Tapas 101

• • Tips and Tricks

Tapas 101 – Complete Tapas Guide

• ByGala
• June 3, 2020

There are a lot of different types of tapas. Every region in Spain has its own serving traditions and specific local food. Because of that, it would be hard and unfair to call some tapas THE BEST and not neglect another.

I personally know that feeling when you read an article on the most important or popular tapas in Spain, and it doesn’t even mansion your favorite; I mean, HOW?! It is the most delicious tapas, and the writer forgot it!? Wow, what a disappointment!

My favorite tapas dishes in Spain

So, because of that, I am not going to write about the best or the most popular tapas. For now, I am simply going to tell you about MY favorite tapas. I will give you a piece of personal advice on what you should try but remember there is a lot more out there.

For example, one of the most popular tapas are croquets, but I am not a huge fan. So, for now, I will leave it aside, and focus on the ones I cannot get enough of. It may not be to your taste, but don’t worry, this is most certainly not my last tapas list!

👉 While you are waiting for our next list, you can explore more dishes in this awesome book with more than 60 tapas recipes.

If you click this link and make a purchase, as an Amazon Associates we will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

But first, you can check my personal favorites! It will mostly be Andalusian because there is where I lived.

Although, to be honest, I sure hope to expand my list with some northern dishes very soon. It’s a trip waiting in line!

So, here is a list of my top 5 Andalusian tapas.

Olives (Aceitunas)

Alright, it’s time for a miniature geography lesson. Spain is THE largest producer of olives in the world, therefore with over 200 varieties, this is the place everybody can find a perfect olive match.

Don’t like olives? Well, leave that self behind, because you are going to change your mind.

Olives are the most basic tapas dish, so prepare to eat them daily.

Yes, you could just skip them, but then you would miss the magic that happens when you mix this salty and spicy taste with your favorite beer or wine. I do not recommend skipping!

If you don’t like one type, give a chance to another, mix the scents, experiment, and believe me, you will eventually discover that one pearl from paradise you will later dream of.

To all that different olive sorts add all the different ways of seasoning and preparing.

Many Different types of Spanish Olives

Mostly, they are salty, sometimes bitter, and sometimes even sweet. If you prefer a more herbal taste, try that natural-looking with a little stem to them, or if you like more spicy and hot notes, you should try the reddish ones, because that is a promising paprika color.

Somebody prefers them with beer and somebody with wine, I personally love them with wine. But, of course, the type of olive and its spices is a big deal when pairing it with food.

They are mostly seasoned pretty good so you would need a sip of that cold and fresh beverage just after the bite, but then when the taste is washed off, you WILL want more of it because it was so delicious and it got every single part of your taste receptors involved. Then you would take another bite and another sip and so on: believe me – it is a never-ending circle.

• Tapas Serving size: a handful, but they often go as side-tapas
• Where to try it: Andalusia, or wherever in Spain

Papas aliñás (Potato salad)

These are not the most common tapas dish in Jaen or Malaga, but it is in Cadiz and Jerez de la Frontera. And they are undoubtedly my absolute favorite when it comes to potato tapas.

I tried them for the first time in Cadiz, but I later tried them wherever I could find them and even prepared them myself thousands of times because I was so obsessed. Of course, they are the best in Jerez de la Frontera, because of the special ingredient – the famous vinegar from Jerez.

So, what is this dish exactly?

It is a salad made of white potatoes, perfectly cooked, so they would be soft and firm at the same time, cut in perfect little cubes; just about the size to pop them in your mouth. The salad is chilled and covered in fresh parsley and thinly chopped spring onion to give that crisp note on your tongue and to break the mildness of the potatoes.

All that is garnished with smooth and rich Spanish olive oil that holds the herbs together and gives potatoes that greenish spark. And of course, the salad is bathed in the secret ingredient, tart and aromatic vinegar of Jerez de la Frontera that swirls the taste around together. It’s just mesmerizing.

• Tapas serving size: 2-3 tablespoons
• Where to try it: Jerez de la Frontera or Cadiz

Patatas Alioli (Potatoes with sauce)

This is another potato dish, and it is absolutely loved by the Spanish people. I would say that it is one of the most popular tapas dishes in Andalusia.

The sauce is also well-liked and can be found in every supermarket. For me, this sauce can sometimes be too much, as it contains a lot of garlic, and my stomach is not the best of pals with garlic.

But honestly, sometimes I just couldn’t resist.

This white sauce is something like mayonnaise with garlic and olive oil, sometimes mixed with lemon juice, parsley, pepper, etc. It is very creamy and very well mixed. It is not as thick as mayonnaise, but rather smooth and light.

However, it has a very specific and strong taste. The garlic isn’t dominant in taste, it is very well mixed and structured with other ingredients, but it is very present. So, if you are not a fan of garlic, it may not be the best dish for you.

I suggest trying it anyways! With beer, it goes like peas and carrots!

• Tapas Serving size: 1 -2 scoops
• Where to try it: Wherever in Spain  

Russian salad (Ensaladilla rusa)

This salad is a form of the classical Russian salad, but mostly with added olives to give it a Spanish signature. For me, it goes the best with red wine, Sangria or Tinto de Verano, but I am starting to think I just prefer wine over beer. Anyways, the salad is awesome because it is served with little crunchy breadsticks that go fantastically with it.

It is special though, at least for me. We make this salad very often in my country but the Spanish one is much creamier and thicker. I looked for recipes online to see what the difference is, but it is mostly the same. I would say not too much mayonnaise and a very creamy cheese spread. And the bread sticks, I think they play a big role.

It is sometimes made with tuna, which then makes it a tuna salad, but the ingredients are the same, so let’s call it a Russian-tuna salad. When tuna is involved, then it maybe goes better with lager beer or cava (Spanish sparkling wine)

• Tapas Serving size: 2-3 scoops 
• Where to try it: Anywhere in Spain, Malaga

Jamón Ibérico (Iberian Ham)

Jamón Ibérico is another Spanish symbol. There is no tapas bar without at least one pork leg hanging from the ceiling or sitting at a countertop. Why? Well, because it is waiting to be sliced and served with your cold drink.

Iberian ham is so popular, that even supermarkets have sections with all these prestigious hams spiced differently and, of course, a lot of pork legs just hanging from the ceiling. Of course, not all of the ham in Spain is Jamón Ibérico. There is also Serrano ham (Jamón serrano). There are some major differences between the two, but for an amateur, they could come as similar.

If you are not used to the smell of both Iberian ham and Serrano ham, you will find them very overwhelming. You would probably want to get as far away as possible from them. But once you get used to delicious taste of them, your tummy will start growling.

So, why are these hams so special?

Well, both Iberian ham and Serrano ham are special snowflakes among charcuterie (charcutería) because they come from pigs that are native only to Spain and Portugal. Also, because these pigs live their lives being free, running in the fresh mountain air and eating corns and cereals.

Their habitat is more natural, and they have a higher life quality, thus their bodies are formed naturally, and they don’t produce stress hormones as pigs kept in captivity. They are genuinely happy and fairly free, so the meat is full of good hormones and natural vitamins. Also, they are kept in small herds, so compared to hundreds of pigs in pig factories, the product must cost more.

• Tapas Serving size: 1-2 slices of ham on a piece of bread
• Where to try it: Anywhere in Spain

So, there are my 5 personal favorites, but it wasn’t an easy choice.

There are so many different ones, and the best ones are those unique and improvised sandwiches you get once and never again.

As I promised, this will not be my only tapas list so be prepared for more good food, and great places to try it!

Qué aproveche!

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Spanish tapas

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• June 3, 2020

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• ByGala
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The post 5 Popular Tapas Dishes you should try in 2022 appeared first on My Coliving Space: Spain.

This is why we decided to write this ultimate tapas guide and to prepare you for the best Spanish experience.

Let’s start with the first lesson – What is tapas exactly?

Many cafes around the world like to give their customers a compliment snack with their drinks, but none do it like the Spaniards – trust us. Forget about one bowl of peanuts for the table or a handful of potato chips for the 4 of you.

In Spain, these things are the compliments of the compliment snacks you get. The main tapas can be everything from sandwiches, hamburgers, salads, seafood, paellas, and soup.

If you hit the right place, you can even skip dinner after only two rounds of 0.20 glass of beer, and compliment snacks that you get alongside.

How did tapas originate?

It is thought that the word tapa comes from an old Spanish custom of covering a glass of beverage with a piece of bread or ham.

This was done to prevent the mosquitoes or flies from finding their place inside your glass. The verb TAPAR in Spanish means TO COVER, which is logically related to the custom.

Another story says that one day King Alonso XIII was in Cadiz when he ordered a glass of wine to drink it outside.

”…It was a windy day, and the wind started carrying the sand from the ground. When the sand rose too much and threatened to get into the wine of King Alonso XIII, the bartender saved the day. He quickly covered the king’s glass with a piece of ham. The king loved the idea, so when he finished his drink, he asked for another glass with a “tapa” (a cover).”

There are many stories like these, and every part of Spain has its own legend. So, if you want to know the answer to the question “How did tapas originate?”, we may disappoint you. No one knows the real truth. However, the origin of the word is clear – “tapa” is a “cover”.

The most used word, however, is the word tapas, which is a plural form of the word tapa. That is because most times tapas are served for the whole group at the table. A secret to getting the most out of this tradition is to order in rounds, and not individually.

Waiters usually serve tapas when you order for everyone at the same time. If you finish before your friends and make an order, you may not get a second snack.

Tapas portions

Tapilla

Tapilla is a diminutive word for tapa. This doesn’t mean you will get a teeny tiny tapa; it is common in the Spanish language to use diminutive forms of words. So, tapilla is a popular word that can be heard a lot from waiters in Andalusia.

You can ask the waiter for specific meat or ingredient telling you would like tapilla de cerdo, tapilla de ternera, tapilla íberica, etc.

Para picar

Pare picar is an expression that metaphorically means to have a bite with a toothpick as if you would at a party. This expression can describe tapas, or it can describe food plates that can be shared among friends.

These are mostly cheese plates or meat plates as Plato Iberico and Plato de queso. Also, Plato Marinero for those who like seafood, or patatas caseras for those who prefer veggies.

Raciones

It is referred to as bigger portions of tapas that are meant to be shared among the group, which is something that Spanish people do a lot.

Raciones can also be regular-sized one-person servings. In Madrid and the area around it, the culture of tapas is truly a culture of raciones.

Para compartir

Para compartir literally means for sharing, and that is another way of describing raciones. In some bars, you will find only tapas and raciones (tapa only for you or a plate for a group), and in some, you will find meals, the plates for sharing, individual tapas, etc.

If you order something under para compartir you will get a serving enough for two people to be almost full, and for three or four people too, well, picar while drinking.

As I said before, Spanish people love to dine this way. They will go out with friends or family on a Friday night and order 4 or 5 different plates for sharing and share it all while drinking a beer or a soda. They sure can decide as a group, don’t they?

Pintxo-pote or pincho

Pintxo-pote or pincho is a northern, Basque version of tapas, pintxo referring to food and pote to drinks. It is served on a specific day of the week for a couple of hours, and the price is a bit higher than when ordering just a drink.

👉 If you want to make tapas at home we recommend this awesome book with more than 60 recipes.

If you’re more of a dine-out kind of a person, then keep reading to learn where to find tapas bars in Spain, how to order, and what’s the cost.

If you click this link and make a purchase, as an Amazon Associates we will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

What is a Tapas bar, and where to find it?

If you ask for a tapas bar in Spain, you may be referred to a lot of different places. The truth is that in Spain, almost every bar is a tapas bar, or at least serves tapas, even if the main purpose is not that.

Every bar and cafe in Spain serves food, so they also have some of the above-listed versions of tapas.

Places that don’t serve tapas are coffee places, restaurants, pubs, and nightlife bars. But even when I say they don’t serve it, they do. I get excited when bars in my country serve free handfuls of chips or peanuts with beer, and that is usually a the-manager-is-in-a-good-mood surprise.

For the Spanish people, who are used to much bigger stuff than just chips, this is the least they expect. Potato chips in Andalusia are like a side dish for tapas and every place serves it. Fancier places and restaurants serve chips, or other small tapas even if you already ordered some food and drinks.

How much do tapas cost in Spain?

Tapas are sometimes completely complimentary, and sometimes they cost. It all depends on the place, city, or region, but the cost is usually something that is “worth it”.

In Andalusia, with an accent on Jaen, the tapas are usually free, and you will get one tapa per drink.

I tried a lot of different places in Jaen, and I haven’t got into one that charges for tapas. But, in Cordoba and Seville, I was charged every time.

When you pay for them, tapas tend to be a bit bigger than those that are free, but they are a lot of exceptions. Jaen had some places that had free tapas that were huge. But they say Jaen is the center of the tapas culture.

So, how much do tapas cost?

When bars charge for tapas, it is usually a small amount compared to what you get, so it is still a good deal. Those tapas that you pay for are usually something like a small size main course, like meatballs in sauce, chicken with mushrooms, seafood, etc. The food is not so much of a snack, but a small course.

It can differ from place to place but in Andalusia a regular meal costs from 8 to 15 euros. Knowing that you can conclude what the size of the tapas is according to its cots. If the tapas costs 6 euros, it is the size of two or three people. If it cost 2 euros, it is probably only for one person (2-3 meatballs).

How is tapas served?

In some places, you get to pick your tapa, and in some, you get a random tapa. Of course, if you are paying for it, you have a menu from which you choose. But, if tapas are completely complimentary, you either get a surprise tapas or also choose from the menu.

There are a lot of places that have free tapas but also have a menu for you to choose from. Those tend to be bigger but simpler – less quality and more quantity. These tapas are mostly hamburgers, ham and cheese sandwiches, sausages, etc.

Other tapas bars in Spain bring you tapas of their choice. The charm of not knowing what you will get is both risky and amusing. Those tapas are usually some homemade recipes, so it is somewhat more interesting and unique. Of course, you have the risk of getting something that you don’t like, but hey, you tried something new.

So, speaking from personal experience, no way is better than the other. It is simply your mood (or stomach) that chooses whether you would go with safe and big, or small and bold.

For the hungry ones, some places let you choose a regular-sized sandwich or a burger, alongside a drink of 1.5 euros.

There are also chain-places, or the fast-food of tapas, where the balance between quality and quantity is great, but they lack the cultural atmosphere.

How to order tapas?

When you first come to Spain and somebody takes you to tapas, you will lose your head over the food that keeps coming to your table. It keeps coming because you keep ordering drinks.

So, that is one way of ordering tapas – to order a drink. Tapas go with ordering a beer, wine, or soda. Sometimes you can get it with sparkly water, but usually not. So, if you order water, strong alcohol, or fresh juice, you will not get tapas.

So, the drinks are not big. This is a shock for people who are used to drinking 0.5 or a pint, but that means that you will order two or three, even four beers. And with every new order, you will have food coming to your table. This means that with the beer and food, you will be full by the end of the night.

Everybody loves free food. So, when you always pay for food in your country, you are enlightened when you come to Andalusia.

Ordering Tapas from the menu

If you order the drinks, the waiter may bring the surprise tapas to you, or he may ask you what would you like to snack. He will do this by asking “Y de tapilla?” or “Algo para picar?” (something to bite?), for example, and that is when you have to order something from the tapas menu. So, be sure to check the menu before ordering and see what the bar is offering.

If the tapas are not complimentary, then you will have to order them. If you don’t do it, you will not get them, clearly. Check the menu, and remember the name or the number of your order. Be sure to check the price, and conclude if the tapa is for one person, or for the table.

When you decide, you can say “Para picar (the name of the snack)” or “De tapa (the name of the snack)“. There will probably be the tapas menu, and the main course menu, so try not to mix up those two (search for the prices under 5-6 euros).

Tapas culture in Spain

So your first impression is that Spanish people love to eat, and you love them for feeding you.

But there is a lot more to it, than just love for the food and drinks. They don’t go to tapas only for the food, but to hang out with friends, to have a get-together or simply to have some alone time.

People get to their local bars every day to have a drink, eat a tapa, and talk to the bartender, the owner, or whomever.

These bars are also places to be when football (soccer) is on TV. Spanish people rarely watch games in their own homes.

The atmosphere in the bars when the game is on is indescribable. Basically, they love to be out, they love to be with other people, and tapas is giving them a nudge. It also justifies beer or wine at 13 o’clock, so that’s a nice one!

So, now when you passed your first lecture, you can go through our yummy list of classic Spanish tapas.

Better read it with your stomach full so you don’t get hungry?

¡Aprovecha!

We appreciate your support!

Thank you for reading our content and following our journey! We are working towards becoming full-time content creators and being able to share stories with you even more frequently. If you’d like to support us to be one step closer to that goal, you can do it through Ko-Fi! 👇🏽

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The post Tapas 101 – Complete Tapas Guide appeared first on My Coliving Space: Spain.