it cool and cut it in cubes and set aside.

High heat the pan with 2 tablespoon olive oil and the chiles. Cook for a minute and add the tomatoes chopped. Season and stir constantly until the tomato juices have evaporated.

In a grinder place the almonds, hazelnuts and fried bread. After 1 minute add the peeled garlic clove, grind for 1 minute and add also the tomato mixture from the pan, parsley, lemon juice and white wine. Grind meanwhile adding 1 cup of olive oil until getting an homogeneous mixture.  Season to taste. 

Asparagus Wrapped in Jamón Serrano (Espárragos Envueltos en Jamón Serrano)

1 bunch fresh asparagus spears
12 long, thin slices of jamón serrano
Juice of 1 lemon
extra virgin olive oil
1 rosemary stem
black ground pepper









Dip the fresh asparagus in hot water and boil for 2 minutes. Drain well.

Mix the lemon, olive oil and finely chopped rosemary stem. With a brush spread the mixture on the asparagus.

Wrap sliced of serrano ham around a 1 - 2 asparagus, depending on the size. You can use an stick to close it well. 

Cook in a flat pan or BBQ. cool. Season with black pepper to taste.

Clams with Artichokes (Almejas con Alcachofas)

20 preserved artichokes
2 garlic cloves
3 - 4 tbsp olive oil
1 glass of water + artichokes liquid
1 tbsp flour
1/2 glass of white wine
24 clean clams
pinenuts or chopped almonds
salt and pepper





Drain the artichoke and set the liquid aside. 

Chop the garlics and brown them in frypan with hot olive oil. When almost ready add few pinenuts or chopped almonds for extraflavour. 

In a mixer wisk the flour, white wine and the 1 cup of remaining liquid from artichokes plus some water until filling up 1 glass. Pour in the frypan. 

Add the clams and cook until they are open. Then add the artichoke cutted in half and cook for a few minutes before serving. Add salt and pepper to taste. 

Quinoa bites with Alioli (Bocados de Quinoa con Alioli)

2 cups _12 oz _ 340 g cooked quinoa
4 large eggs
1/3 cup_5 oz  _15 g fresh chives
1 white onion
1/3 cup _ 5 oz _ 15 g grated Manchego cheese 
3 cloves garlic
1/2 cup _ 1.75 oz  _ 50 g white bread crumbs
1/2 cup _ 1.75 oz  _ 50 g grated roasted almonds
water
olive oil 
salt

Mix in a bowl the boiled quinoa, eggs, and salt to taste, stir until getting an homogeneus dough.

Chop the chives, onion, and garlic and add it to the mixture. Keep stirring and add the grated Manchego cheese and the grated roasted almonds. Then add the bread crumbs and stir. Set aside for a few minutes so the crumbs can take some of the juices.

(at this point you can add some more breadcrumbs is the mixture is too moisturized, or some water it is too dry. Just to taste) 

Stuffed eggs with artichokes and spinach (Huevos rellenos de alcachofas y espinacas)

4 large eggs 
40 g of spinach 
40 g of artichokes 
1 tablespoon sultanas
3 tablespoon olive oil 
lemon juice
Salt and pepper
mayonnaise 


Cook the eggs and let cool. 

In another saucepan boil the chopped artichokes with few drops of lemon juice to avoid oxidation, and salt. After 10 minutes add the spinach. Drain the water and grind in a blender. When it is done, add the sultanas and the olive oil. (those do not have to be grind) 

Fill up the egg with the mixture. Season to taste. 

Mayonnaise can be used for decoration, along with the yolks. Break the yolks in a bowl with a fork or in mortar, place it on top.

Tips_ Make spicy by adding paprika powder to the mayonnaise.

Stuffed roasted red pepper with spinach bechamel (Pimientos asado rellenos con bechamel de espinacas)

3 tablespoons of boiled white beans
8 roasted and peeled red peppers
50 g of spinach
1 red onion
1 clove of garlic
2 table spoons of pine nuts
1 - 2 tablespoon flour
200 ml milk
olive oil
nutmeg  

For the sauce
4 roasted and peeled red peppers
1 spring onion
350 ml cream
olive oil


Chop the onion and garlic, lightly fry in a pan with a little olive oil. Seasons. Wash spinach well, chop them and add them to the pan. Also add the pine nuts and white beens. 

Meanwhile, in a different frying pan add some olive oil. Add flour, some nutmeg and keep mixing. Mix well and slowly add the milk, stirring until the bechamel is made. Pour the spinach, onion, garlic, etc from the other pan and mix until getting a homogeneous bechamel. Place in a glass bowl and let cool. After about 30 - 50 min, fill up the roasted and peeled red peppers with the spinach bechamel. 

Mussels and avocado spread (Paté de mejillones y aguacate)

1 can of pickled mussels (or 10 - 12 boiled mussels with a bay leaf) 
1 large avocado
A few drops of lemon
¼ sweet onion or fresh chives
2 tablespoon of thick mayonnaise
1 teaspoon of white wine



Drain the mussels well.
Peel the avocado and remove the bone.

Put in the glass of the mixer mussels, chopped avocado, few drops of lemon (important to avoid mixture oxidation), the chopped onion and mayonnaise and the white wine.

Putting the cool spread in a bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap, making sure the plastic touches the entire surface of the pate, to prevent it from rusting.

Asparagus cannelloni with Red Pepper Sauce (Canelones de Espárragos con salsa de pimientos)

6 slices of cooked ham
12 white asparagus canned
mayonnaise
Manchego cheese
Piquillo pepper sauce

Spread the asparagus on paper towels to absorb the excess of water.

Roll the slices of ham on a plate, add a teaspoon of mayonnaise and spread all over the slice. Add two asparagus in the center and roll up.

Place in heatproof dish. Add grated manchego cheese on top, and heated with a burner or au gratin in oven.

Pour some sauce over the cannelloni and serve.

Wine Strawberry jam sandwich

20 slices of hand made bread
1/2 cup strawberry jam 
2 tablespoons of Rioja red wine 
10 slices of baked ham
10 slices of Manchego aged cheese
olive oil or unsalted butter








Heat the grilled. Mix the strawberry jam with the Rioja red wine. Spread the mixture on 10 of the handmade bread slices. 

Top with the ham and the manchego aged cheese, and close the sandwiches. Lightly butter the outside of the sandwiches, and cook over medium heat until toasted. If you don´t like butter, you can also toast the bread and add a bit of olive oil on top of the toasted bread.  This way you´ll be adding an amazing extra flavour. Cut in half and serve right away.

Mediterranean stuffed grape leaves

Parboil 1 cup grains or leave quicker-cooking grains raw. Combine with 1 cup fillings (any combination you like) and seasonings to taste. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and let the fillings marinate while you prepare the leaves.

Buy jarred grape leaves, or trim the thick stems and veins from fresh grape leaves, fig leaves, cabbage, collards or kale; you want about 35 leaves altogether. Blanch the leaves in boiling water until pliable, then blot them dry with paper towels. Line the bottom of a pot with a few leaves.

Stuff each remaining leaf with about 1 tablespoon filling, roll and stack them in the pot. Add water or stock to barely cover the rolls, and add a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice. Bring almost to a boil, then cover and simmer until the filling is tender, 15 to 20 minutes for couscous and bulgur, 25 minutes for quinoa, 30 minutes for parboiled farro and brown rice, 45 minutes for white rice. Let cool, then remove and serve. 

Yield: About 30 rolls (6 to 8 appetizer servings).

While not difficult, rolling up all these tiny packages is certainly a project. But they keep fairly well in the fridge — just store them in their cooking liquid, fishing them out as needed. I typically make the biggest batch that I can stand and aim for leftovers throughout the week.

Boquerón en Vinagre con ajo y perejil (Vinegar Whitebait with garlic and parsley)

1 kg of large whitebait 
Vinegar to cover
salt
Extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves of garlic
parsley






Clean the whitebait,  remove innards, bones, tails and heads. Split in two pieces. Flush with water very cold, do not stir or fish can be broken. Drain it when fish is clean. 

Marineras (Sailors)

Ensaladilla rusa
Rosquillas or slices of toasted bread
Anchovies 
Vinegar Whitebait (Boquerón)


Take the breadstick, place a tablespoon of ensaladilla on top. 
Add an anchovy or a boquerón on top. Enjoy it now!

Endivias caramelizadas con Queso (Caramelized endive with aged cheese)

4 endives
8 tablespoons olive oil
4 teaspoons brown sugar
4 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons of thyme
aged cheese (Manchego or any other)
breadcrumbs
black pepper





Preheat oven to 190 ° In a baking dish put the olive oil with the sugar and the salt, place in the oven 5 minutes.

Meanwhile cut the endives in half. Put the cut side down in the baking dish and get back in the oven. Cook for 3-5 minutes. 

Tortitas de brócoli y zanahoria (Broccoli and carrot pancakes)

125 gr. broccoli
125 gr. carrot
2 eggs
30 gr. aged grated cheese (Manchego is great)
1 tablespoon olive oil
parsley
salt & pepper




Preheat oven to 150 º.

Peel the carrots and grate. Prepare a pot of boiling water and cook the carrots for 5 minutes or until tender. Drain and set aside.

Wash and cut broccoli into small bunchs. Cook in boiling water for five minutes. Drain and chop coarsely. Place the broccoli and carrots in a bowl.

We wash, dry and chop the parsley and add it to the vegetables.