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Tapas: small bites of Spanish flavorTapas are Spain's greatest food invention. "Eat when you drink, drink when you eat" is the philosophy. Spanish men traditionally drink outside the home and rarely alone. They are not meant to be a meal (although a ración is a substantial portion). One tapa per person and a different one with each drink is the idea, then everyone enjoys tasting and sharing. Tapas food is real food - good local ingredients presented with flair. 
The idea comes from Andalusia. It started, or so they say, with a piece of bread, soon topped with ham or cheese, balanced over a glass, to keep out the flies - the word tapa means a cover. They were once free snacks included in the price of the drink but today they are mostly ordered separately. In dim caverns, where the sherry barrels are stacked high, men revolve the wine in their copitas, gently sipping, then select a new wine from a different cask. To compare and contrast is part of the ritual. An old man may sit by the door, with a bucket of conchas finas, opening the clams slowly and to order. It is a life less hectic than our own. If you're looking for more information on tapas, you've come to the right place. We've selected the best resources to help you enjoy with this Spanish delight. From classic tapas, such as Spanish omelette, to the most innovative ones, like Green Asparagus with Salmon, you will find the best recipes here!
All about TapasIn our different sections, you will find everything related to tapas: from recipes to cookbooks, as well as ingredients, a restaurant directory, and also ideas for menus, parties, etc. Check the links below, and discover the best kept Spanish culinary secret! |
| What are tapas? Tapas, montaditos, pinchos (pintxos in Basque), banderillas, raciones, cazuelitas, pulguitas - all are variations on the same theme: small servings of food eaten before a meal. While today Spaniards rarely have to explain the nature of Tapas to visitors, the meaning of the term has taken on outside Spain doesn't convey the full sense of the ritual that is such an important part of our daily existence. |
| Tapas Ideas Sometimes, you need ideas for an special occasion: a birthday party, the Super Bowl, or perhaps you want to surprise your guests with a theme dinner. Tapas are perfect for these events! |
| Spanish tapas - easy recipes The best recipes for spanish tapas.In the Mediterranean diet it is typical to begin the food with succulent starters to open up the appetite. Either in complete portions or in half rations - the famous ‘tapas’ – appetizers are usually served before the food. Of the endless variety of starters that is possible to find - there is not town that doesn't have his own - we introduce a selection that we believe you will really enjoy. |
| Seafood Tapas - Fresh from the sea Spain is second only to Japan in fish consumption. There is an abundance of fish tapas and some of the finest fish are caught off the Atlantic coastline. Many exquisite shellfish dishes are to be found also along the warm Mediterranean waters. |
| Spanish Vegetable Snacks Vegetable dishes in Spain are inventive and are often eaten as a tapas dish, a course of their own, or perhaps as a supper. Simple ingredients are cleverly paired to show off their qualities to perfection and are typical of Spain's attitude to cooking, using fresh, local seasonal ingredients. |
| Spicy Tapas Spanish food is not particularly spicy, but tapas - by the small quantity served - are often used to liven up a meal with some hot flavor which is usually drowned with a glass of excellent Spanish beer or wine. |
| Pintxos - Basque Tapas A traditional activity in the Basque country (one of the northern regions of Spain) is barhopping before lunch of dinner, which is essentially a regional sport. Bar counters display numerous pintxos, the equivalent to tapas in other areas of the country. Making the rounds consists of popping in and out of several bars, usually the same ones every day, grabbing a pintxo and drinking a txikito (a small glass of wine) in each one. It is a way to meet friends an acquaintances without arranging a specific date, before heading home for a proper meal. |
| Jamon - Spanish Ham Jamon Serrano country ham is a source of great pride among Spaniards. From time immemorial in the mountains of Spain, they have rolled fresh hams in sea salt and hung them from their rafters to cure. A year to eighteen months later the jamones are ready to mount on special stands that are designed so that anyone can stop by, carve a few paper-thin slices, and enjoy an impromptu snack – perhaps with some manchego cheese. |
| Spanish Cheese Sheep, cows, and goats are grazing on myriad plateaus and valleys of mountainous Spain producing a broad variety of cheeses -- many of which may be a new experience for your palate. The goats bring us a bone-white cheese that is marinated in wine, or fashioned into soft goat cheese buttons with herbs. |
| Meat & Poultry Tapas There is a huge choice of good-quality meat available in Spain, and it is used to prepare all sorts of dishes. Pork is specially popular for sausages and tapas dishes and it is used to make morcilla, lomo, jamon, chorizo, fuet, salsichon and salsichas. |
| A recipe for success How I turned a recipe book into a successful web business. My father's recipes helped me building a site that is getting me with more than $1,000 a month in commissions from affiliate programs. |
| Tapas Cookbooks There are hundreds of Tapas cookbooks. However, we've selected the ones we believe will do best to help you discover this Spanish specialty. Check them out, and find the ones that best suits you. If you're a fan of Spanish Tapas, you will enjoy them! |
| Tapas Blog Keep up to date with what's hot at Tapas-recipes.com! The best tapas recipes, along with original spanish ingredients! Discover one of Spain's best-kept culinary secrets! |
| Tapas Restaurant Directory We're compiling a directory of the best Tapas Bars & Restaurants worldwide. It is arranged on a geographical basis, so you can find the best places next to where you are (or plan to be). |
| How to create your own Recipe Site If you love cooking, and you have a recipe collection, you can develop your own recipe site, and make money with it! Just like I did |
| Tapas Recipes on-line resources Favorite tapas resources |
| Tapas Recipes SiteSearch Welcome to Tapas Recipes Site Search. Wondering what a Piperada is? Or maybe you're looking for a Tapas Bar in Atlanta? Let our Site Search take care of it! |
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