Spain Travel Highlight: Tapas, An Authentic Spanish Cuisine

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Tapas, an authentic Spanish cuisine are canapes served day in & day out in every bar & cafe in Spain.  It is a tradition that is believed to have begun in the 19th century in Andalusia, where single slices of cheese or ham were used to “cover” glasses of sherry to deter flies (Spanish verb Tapar means to cover). After finishing their drink people would eat the ham or cheese. Tapas are so much a part of the culture & social scene in Spain, that they invented the verb tapear which means to go & eat tapas! In Northern Spain, tapas are often called pintxos because many of them have a toothpick (pincho) in them. The toothpick is used to keep whatever deliciousness is piled on the bread in place.

Tapas are served both served hot and cold. You can have them as appetizers, or combine several for a full meal. Popular items for tapas in Spain are olives, cheese, omelettes, garlic shrimp, ceviche, croquettes, empanadas, fried calamari, ham, chorizo sausage, meatballs, patatas brava (crispy fried potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce,) veggies & bread. Learn all about the history of tapas.

Want to experience authentic tapas in Spain? You can travel November through March on a 6 night package to Barcelona & Madrid for as low as $649 per person for the hotel, taxes & train between both cities. While you are there, we can set up a half day cooking class in Barcelona. Your lesson beings with a trip to the famous Boqueria Market with your host to shop for fresh ingredients. The cooking lesson will then cover either a basic Spanish Menu (tomato soup shot flavored with Idiazábal cheese, potato omelet over tomato bread, seafood paella,  and Catalan cream) or how to prepare various Tapas. If you want to see more of Spain, our most popular Spain tour vacations include the 9 day Best of Spain and the 10 day Spanish Wonder, both of which visit Barcelona and Madrid as well as Valencia, Granada and Seville.

Prefer cruising? Luxury cruise line Regent Seven Seas and Oceania Cruises have several itineraries that visit ports in Spain that include unique shore excursions such as shopping with a chef for local ingredients and then cooking onboard.

If you already have a trip planned we can make a few restaurant recommendations.  While in Barcelona, stop at Mam i Teca (lluna 4, Barcelona, Spain (El Raval).  It’s a small restaurant not often visited by tourists. Traditional tapas are treated with loving care by the resident foodies who source top-quality Spanish ingredients such as air-cured tuna, fresh anchovies and a variety of cheeses.  Another great choice in Barcelona is Taktika Berri.  This is one of the best and most popular tapas bars in Barcelona, so arrive early. Since the food is Basque, tapas there are called pintxos, and are just delicious. Do not expect a menu—the waiter will tell you what’s available. Barcelona: Centre of Art and Architecture, never fails to impress visitors traveling to Europe.

While waiting to plan your dream trip to Spain, why not try and prepare a few of these traditional Spanish Tapas at home?

Croquetas de Jamón – Ham Croquettes

Croquetas de Jamon
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Chill in the refrigerator30 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: cuban, spanish
Keyword: croquetas, croquetas de jamon, Ham Croquettes, tapas

Ingredients

  • 1/2 lb ham diced (we suggest Serrano ham for added flavor)
  • 1/2 white onion minced
  • 2 cups plain bread crumbs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 4 tbsp flour
  • paprika to taste
  • Salt to taste
  • Black Pepper to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

  • Cook the onions over medium heat until transparent. 
  • Stir in flour and stir for a minute, then add milk.  Stir until sauce thickens. 
  • Season with salt, pepper and paprika. 
  • Place in a bowl and add the diced ham.
  • Refrigerate at least one hour, although can be done up to a day in advance. 
  • When you are ready, take out of the fridge and form into a small hot dog / cylinder shape.
  • Dip into the breadcrumbs, then into the egg, and back into the breadcrumbs so it is nicely coated.
  • Chill coated croquetas for at least 30 minutes. 
  • Heat your oil and fry a few at a time until golden brown, which takes 3 to 4 minute each.  Although you can deep fry them, we like to use less oil and just turn the a couple of times.  Don't crowd the pot too much so they cook evenly
  • Remove the croquettes from oil and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.

Notes

Ham Croquettes (Croquetas de Jamón)

Spanish Omelette:

Tortilla Española (Spanish Egg and Potato Omelette) Recipe

Spanish omelette or Spanish tortilla with potatoes and onions. A traditional dish from Spain
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Breakfast
Cuisine: spanish
Keyword: Omelette, Spanish Egg and Potato Omelette, Tortilla Española
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs
  • 6 small potatoes diced
  • 1/2 medium white onion
  • Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Instructions

  • Wash and peel your potatoes, or purchase pre-cut store bought cubed potatoes usually sold in grocery stores next to the hashbrowns.
  • Place olive oil in a frying pan and cook your potatoes on high heat for about 5 minutes on their own and then drop heat heat to medium add in the onions. Cook for a couple minutes.
  • Stir frequently so that the potatoes don't stick to the bottom of the pan. Add additional olive oil if needed. 
  • Cook for a another 10 or 15 minutes until potatoes are easy to cut with a fork.
  • Remove from heat and set aside.
  • Beat eggs with a pinch of salt and pepper
  • (Once the potatoes and onions have cooled) Add potato and onion mixture to the eggs. 
  • Pour 1-2 Tbsp of olive oil into a small, non-stick frying pan (approx. 9-10”) and heat on medium heat.
  • Spread potatoes and onion out evenly.
  • When egg is cooked around the edges (6-8 minutes), you should be able to carefully lift one side to see if it is turning brown.  Don't worry that the top is not completely cooked through.
  • When you are ready take your pan off the heat and with a large plate, quickly flip the egg over into the plate.
  • Hopefully you used plenty of oil and nothing stuck to the pan.  Put your pan back on medium heat and add a little olive oil. Slide our omelet back into the frying pan.  Cook for 3 to 4 minutes. 
  • Turn the heat off and let sit for a couple more minutes.

Notes

You can of course make your own version and add ham, chorizo or peppers to the potato and onion mixture.

Jamon Serrano and Bread

If you feel this is too much work a very easy tapas dish is to serve jamon serrano over a warm crusty piece of bread.  You can also wrap the ham around a piece of cantaloupe or around grilled shrimp. Spread toasted bread with garlic aioli and add Manchego (or your favorite cheeses) and cured meats.

Pan Con Tomate (Tomato Bread)

As you can see from the image below (in Spanish,) this is a very simple recipe.  You need a nice piece of toasted bread (we like to use ciabatta.) Now in Madrid, we found a little local restaurant and they served it with grated Garrotxa cheese. This was by far our favorite version of tomato bread.  Garrotxa is a semi-firm goat cheese that was perfect as a topping, but I am sure Parmesan would work nicely as well.

Pan Con Tomate

5 ingredients— Spanish style Tapa – bread, tomato, olive oil, garlic, and salt
Prep Time9 minutes
Cook Time3 minutes
Total Time12 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Spain, spanish
Keyword: bread, pan con tomate, pan tumaca, tapas, tomato

Ingredients

  • 1 loaf Bread sourdough or ciabatta
  • 2 large Tomatoes ripe
  • olive oil extra virgin
  • 2 garlic cloves medium size
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Grate the tomatoes on a box grater and all the pulp into a bowl
  • Grate the garlic onto the tomatoes or you can rub the garlic on the bread once toasted
  • Season with salt and pepper (if you want)
  • Add in a drizzle of Spanish style olive oil
  • Stir mixture together
  • Preheat oven to broil and adjust rack
  • Slice the bread into 1 inch slices and lightly toast it in the oven a couple minutes
  • Place a tablespoon of the tomato pulp mixture on top of the bread and serve

Notes

Add some jamon serrano and maybe some manchego cheese
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Sue Lobo
Sue, our esteemed Operations Manager, has been honored as a Top Travel Specialist by Condé Nast Traveler for 2023 and 2024. With over 25 years of experience in the travel industry, Sue brings a wealth of expertise to our company, particularly in the areas of group travel, event planning, and blogging. As a passionate traveler herself, Sue has explored more than 20 countries across three continents, including captivating destinations such as Cuba, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. Her firsthand experiences allow her to provide invaluable insights and recommendations to our clients, ensuring that their travel dreams become a reality. Sue's dedication to the travel industry extends beyond her role as Operations Manager. She has successfully coordinated over 200 travel groups, meticulously planning and executing each trip to perfection. Her attention to detail and commitment to excellence have earned her a reputation as a trusted and reliable travel professional. In addition to her operational expertise, Sue is a gifted writer at heart. She leverages her writing skills to share her love of travel and provide consumers with essential industry-related news and updates. Her engaging blog posts offer a unique perspective on the world of travel, inspiring others to embark on their own adventures. When she's not planning extraordinary trips or writing captivating travel content, Sue indulges in her passion for cooking, exploring the diverse flavors and culinary traditions of the places she visits. With her unwavering enthusiasm and extensive knowledge, Sue continues to be an integral part of our team, ensuring that every traveler's experience is truly unforgettable.