Tapas - the delicious Spanish appetizers known throughout the world. In the land of the Basques, you're more likely to find them under the name pinchos, since they were originally served on a stick (pinch - literally means "thorn"). In other regions they are also called Banderillas and others.
But no matter what they're called, these small, but not always, appetizers are served with wine or beer and are almost always eaten on the go.
There are many types of tapas. The 3 main kinds are: Spanish shrimp, marinated olives and Spanish omelettes. They're easy to make and very delicious. Here's how to make them:
Tapas - Spanish Shrimp
Ingredients: olive oil, 1 chili pepper, garlic and shrimp.
Preparation: Chop the chili pepper and garlic finely. Heat the olive oil and put all of the ingredients in it. Fry for no more than 3 min. Consume the appetizer with crunchy bread.
Tapas - Marinated Mushrooms
Ingredients: olive oil, 1 chili pepper, bay leaf, several bunches of thyme and olives.
Preparation: Heat all the ingredients, excluding the olives. Let them cool and put the olives in them. Leave this to sit for 4 days. You can fill the marinated olives with feta cheese, lemon and peppers. Serve them as you would a beer appetizer.
Tapas - Spanish Omelettes
Ingredients: 3 tbsp olive oil, 1 old onion head, 3 potatoes, 2 cloves old garlic, 2 red peppers, 6 eggs, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 bunch fresh parsley.
Preparation: Heat an oven with a fan to 390°F (200 °C).
Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a pan. Peel the onion and potatoes, cut them and fry on moderate heat for about 20 min. - until softened. Gradually, add the garlic and peppers, that you've cleaned and cut ahead of time, leave them to saute another 5 min.
Transfer the vegetables to a large bowl. Season the mixture and let it cool. Add the eggs, cayenne pepper and parsley and leave them for another 5 min. for the flavors to mix.
Put an oven dish with thin walls in the oven to heat up a little bit. Take it out and oil it. Pour the egg mixture into it and bake for 15-20 min. until hardened. Take the cooked appetizer our, let it cool and cut it into squares. Serve as a wine appetizer.
Other recipes from Spanish cuisine: Spanish Chili Potatoes, Gazpacho, Pork Fillet in Madeira, Spanish Potato Salad, Spicy Shrimp with Garlic.
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