Tapas is a traditional Mediterranean way of serving and enjoying food, originating from Spain. When serving tapas the emphasis is on the choice of food over the individual ingredients and dishes presented. Almost any food can be served as Tapas and the meal is usually presented as a buffet for groups of people to enjoy whether at home, in a restaurant or cafe.
The following guide explains what you can expect from a typical tapas menu.
Traditional Tapas Dishes
There are many Mediterranean flavours that are served at tapas bars. A range of flavours can be chosen from and enjoyed.
Popular meals available at tapas bars include seafood dishes such as calamari, mussels, tuna and lobster. These dishes are rich in protein and provide a light taste, great for increasing the appetite without filling yourself up too much. A range of delicate and flavourful sources can also be added to increase the flavour and add variety.
By enjoying small portions of each dish customers can enjoy a variety of flavours in one sitting. Tapas is great for parties or as a meal before a night out. The light nature of the food will prevent people from becoming overly bloated and it's also great for sharing.
Paella Dishes
Paella is the perfect accompaniment to enjoy with tapas. Paella is made with soft grains of rice that expand and soak up sauce making a dish with a pleasant texture that’s bustling with flavour.
How to Make Paella
Paella is traditionally made using fish stock although a range of different ingredients can be used. Chicken is often added to bring more flavour although vegetarian recipes can be created instead. Vegetables are also included to help bulk out the dish and provide more flavour. Slices of onions and finely chopped garlic are great for absorbing the flavour of the dish.
Other ingredients can also be added to bring more variety to paella. Similar to tapas a range of flavours can be combined and presented together to make a complimentary meal. Seafood such as prawns, clams, calamari and mussel's are often added to bring more variety to the mix. Olive oil is traditionally used to bind the ingredients together although a range of other oils can also be used. Red peppers and peas are also often included as well as lemons to provide an interesting meal combination.
Paella is available from many Mediterranean themed restaurants and can also be enjoyed at home. Paella pans can be bought specifically for this purpose from a range of stockists.