Tapas: Tapas

» Wen - Tapas

One of the best parts of any trip to Spain is visiting Tapas bars. It is one of those ideas that I have always loved and have always tried to recreate whenever I have or cater a cocktail party. Forget namby pamby cheeseballs and bowls of pretzels...tapas are exciting and flavorful. Not to mention exotic and just a little off beat.

I think the trend in bars and at cocktail parties is moving away from pretzels, cheese and crackers, etc. and more towards tapas. Between the high fat content of cheese puffs, canapes, and typical appetizers and the fact that they are so filling, traditional appetizers are becoming blacklisted. Tapas nicely fit into this gap because they are oftentimes lower in fat, use a lot of healthier ingredients, and are less filling that a butter, meet, or cheese rich dish. I save my favorite appetizer recipes for those times when dinner is going to be delayed for a while, or for whole meals made out of appetizers and serve tapas with drinks right before dinner or for a cocktail party.

I like your suggestions, and will have to try a few of them.

This is my favorite tapa recipe.

Red Potatoes with Tuna Mushroom Stuffing

These baby potatoes with a delicate tuna mushroom filling make for a perfect tapa. They are very easy to make well ahead of time, making them perfect for parties and special occasions.

12 small red potatoes
1 egg
1/4 cup melted butter, separated
1/3 cup white albacore tuna, flaked into small pieces
1/4 minced mushrooms
salt
pepper
3 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese
Additional parmesan for garnish
Paprika for garnish

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Wash and pierce the potatoes with a fork. Place in the oven and bake until soft, but still firm, about 30-40 minutes. Let cool until they are comfortable to handle. Slice off the top of each potato and scoop out the insides into a small bowl. Beat in the egg, 3 tablespoons butter, tuna, mushrooms, salt, pepper, and 3 tablespoons parmesan cheese. Spoon the mixture back into the potatoes, or pipe with a decorative tip. These can be prepared at this point up to 24 hours ahead of time. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Lightly brush the potatoes with the remaining butter and spinkle with parmesan cheese and paprika. If the potatoes are still warm or are at room temperature, bake for ten minutes. If they are chilled, bake for 15 minutes, or until heated through and lightly browned.

-- posted by Wen