Tasty tapas recipes for your next merry party
By Nastasha Alli
Recipes by The Canadian Living Test Kitchen
Everyone loves tapas! From Empanadas to Deep-Fried Calamari, this collection of Spanish-inspired party bites make your next party a mucho gusto event.
Menu
- Curried Apple and Celery Soup
- Apple Sour Cream Crumble Pie
- Apple Cinnamon Pizza
- Maple Apple and Blueberry Crisp
- Chicken and Apple Saute
- Better-Than-Ever Apple Pie
- Deep-Dish Apple and Pear Pie
- Maple-Apple Beans
- Super Apple Cake
- Apple and Spinach Salad with Cheddar
Suggested Recipes
- Oyster Mushrooms and Peppers
- Grilled Asparagus With Fines Herbes Sauce
- Grilled Radicchio
- Balsamic Grilled Vegetables
- Cloudberry Chutney
- Sauteed Spinach
- Atlantic Shrimp Salad on Rye
- Beer-Battered Corn Dogs
- Stout-Glazed Beef Ribs
- Smoky Grilled Cheese With Ale Onions
Special occasion
Garlic Cheese Cigars
Photography by Felix Wedgwood
Pass the bubbly, some napkins, and lots of lively conversation - it's time for a tapas party! Whether you're planning an event for 30 or an intimate evening with close friends, tapas recipes are sure to be a hit at your gathering.
"Tapas recipes are great for parties," says Test Kitchen specialist Amanda Barnier. "They give everyone plenty of variety and little commitment as to a set quantity, compared to a dinner."
The tapas advantage
"Tapas can be anything from a bowl of marinated olives to finger sandwiches," she explains.
"When planning the menu for a party, include items that can be made in advance and few that require last minute assembly." This way, "you'll have the time to enjoy your guests," Amanda says, "and tapas-style foods can please any palate and every appetite."
Try one of these tasty tapas recipes at your next party!
Recipes
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Garlic Cheese Cigars
Asiago will give a sharper cheese flavour than creamier and milder Fontina. -
Empanadas
Smaller versions of these savoury stuffed pies from Spain and Latin American make ideal snacks for tapas-inspired parties. -
Spanish Salt Cod Fritters
This tapas favourite is best served freshly fried, but it's still delicious rewarmed. Fry one test fritter and taste for salt, since the amount left... -
Banderillas
Named after traditional bull-fighting darts, these one-bite miniature skewers are popular in Spanish tapas bars. -
Deep-Fried Calamari
With all the ingredients prepped, this crisp, light, crowd-pleasing appetizer is ready in seconds flat. -
Broccoli and Cheddar White Bean Spread With Pita Wedges and Crudités
Many dips are laden with fat from mayonnaise or sour cream. Here, beans make a hearty substitute and lend a hummus-like texture – with the ad... -
Eggplant Rolls with Goat Cheese and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
These impressive and colourful vegetarian bites can be made well ahead of time. Use either oil-packed or reconstituted dry sun-dried tomatoes. -
Manchego Chorizo Puffs
Light and flaky, these delectable pastries will disappear faster than you can say "Ol?" -
Bean Dip with Zahtar
Mild, buttery lima beans, available frozen in supermarkets, lend a lovely pale green colour and rich texture to this dip, which is equally good made w... -
Egg and Mushroom Tapas
Guests find the rich mushroom flavour of these hors d'oeuvres irresistible. -
Wilted Greens with Raisins, Pine Nuts and Garlic Croûtes
These attractive hors d'oeuvres from our new cookbook, Canadian Living Cooks (Random House Canada, 2003, $29.95) are served everywhere from Genoa to S... -
Rarebit Tapas
Nippy cocktail-size Welsh rarebits topped with sweet-and-sour pickles are an innovative play on a traditional favourite. -
Roasted Garlic Tapas
The rich garlic flavour mellows with red pepper and anchovy into a contemporary dish with rustic Mediterranean appeal. -
Cajun Crab Cakes
Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, these appetizers have just a hint of heat. If you make and freeze a batch ahead, they'll require just a qui... -
Chicken Tortilla Cups
This kid-friendly nibble has everyone's favourite nacho toppings nestled in cute tortilla cups. The freshest tortillas are more pliant and easier to f... -
Mexican Hot Wings with Green Salsa
The rich, smoky taste of chipotle peppers joins the fresh lively taste of salsa. The salsa's tomatillos, sometimes called Spanish or Mexican green tom... -
Sesame Asiago Crisps
Enjoy these delicious, buttery crisps with an aperitif or cocktails. -
Shrimp Tostada Cups
This easy appetizer of crispy tortilla cups filled with crunchy jicama and creamy avocado begins your Mexican fiesta with sensational tastes. Traditio... -
Spice Market Beef and Lamb Cigars
In Morocco, these pastries are called betzel and are made with a thin pastry called warka. Spring roll wrappers make an excellent substitute, and we s... -
Baked Brie with Croutes and Dippers
A small wheel of meltingly delicious Brie is just the right size for two to share.






