The Extraordinary Cookbook of Scrumptious Tapas
A Collection of the Irresistible Appetizers for Any Occasion
BY: SOPHIA FREEMAN
2021 Sophia Freeman All Rights Reserved
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Tapas came from the Spanish word tapar that means to cover. A quite well-known story of how tapas came to be was that it started out as a piece of bread or a slice of cured meat. True to its name, these tasty nibbles are used as a lid to cover the glass and keep flies, sand, or dirt from getting into your drink.
The origin of tapas is somewhat unclear, and there are several views regarding the purpose it serves. For bar owners, tapas are great for business since the meats served are savory and salty, which would prompt customers to drink more. Aside from pacing your alcohol consumption and filling your stomach so you do not get drunk quickly, tapas are important in balancing out the bitter taste of alcohol.
Nowadays, tapas would refer to any kind of food served in small plates. In Spanish bars, tapas can vary greatly and can be served either hot or cold.
Different regions in Spain have their own specialty. Andalusia in the south has one of the best seafood tapas you can indulge in. One popular offering is ensaladilla, which is a salad made from vegetables and seafood. Espetos (grilled fish) and pescatofrito (fried fish) are also quite common.
Madrids specialties include jamon (cured ham), patatas bravas (spicy tomato sauce and potatoes), gambas al ajillo (sizzling garlic shrimp), and tortilla de patatas (egg and potato omelet).
Additional Useful & Interesting Information
Dinners are served rather late in Spain, which is typically from 9 in the evening and onwards. To remedy this, tapas are eaten in between while drinking and socializing.
There are still bars in Spain that serve free tapas that go with your drinks, particularly in the Castilla y Len region.
Eating tapas is so widespread that the Spanish added the word tapear to their dictionary, which means to go eat tapas.
Pistachio & Pomegranate Crostini
These appetizers impress you in more ways than one. Youll love the perfect balance of fruity and savory. Youll enjoy the delicious crunch of the pistachios and crusty bread. And youll enjoy the creaminess of the spread underneath the toppings.
Serving Size: 3 dozen
Preparation & Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
3 French bread baguettes, sliced
1 tablespoon butter, melted
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon honey
4 oz. cream cheese
1 cup pomegranate seeds
2 oz. dark chocolate, grated
cup pistachios, chopped
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
Place the bread slices on a baking pan.
Brush the top of the bread with the melted butter.
Bake in the oven for 5 minutes.
In a bowl, mix the orange juice, honey and cream cheese.
Spread this mixture on top of the toasted bread slices.
Top with the pomegranate seeds, grated dark chocolate and pistachios.
Nutrients per Serving:
Calories 44
Fat 3 g
Saturated fat 1 g
Carbohydrates 5 g
Fiber 0 g
Protein 1 g
Cholesterol 5 mg
Sugars 2 g
Sodium 46 mg
Potassium 40 mg
Steak & Blue Cheese Bruschetta
Bruschetta is an Italian appetizer that typically consists of grilled bread drizzled with olive oil and topped with tomatoes and cheese. In this recipe, we give it a twist and top it with steak slices, caramelized onions and blue cheese instead.
Serving Size: 16
Preparation & Cooking Time: 1 hour
Ingredients:
5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 sweet onion, sliced thinly
1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
Salt and pepper to taste
cup blue cheese, crumbled
6 oz. cream cheese, softened
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 French bread baguettes, sliced
2 beef rib eye steaks
1 teaspoons steak seasoning
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to a pan over medium high heat.
Cook the onion for 2 minutes, stirring often.
Reduce heat to low.
Cook the onions for 30 minutes, stirring from time to time.
Transfer the onions to a bowl.
Add the tomatoes in a baking pan.
Toss in 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt and pepper.
Roast in the oven for 10 minutes.
Add the roasted tomatoes to the bowl with the onion.
In another bowl, mix the blue cheese, cream cheese and garlic.