Serrano Ham

Very thin slices of raw, cured ham; an acquired taste for the British but well worth the effort.  Prices will vary if you ask for a racion. Iberian ham, for example, comes from free range pigs that have fed on acorns and therefore you must expect to pay more. Serrano ham is often served with thin slices of Spanish cheese; a very tasty combination!

Olives: Green or Black

Very thin slices of raw, cured ham; an acquired taste for the British but well worth the effort.  Prices will vary if you ask for a racion. Iberian ham, for example, comes from free range pigs that have fed on acorns and therefore you must expect to pay more. Serrano ham is often served with thin slices of Spanish cheese; a very tasty combination!

Russian Salad

Diced vegetables mixed with mayonnaise.

Seafood Salad

Diced tomatoes, red and green peppers, onion, mixed in oil and vinegar to which is added a selection of seafood, eg., mussels, prawns, crab, lobster.

Once you have tried a few tapas you could well be tempted to create them on your return home.  Here are a few suggestions:

Tostados: Toast with garlic and tomato

Toast will never be the same again. Ask for ‘pan Catalan’ or ‘toastado con tomato’ and you should do fine.  Eaten early with coffee, this toasted bread makes a great start to the day and very healthy too!

Recipe

• A day old barra (French bread)
• 1 peeled garlic clove
• Extra virgin olive oil
• A fresh tomato
  
  

Method

• Slice the bread lengthwise and toast until golden. Rub the garlic clove all over the toasted side of the bread. Rub the tomato well into the bread. Drizzle the olive oil over the bread and add salt to taste. Fantastic!

Garlic Potatoes

One of my favourites.  However, if you are planning a romantic evening avoid this tapa!!  Lovely with a full bodied Rioja.

  Recipe   

• 3 large potatoes
• 2 cloves of garlic crushed or finely chopped
• 4 tbsp mayonnaise
• Finely chopped fresh parsley

Method:

• Peel the potatoes and chop into small cubes. About the size of a large ice cube.
• Boil in salted water for about 10 mins; until just done. Drain and leave to cool.
• Mix together garlic, parsley and mayonnaise.
• Add potatoes to the garlic mayonnaise and very carefully mix together.
• Chill before serving.

Garlic Mushrooms

Who can resist them? Very more’ish

Recipe

• 2kg potatoes peeled and cut into cubes approximately the size of a large ice cube.
• 1 onion chopped
• 4 tbsp good quality olive oil
• Small glass of dry white wine
• 2 ripe tomatoes, chopped finely
• Half tsp dried chili; 2 garlic cloves finely chopped; handful chopped parsley
• Half tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp paprika; 1 tbsp tomato paste.
• A good dash of Tabasco Sauce.

Method

Put chopped potatoes in baking tray and cover with olive oil and some salt. Place in a hot oven (400 – 450 degrees) for approx 35 mins. Turn once during cooking. Potatoes should be cooked through and a nice light brown colour.

Make sauce. Heat 1 tbs oil in pan. Add onion and cook gently for 5 mins. Add garlic, chili, paprika and cumin and cook for a min or two. Add wine. After further min or two reduce the heat and add tomatoes and tomato paste. Simmer for a further 10 – 15 minutes. Sauce should be nice and thick. Blend till smooth and add Tabasco sauce and parsley. Add potatoes and mix carefully.  Add further salt if required.

Alternatively, cook potatoes as garlic potatoes and add spicy sauce in place of garlic mayonnaise. Equally delicious.

Patatas Brava. Spicy, potatoes in a tomato sauce

Once you try these for the first time, and you like spicy foods, you´ll be hooked for life.

Recipe

• 2kg potatoes peeled and cut into cubes approximately the size of a large ice cube.
• 1 onion chopped
• 4 tbsp good quality olive oil
• Small glass of dry white wine
• 2 ripe tomatoes, chopped finely
• Half tsp dried chili; 2 garlic cloves finely chopped; handful chopped parsley
• Half tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp paprika; 1 tbsp tomato paste.
• A good dash of Tabasco Sauce.
  
  

Method

• Put chopped potatoes in baking tray and cover with olive oil and some salt. Place in a hot oven (400 – 450 degrees) for approx 35 mins. Turn once during cooking. Potatoes should be cooked through and a nice light brown colour.
• Make sauce. Heat 1 tbs oil in pan. Add onion and cook gently for 5 mins. Add garlic, chili, paprika and cumin and cook for a min or two. Add wine. After further min or two reduce the heat and add tomatoes and tomato paste. Simmer for a further 10 – 15 minutes. Sauce should be nice and thick. Blend till smooth and add Tabasco sauce and parsley. Add potatoes and mix carefully.  Add further salt if required.
• Alternatively, cook potatoes as garlic potatoes and add spicy sauce in place of garlic mayonnaise. Equally delicious.
  
  

Manchego Cheese; Spanish Cheese in oil

Recipe

• Manchego cheese
• Good quality olive oil
  
  

Method

• Cube or slice the cheese into thin triangular slices.
• Place into the oil and leave to marinade for as long as you can: up to a year has been suggested. A week is fine – if you can last that long!