17 Spanish Appetizers You Can’t Resist

I love to bring a touch of Mediterranée to my apéros! Don’t you?

And tapas (Spanish appetizers) are just perfect to pick up and eat in one bite.

From golden and crispy potatoes, fried gooey manchego cheese to classic croquetas, that’s simple: I could devour them all.

Don’t you know what to prepare for your next party? Stay with me and discover my list of the most irresistible Spanish appetizers!

01. Spanish Tortilla (Omelette)

If I had to choose only one Spanish appetizer, that would be this one! (or croquettas, or fried manchego cheese or patatas bravas).

This creamy Spanish omelet isn’t just like any regular omelet. It includes boiled tender potatoes, fresh crispy onions, and of course a hint of fruity olive oil.

And since the potatoes are boiled instead of fried, this recipe is super healthy!

So, the answer is yes: you can have it a second time.

02. Spanish Bean Salad

If you think bean salad is boring, think again! This Spanish bean salad is nothing less than appetizing.

The juicy giant beans are cooked and infused in a delectable tomato garlicky sauce. And even if this is a salad, it’s served warm.

The best part? This recipe calls for canned beans, a simple shortcut.

Accompany with crusty bread for a pure Spanish experience.

03. Catalan Style Spinach

Once you try this sauteed Spanish spinach with pine nuts and raisins dish, you’ll immediately want to add it to your dinner rotation!

The rich, garlicky flavors pairs beautifully with the sweetness of the shallots and the bitterness of the spinach.

On top of this, a splash of sherry vinegar adds a slightly tangy taste and the chopped raisins and nuts toppings offer a nice crunch. Yum!

04. Tomatillo Toasts with Prosciutto and Manchego

Looking for an elegant tasty Spanish appetizers? Say hello to Prosciutto crostinis!

These mini toasts look as good as they taste. And trust me, they’re divine.

This sophisticated twist of the classic pan con tomato features a crunchy toasted bread loaded with fresh, juicy grated tomatillos, decadent slices of prosciutto and nutty shaved manchego cheese.

And if you can’t find tomatillos, replace them with regular red tomatoes. It will taste succulent, too!

05. Spanish Garlic Mushrooms

Each bite of this dish is an explosion of earthy and bold flavors thanks to the perfect mushrooms-garlic combination.

Plus it’s ready in no time and you can serve it as an appetizer or a low-carb side dish.

Just to let know that this recipe includes white vinegar. So if you don’t like its sharp taste, I recommend skipping it.

06. Spanish Croquettes Made With Jamon Serrano

Spanish croquettes are a Spanish food staple. And for good reason!

These crunchy bites are so easy to make, incredibly tasty, and pair well with any dish of this list!

While many recipes include mashed potatoes, this one doesn’t. Instead, the creamy filling is made with a cream sauce base that is enriched with serrano ham scraps and fried to golden perfection.

When well cooked, the result is impressively light!

07. Pisto (Spanish Vegetable Stew)

This Spanish ratatouille has it all. It’s fresh, it’s healthy, it’s delicious. And it has vibrant colors that will make your appetizer table shine.

Of course, it has plenty of vegetables. Tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, onion, red and green peppers are slowly stewed under a flood of fruity olive oil.

Trust, me it’s a classic Spanish appetizer that will never fail to impress!

08. Spanish Garlic Shrimp (Gambas al Ajillo)

Have you ever had gambas al ajillo Spanish garlic?

It’s the flawless combination of fresh big shrimp, savory garlic and rich olive oil, all pan fried together and sprinkled with bright parsley.

The secret weapon of this recipe is to cut the garlic into big chunks instead of smashing it. This way, the garlicky flavors can infuse the olive oil without being over empowering.

I love serving this alongside red wine, but sparkling wine would always be welcome.

09. Albondigas (Tapas Spanish Meatballs)

Meatballs are meant to be smothered in sauce, in my opinion!

And this is exactly what these Spanish meatballs are: meatballs surrounded by a rich tomato sauce.

And did I tell you that the meatball base blends a surprising seasoning? With touches of cilantro, cumin, and cinnamon powder, these meatballs are packed with so many flavors.

A must-have on your tapas table.

10. Patatas Bravas

You wouldn’t think that a recipe with so few ingredients could be so flavorful.

With just 3 ingredients (4 if you count the salt) you have a mouth-watering potato warm spanish appetizer that will please adults and kids alike.

These crispy fried potatoes are served with the famous bravas creamy-spicy sauce. So delicious, it’s like heaven in your mouth!

11. Tomato and Butter Beans Dip

I never thought “butter beans” could be coupled with the word “dip”. Yet, this spanish cuisine dip is absolutely scrumptious!

Butter beans are pan-fried with sharps shallots and garlic and perfumed with an acidic tomato red wine vinegar sauce. The end result is a bold, healthy and warm dip.

Paired with pita chips, you’ll crave more.

12. Spanish Potato Salad (Ensaladilla Rusa)

This potato salad is loaded with starchy potatoes, satisfying hard boiled eggs, fresh Spanish olives and covered by a delectable mustard mayo dressing.

It’s creamy and decadent and ready in 10 minutes (+ 20 minutes of cooking time).

I love to make a big batch and serve it for my next bbq party!

13. Green Beans with Paprika and Garlic

Crisp green beans with sweet smoked paprika and roasted garlic flavors at your tapas table? Yes please!

This delicious appetizer is not only healthy, but it’s also delightful.

Green beans are roasted with thin slices of garlic and a delectable traditional Spanish seasoning.

You can enjoy this dish as it is. But If you want to go the authentic Spanish route, serve it with crusty bread!

14. Manchego Cheese – Fried

This recipe is exactly what it sounds like: manchego cheese that has been fried. And whenever you combine crispy fried coating with cheese, I just go crazy.

To make sure you have a gooey cheesy result, you have to freeze it before coating with the breadcrumbs and egg mixture.

This simple cheesy triangle is best served with sour cream garlic dip, sweet jams of spicy chutneys.

15. Chorizo Bites

I can’t imagine a Spanish appetizers table without chorizo sausage bites!

These mini meat bites are fried in sizzling butter before being glazed in a soy-beer-sugar sauce. It’s truely addictive!

For this recipe, you can choose spicy or sweet chorizo upon your taste. Since the glaze is already sweet, I recommend trying the spicy version!

16. Authentic Spanish Gazpacho

Have you ever wonder if a cold soup taste as good as a warm soup? Well, it does and it’s called gazpacho!

Of course, this is refreshing appetizer is more suitable for hot summer days than for cold winter nights.

It features a medley of colored veggies from tomatoes, cucumber to bell peppers.

Combined with grilled meats or shrimps and a warm Spanish appetizer from this list, you’ll travel to Spain without leaving your house.

17. Pipirrana (Spanish Summer Salad)

If you enjoy pico de fallo or salsa, this spanish summer salad will please you!

This version is very basic. It contains juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumber and green peppers that are marinated in a olive oil, vinegar and garlic sauce.

I recommend to eat it on a crusty bread to soak up all the juices. It can also be used as a topping for bruschetta or pasta!

17 Spanish Appetizers You Can’t Resist

Directions

1. Choose your favorite Spanish appetizers from our list of delicious recipes


2. Gather and purchase all of the required ingredients


3. Get prepping and cooking and set your dining room up as a tapas bar


4. Impress your guests with your tasty Spanish dishes.

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