Kevin's Watch

I'm going to a Tapas dinner next weekend, and have to make and bring along some Tapas - I have no idea what to do!

Anyone have any favourite Tapas recipes that you'd like to share?

Pimentos de Padron - small green peppers fried in oliveoil until slightly blistered (not charred), seasoned with coarse sea salt.

Patatas arugas - small potaoes cooked with skin in water with LOTS of salt. When done pour off water and put pot with potatoes back on the hot stove. After a short time the potato skin will get all wrinkled and yopu got patatas arugas

Aioli (garlic mayonnaise)

Albondigas - small spicy meatballs

Empenadas

pieces of Chorizo and slices of serrano ham

olives

The spicy meatballs sound good - any recipes for that? I can always check google, but if there are tried and true recipes that'd be great!

Here's a very basic recipe you can tweak as you like

Albodingas with spicy red mojo sauce

Albondigas
1 old dry bun (non sweet)
1 onion
800gr / 1.7lbs ground beef or lamb
2 eggs
salt
fresh ground pepper (black)
paprika
1 pinch of cinnamon
oil


• soak bun in water for some time
• dice onions
• squeeze soaked bun and put into a bowl
• add beef, onions, eggs and season with salt and the spices
• mix well
• form little balls
• heat oil in frying pan and add meat balls and fry until colors show
• take out of pan and put aside and keep warm

for the mojo
2 red bell peppers / capsicum for the Brits
1 red chilli
3 cloves of garlic
1 slice of toast
50ml / 3.5 Tbs olive oil
ground cumin
salt
red wine vinegar
2 Tbs green olives


• preheat oven at 150°C / 300F / gas mark 2
• Cut bell peppers in quarters and put skin side up on a baking tray
• when peppers turn dark take out and peel the skin off (let cool down a bit first)
(easier to buy peeled peppers already)
• cut chillis in slices (you may or may not discard the seeds first)
• Cut garlic in slices
• Cut rind off the bread and dice the bread
• Put paprika, chillies, garlic and bread into a bowl and add the olive oil
• puree it
• Season with cumin, salt and vinegar (if you use ready peeled peppers they might come in a vinegar marinade. In this case be careful with adding more vinegar)

Serve warm meat balls with the mojo as a dip. Garnish with green olives.

I'll give it a try during the week. Thanks Vader.

For those multitudes who flock to the Galley I thought I'd let you know that I did spicy lamb cutlets (someone else was doing Albondigas) and they were a hit! Recipe to follow...

Looking forward to it.
Sounds yum!
I adore lamb. It's not nearly as common here as in Australasia. . .

Ok here's the recipe.

Ingredients:

4 cloves garlic (crushed)
1 tablespoon grated ginger
1 teaspoon oil
1 teaspoon sambal oelek
2 teaspoons ground coriander
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons sesame oil (I used 1 teaspoon)
2 tablespoons sweet chilli sauce
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Salt and peeper to taste
12 lamb cutlets

1. Combine garlic, ginger, oil, sambal oelek, coriander, cumin, soy sauce, sesame oil, sweet chilli sauce and lemon juice in a bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste;

2. Pour marinade on cutlets coating all sides and marinate in a non metallic bowl for 20 minutes or so;

3. Cook cutlets on very hot BBQ or griddle for around 3 minute each side or until cooked to your liking;

4. Serve with steamed rice.

It's quick, easy and tasty! I made a double recipe.