Three tasty Spanish tapas

Tapas are smallish dishes of Spanish-style food, which put great variety, flavour and interest onto the table. A little bit of this and a piece of that is the general idea. We have to admit tapas are most enjoyable when washed down with an ice-cold cerveza or a chilled glass of vino blanco.

The great thing about tapas is with some modest ingredients and fairly little effort, you can recreate the tastes and flavours of the Spanish bars with ease at home.

Take a look at the following three tasty tapas.

Pears with blue cheese and walnuts

Pears with blue cheese and walnuts is a great looking dish, which happens to taste as good as it looks. Simply take some decent sized pears, cut them into half then scoop out the core. Rub the pear surface with a fresh slice of lemon to prevent browning and to add a little zest to the taste.

Mix some chopped walnuts and blue cheese and cook them in a frying pan with a spoonful of olive oil. As soon as the blue cheese melts, spoon the mixture into the hollow of the pear and serve with a sprig of rosemary.

Calamari with lime and parsley dressing

In order to recreate an authentic Spanish seafood restaurant you should buy your calamari fresh from the fishmonger and ask them to clean out the gristle from inside the squid. You should be able to make six rings of calamari from each squid.

The sauce is made with a blend of fresh lime juice (20%), single cream (30%), olive oil (40%), white wine vinegar (5%) and some chopped parsley (5%).

Simply mix all the ingredients together and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Grill the calamari in a griddle pan until they are nicely seared.

Serve on a bed of rocket or baby spinach and drizzle over the dressing.

Cured ham, melon and mozzarella bites

There are many different types of cured ham in Spanish supermarkets and Jamon Serrano is one of the most popular. Simply wrap some ultra-thin cured ham of your choice round some pieces of thinly-sliced melon and mozzarella cheese and attach a basil leaf to the cheese.

Hold this tasty little parcel of food together with a cocktail stick.

Many of the bar owners in Spain make their tapas throughout their shift by inspiration. It is a continuing inventive process. Why not use the improvisation skills of a Spanish chef and wrap the ham in asparagus?

Tapas possibilities are endless and one of life’s simplest pleasures is to get a table together for family and friends, which contains a tasty tapa for everyone!