What is the most popular tapas?

Here’s the list of the best traditional tapas dishes:

• Patatas Bravas
• Gambas al Aijilo
• Croquetas
• Calamares fritos
• Albóndigas en salsa
• Jamón Serrano
• Boquerones en vinagre
• Tortilla española

Now let’s find out their ingredients, and some top tips for making them...

Patatas Bravas

What are Patatas Bravas?

Translating to “spicy potatoes” in English, patatas bravas are a Spanish tapas dish consisting of fried, cubed potatoes smothered in a spicy sauce, and can be served either hot or cold.

Yukon Gold and Russet are among the most commonly used potato varieties for this dish, cut into cubes of around 2cm and fried in olive oil until crispy.

The sauce for patatas bravas (which can also be known as patatas a la brava or papas bravas) is made with olive oil and pimentón de la Vera - sweet smoked paprika (or just smoked paprika) and thickened with cornstarch. Some recipes for the sauce also include ingredients such as tomato paste or puree.

Patatas Bravas tip

After par-boiling the potatoes to fry, salt them and allow to thoroughly cool. This will give them a dryness that translates into crispy skins and fluffy insides once fried.

Allergen alert!

Though none of the main ingredients in patatas bravas are among the major allergens, many Caterers use a dusting of flour on their fried potatoes before cooking. Wheat flour is a Cereal containing Gluten and one the 14 major food allergens.

Gambas al Aijilo

What are Gambas al Ajillo?

One of the most popular tapas dishes, gambas al ajillo are simply prawns (or shrimp) sauteed in garlic-infused olive oil and served sizzling in the dish.

The prawns should begin raw, and shell-on, and are fried for 10 minutes or so in olive oil that has been infused with garlic, and sometimes slices of garlic too.

Both the cooking and serving of gambas al ajillo should take place in a cazuela, a shallow earthware dish usually terracotta in colour.

Gambas al Ajillo tip

Add a kick to your gambas al ajillo with a sprinkling of dried chilli before serving - it will add flavour, a pop of colour, and unlike trying to add it to the oil whilst cooking, you can control the level of spice you want.

Allergy alert!

Prawns and shrimp are Crustaceans - a type of shellfish, and one of the 14 major food allergens.

Croquetas

What are Croquetas?

Croquetas, or croquettes, are a type of finger food and a popular tapas dish. Traditionally made from meats, potatoes and other leftovers, they consist of a crispy, fried shell and a creamy filling.

Ham croquetas are the most commonly seen on Spanish tapas menus, and are made by gently frying ham and leeks with a sprinkling of flour in oil until soft, then stirring in a milk-based stock and cooking over a medium heat until the liquid has been incorporated and the mixture has thickened. The filling is then dipped in breadcrumbs or batter and deep fried for a short amount of time till crispy.

Croquetas tip

After portioning out the filling for the croquetas, allow to cool fully and rest in the fridge before deep frying. This will prevent them releasing steam and falling to pieces in the fryer, as well as keeping the filling moist and the shell crispy.

What is tapas?

Tapas are a staple of Spanish (and Central American) cuisine, small savoury dishes or plates of food that can be eaten alone as a snack, or paired with others to create a more substantial meal. Some tapas are meat-based and others are vegetable based, some are eaten hot and some are eaten at room temperature or even chilled and the dishes might be simple - with 1 or 2 ingredients, or more complex. The word “tapas”, which is plural, derives from “tapar” - which is the Spanish verb “to cover”, and tapas are synonymous with taverna dining, being consumed casually with wine and other alcoholic beverages.

Allergy alert!

Most croquetas contain wheat flour both in the filling and the shell. Wheat is a Cereal containing Gluten and one of the 14 major food allergens). The filling is also made with Milk, another major allergen.

Calamares friotos

What are Calamares fritos?

Calamares fritos is simply fried squid. It is a simple dish, popular in Spanish tapas and many other cuisines. It can be made using either fresh or frozen calamari - with the latter being more tender and therefore well suited to the frying process. The thawed and cleaned tubes of squid are cut into rings, coated in batter and fried briefly to prevent them turning rubbery. Calamares fritos is typically served with lemon wedges, and a tartar or tomato-based sauce for dipping into.

Calamares fritos tip

Do not fry the rings immediately after coating in batter - doing so encourages the batter to slide off the squid in the fryer. Instead, allow them to sit for a couple of minutes to rehydrate and bond with the coating.

Allergy alert!

Squid is a Mollusc, one of the 14 major food allergens. Batter is made with flour (usually wheat, a Cereal containing Gluten), and a binder like Egg or Milk. All of these are among the 14 major food allergens.

Albóndigas en salsa

What is Albóndigas en salsa?

Albóndigas en salsa is a Spanish dish, often used as part of tapas, and consisting of meatballs in a tomato based sauce, cooked and served in a shallow earthware dish called a cazuela.

The meatballs used in Albóndigas en salsa are traditionally a mixture of beef and pork. They are simmered in an aromatic sauce with a tomato base, and other ingredients such as wine, garlic, onions, herbs, spices, saffron and even almonds.

Albóndigas en salsa tip

Be sparing with the breadcrumbs when assembling your meatballs - although they are a necessary ingredient (and one of the cheapest), using too many will make the meatballs loose and prone to falling apart. Add gradually and assess the consistency rather than tipping in all at once.

Allergy alert!

Meatballs are typically made with breadcrumbs (which in turn are made with wheat flour, a Cereal containing Gluten) and Eggs. Both of these are among the 14 major food allergens.

Jamón Serrano

What is Jamón Serrano?

Jamón Serrano is a Spanish ham, used throughout Spanish cuisine, including in tapas. Whilst similar to prosciutto, Jamón Serrano is cured for longer, and so has a deeper, saltier taste and a firmer texture.

Jamón Serrano can be seen as a more affordable alternative to Jamón ibérico, as it comes from a more common pig breed and is generally more easily available.

For tapas, it is typically served on a small piece of bread with some tomato.

Jamon Serrano tip

Serve Jamón Serrano at room temperature, as its flavours are at their height around 21 degrees celsius.

Allergy alert!

Jamón Serrano is a type of cured ham, which is not a major allergen.

Boquerones en vinagre

What is boquerones en vinagre?

A popular tapas dish, bouquerones en vinagre is a Spanish delicacy made by marinating fresh anchovies in vinegar.

The anchovy fillets must be cleaned and de-scaled before being first plunged into a salt and water mix for 3 hours and then marinated in a vinegar bath for a further 6 hours. After this process, the fish are drained and served seasoned with ingredients like minced garlic, parsley, and most importantly olive oil.

Boquerones en vinagre tip

It’s better to use anchovies that have been frozen rather than trying to marinate fresh anchovies. Freezing kills off parasites that can be found in raw fish and which cause food poisoning. For best results, store at -4 degrees celsius for at least 3 hours.

Allergy alert!

Anchovies are a type of Fish, which is one of the 14 major food allergens.

What are the 3 types of tapas?

Tapas are often broken down into 3 different categories. These are

• Cazuelas - named for the small, shallow earthware dish they are cooked and served in, this type of tapas is generally served hot and in a sauce. Meatballs in tomato sauce are an example of this type of tapas.
• Cosas de picar - tapas eaten as “finger food”, eaten directly from hand to mouth. Croquetas are an example of this tapas.
• Pinchos/Pintxos - this type of tapas is named for the word “pincho”, which refers to a cocktail stick. This type of tapas, of which bacon wrapped dates are an example, are eaten by picking up using said cocktail stick, or a skewer.

Tortilla española

What is Tortilla española?

“Spanish tortilla” in English, tortilla española is an onion and potato omelette that is a popular tapas dish when cut up into bitesize pieces or wedges and served at room temperature (though it can also be eaten hot or even chilled).

It is made by simmering sliced or diced white potatoes in oil with thinly sliced onions until soft and browned before draining and mixing with egg. The mixture is then returned to the hot, oiled pan and heated gently until cooked on the bottom. The tortilla is then flipped over so the other side can cook on the bottom of the pan.

Spanish tortilla tip

Pre-seasoning the eggs with salt before mixing with the other ingredients will help them retain moisture during cooking and prevent a dry omelette that falls apart.

Allergy alert!

Eggs are one of the main ingredients in omelettes and tortillas, and one of the 14 major food allergens. Although Spanish tortillas are traditionally made with olive oil, some people like to also put butter in the pan. Butter is a derivative of Milk, which is another of the 14 major food allergens.