What are tapas? Tapas are dishes served in small portions. A product of Spain, most tapas have a Spanish flair. They can be hot or cold, from a plate of mixed olives & cheeses to steak or ham. At NYC restaurant Boqueria, Executive Chef Marc Vidal has everything from Seared Lamb with Salsa Verda to Paella on his tapas menu.
Originally, tapas are designed to be shared. Ordered as part of a cocktail hour, traditionally a group would order several tapas and split them, similar to the way appetizers are eaten. However, tapas are different from appetizers in that an order of several tapas may be the entire meal.
For a table for one diner, tapas are perfect, pre-portioned recipes that can be the stairway to culinary heaven!
Since they are designed in small portions, tapas are already paired down. Also, tapas can include rich, gourmet flavors because the diner is only intended to eat small amounts. So the next time you want to spice up your table for one - try a tapas recipe!
Here are some links to Tapas Recipes by Food Network, Martha Stewart, and Food & Wine Magazine, including some recipes from Boqueria restaurant:
Tapas Cookbooks:
Small Plates: Appetizers as Meals by Marguerite Marceau Henderson
Including recipes like Warm Mozzarella and Tomato Bruschetta, Beef Tenderloin Kebobs with Roquefort-Rosemary Sauce, and even a single serving Muffaletta (a sandwich from New Orleans made with mixed olives, cheeses, and deli meats) - this book has a litle bit of something for everyone.
From Tapas to Meze: Small Plates from the Mediterranean by Joanne Weir
Although this book contains more than just tapas, it includes over 220 recipes from Spain, Italy, France, and Greece, and all of the recipes are designed to be made in small servings.
Tapas: The Little Dishes of Spain by Penelope Casas
As the reviews on Amazon.com tell you, this book contains "an extensive range of tapas from many regions." However, this may be a book you want to skim at the bookstore before you decide to shell out the 30 bucks, because - although the food is good - several of the recipes require quite a bit of work and can be rather time consuming. So, unless you already have some culinary skills, this may not be the book for you.
