6 easy recipes for throwing a Spanish tapas party

There’s no better way to spend time with friends than throwing a Spanish-themed tapas party!

The recipe for a perfect evening is simple: loved ones gathered around the table, a tasty tapas meal, pitchers of refreshing tinto de verano and an atmospheric playlist of Spanish favourites.

Today’s blog post is a collection of six easy tapas recipes you can make with ingredients found at your nearest supermarket. Of course, the post wouldn’t be complete without tips for what to include on your playlist!

”¡Que lo paséis bien!”

Tortilla española
Spanish omelette

6 eggs
4-5 potatoes
1 onion
salt
1 dl olive oil

Chop the onion. Cut the potatoes into small, thin pieces. Add the potatoes and the onion on the frying pan with a sprinkling of salt. Fry in olive oil until the potatoes are done. Break the eggs into a large bowl and whisk them. Don’t pour the eggs on top of the potatoes, but instead lift the potatoes and onion from the pan into the bowl (taking care to leave the extra oil in the pan) and mix. Then pour the mixture on the pan and fry on medium heat until the omelette is almost solid. Turn it around carefully and fry until both sides are golden brown.

Patatas bravas con aioli
Spanish potato cubes with garlic mayo

1 kg potatoes
salt
paprika
olive oil
garlic mayo (aioli)

Boil the potatoes for approximately 10 minutes and cut into snack-size cubes. Fry the potato cubes in olive oil on a pan until done. Add paprika and salt according to taste. Serve with garlic mayo.

Albondigas en salsa de tomate
Spanish meatballs in tomato sauce

Meatballs

400 gr minced meat
½ dl breadcrumbs or panko
1 dl sour cream or water
1 onion
2 garlic cloves
1 egg
salt
black pepper
paprika

Soak the breadcrumbs in sour cream or water. Chop and sauté the garlic and the onion. Mix all ingredients into an even paste and roll into small balls. Fry the meatballs on the pan.

Tomato sauce

1 can of finely chopped tomatoes
(1 dl white wine)
1 onion
2 garlic cloves
1 bell pepper
olive oil
salt
black pepper
paprika

Spanish meatballs are served in garlic-flavoured tomato sauce. Chop and sauté the onions, the garlic and the bell pepper. Add seasonings, chopped tomatoes and wine if desired. Let the sauce simmer for 15 minutes. Add the meatballs and serve with baguette.

Gambas al ajillo (Gambas Pil-Pil)
Garlic prawns

400 gr large prawns
3 garlic cloves
1 small chili pepper
1 lemon (for the juice)
olive oil
parsley (for decoration)

Chop the chili pepper and the garlic. Fry them in olive oil until golden brown. Add the prawns and fry for a few more minutes. Add the juice of the lemon and sprinkle parsley on top. Serve hot with baguette.

Berenjena frita con miel
Fried aubergine with honey

1 aubergine
salt
olive oil
wheat flour
honey

Cut the aubergine into thin slices. Sprinkle salt on the slices and let them sweat. Turn around, sprinkle salt on the other sides and let them sweat again. Wipe the surfaces of the slices with kitchen roll. Roll the slices in flour, shake off loose flour and fry in hot oil. Soak the extra oil into kitchen roll. Serve immediately with honey.

Plato de jamón y queso
Ham and cheese platter

Cut manchego cheese into slices. Set the cheese slices and air-dried ham (jamón serrano) beautifully on a large platter. Sprinkle olive oil on top. Serve with breadsticks or baguette.

Refreshing tinto de verano is the perfect drink to accompany tapas. Make tinto de verano by mixing a bottle of red wine and a bottle of lemon soda. Add ice cubes and decorate with lemon slices.

For a perfect finishing touch, play some Spanish music. Here are some ideas for your playlist:

Latin pop

Enrique Iglesias: El Perdón, Bailando, Súbeme La Radio, Duele El Corazón
Piso 21: Me Llamas, Besándote, Déjala, Que Vuelva
Ricky Martin: Livin’ La Vida Loca, Vente Pa’ Ca, La Mordidita

Reggaeton

J Balvin: Mi Gente, Ay Vamos, Safari
Karol G: Secreto, Casi Nada, Culpables
Maluma: Felices los 4, El Perdedor, Mi Mala

Pop / Rock

Juanes: Tengo La Camisa Negra, Besos En Guerra, Es Por Ti
Maná: Oye Mi Amor, En El Muelle De San Blas, Clavado En Un Bar

Salsa

Celia Cruz: La Vida Es Un Carnaval, Guantanamera, La Negra Tiene Tumbao

Merengue

Elvis Crespo: Suavemente, Azukita, Tu Sonrisa

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