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Tapas menu for 8 people

14 replies

PPT · 14/03/2011 14:41

Hello everyone,

I have 8 people (including me and DH) round for tapas on Friday night- eek!

I've promised to cook a tapas dinner. Two guests are Hindu and don't eat beef.

Could I have your best suggestions for which tapas/how many tapas to cook for my lovely friends!

Any advice appreciated!

PPT x

OP posts:
boosmummie · 14/03/2011 15:49

I would cook 8 different dishes and have lots of crusty bread.

Prawns pil pil
Patatas Bravas
Some good Manchego cheese
A tortilla

Pork is a BIG thing in tapas dishes - chorizo, meatballs etc, but as Hindus don't eat pork either that discounts lots!

If you can get some salt cod, that's always yum cooked in a tomato based sauce.

Try this site for some recipes, I've used it a lot and there's some great ideas, and you could adapt some of the pork dishes using lamb or chicken mince instead.

HTH

PPT · 14/03/2011 18:24

Thanks boosmummie!! That website is fab.

I am sure my friends eat pork, so I may have got confused about their religion. They definitely don't eat beef so they may be Sikh. Must remember to check before I launch into my cooking frenzy.

I love patatas bravas the most. So will make double portions of that :)

OP posts:
boosmummie · 14/03/2011 18:29

Glad to help. If they do eat pork the possibilities are endless! Need anymore let me know. Happy cooking Grin

HannahHack · 14/03/2011 20:03

Hindus do eat meat just not beef as cows are deemed sacred.

boosmummie · 14/03/2011 20:59

Yeah, I knew the beef for sure, but I also thought pork was off the menu too??? Maybe I'm wrong, ooops if I am.

PPT · 15/03/2011 08:07

Right, have checked- still unclear on their religion- but they definitely eat pork- just not beef... any tips boosmummie then on a pork fuelled fiesta?!

OP posts:
boosmummie · 15/03/2011 10:32

I have loads of recipes, and will post them all for you later as have to pop out now. Get your pans ready!!!! Grin

boosmummie · 15/03/2011 16:52

Right... here's some to get you busy!

Chorizo in red wine

450g Chorizo Sausage, cut into slices 6mm/¼ inch thick
60ml Red Wine
2 tbsp freshly chopped mixed Herbs (thyme, parsley, oregano)
2 Garlic Cloves, crushed

Preheat the oven to 220C, place the sausage slices in a shallow ovenproof dish. Pour the wine, herbs and garlic over the sausage and bake for 10 minutes. Serve with chunks of bread to soak up the sauce.

Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

Makes about 15/20

500g Minced pork
40ish g breadcrumbs (about 2 slices of bread whizzed)
splash white wine
1 egg
1 fat clove garlic, crushed
tbls chopped parsley
salt and pepper

In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients together with your hands. Make small (decent bite sized ish) balls with the mix and just roll them lightly in some plain flour.

Shallow fry in a large frying pan in some olive oil for may 10 mins on a medium heat so they're browned and cooked through. Remove and put into shallow (ovenproof) serving dish - I have hundreds of terracotta ones which I use. Don't squash them in, they need room for the sauce between and around them.

Tomato Sauce

2 tbls olive oil
1 small onion finely chopped
2 tins of decent plum tomatoes
1 tsp of sugar
salt
freshly ground black pepper

Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the onion. Fry gently for about 5 minutes until it starts to become golden. Then add tomatoes and cook for about 10 minutes crushing a bit with spoon, add the salt, pepper and sugar, simmer for a further 5 minutes. Blend with a hand blender, check seasoning, may need bit more salt or sugar.

Pour the sauce over the meatballs and pop in the oven for 10 mins or so.

I actually love some sauté potatoes with rosemary and garlic to scoop up the sauce with....

Easy one - get some Pata Negra or Jamon Iberico Bellota or Paleta and serve that with some thin wedges of Manchego cheese.

Have a shallow dish or saucer or two on the table, put a nice sprinkling of Malden Salt (I know, but you'd be surprised at how many places here use it!!!) on and pour some good Spanish olive oil in - something like Arbequina or Extremadura as they are both full of wonderful flavour - with a nice selection of breads - this is a course in itself imo!

Patatas Bravas - do you have a recipe, I can dig one out for you too if you like.

Wines??? Ribera Del Duero is a great alternative to some of the heavier Riojas, and something like Torres Vina Sol for a white.

Pudding if you're interested...Crema Catalana - a lovely Spanish version of Creme Brulée, flavoured with lemon rind or orange and/or cinnamon.

A lovely way to finish off a Spanish night methinks!

Hope some or all of these help, would love to hear how your evening goes. Need anything else, please let me know.

PPT · 15/03/2011 19:54

Boosmummie- I am going to put you up for at least a knighthood, but may try and get you a martyrdom after that amazing post! What a gem :)

Thank you so much!!

I am going to start cooking tomorrow evening, as (inconveniently!) I work Wednesdays-Fridays! So will prepare some in advance!

I have taken a recipe for the patatas bravas off the website you recommended.

Will let you know how I get on. I have been spared making pudding, as one of my guests is stumping that up!

The wine recommendations also appreciated, will pop along to my lovely wine man on Thursday for those!

OP posts:
boosmummie · 15/03/2011 20:00

Can't I be Queen please?

It's my absolute pleasure. Damn that pesky work thing getting in the way of your cooking! The meatball and chorizo ones are even better after a day or two anyway!

Enjoy

KenDoddsDadsDog · 15/03/2011 20:02

Also a very quick Catalan dish - pa am tomaquet. Toasted lengths of baguette, drizzle with olive oil, rub with a garlic clove then rub with cut tomato. Delicious!
Escalivada : cut up peppers, onions, tomatoes, garlic. Drizzle with olive oil, bit of sea salt and roast in the oven.

boosmummie · 19/03/2011 22:08

Hey PPT, just wondering how your Tapas Night went last night.....

PPT · 22/03/2011 13:55

Sorry boosmummie... completely forgot to post back!
The tapas meal was a roaring success!
Made:
Patatas Bravas
Garlic and Chili Prawns
Meatballs
Chorizo
Bread
A vegetable terrine
Salad
Couscous with feta and raisins
Meats and cheeses
Crusty bread
and the Escalivada that Kendoddsdadsdog recommended!

It was hectic getting it all ready on Thursday night, but an absolute winner!!
We've been having left overs all week Smile!

Thanks for your help!

OP posts:
boosmummie · 22/03/2011 15:40

Aww. I'm so pleased. I actually had tapas out on Friday evening and you did cross my mind as I stuffed my face with a selection of yum stuff!

Leftovers is probably one of my favourite meals! NOt least because there's bugger all to do!!!!!!! Grin

Anytime you're after recipes give me a shout, I can happily spend then entire day in the kitchen so can throw several different styles your way if needed.

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