Easy Tapas Recipe

Tapas!  A snack that is flavorful yet simple is an experience to remember. Let us streamline the kitchen-to-table experience of making Tapas. The easiest of appetizers for the year-end party. This Almond, Olive, and Cheese Tapas is perfect, and each plate is a feast. But together, they are irresistible. 

With the holiday season here, I am looking at finger foods that do not make me feel guilty after I indulge. Why just holidays? These guilt-free hors d'oeuvres are perfect for every party.

We pair them with my oven-roasted Honey Chilli Almonds, Perfectly Delicious Oven Roasted Carrots, and Phool Makhana Snack Recipe snack. For drinks how about Orange Mist, a Mocktail, Cranberry Sangria~A mocktail, Lemon Basil Granita we are all set to party.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Pro Tips
• Time-Saving Tips for Busy People
• FAQ
• Related
• Pairing
• Easy Tapas Recipe

Ingredients

These are your ingredients for quantities please check the recipe card.

For the Marinated Olives:

• Black  olives
• Green  olives
• Coriander seeds
• Fennel  seeds
• Fresh rosemary  
• Fresh parsley
• Garlic cloves
• Vinegar 
• Olive  oil

For the Marinated Cheese:

• Cheese  
• Olive  oil
• Vinegar 
• Black  peppercorns
• Garlic  clove 
• Thyme  springs

For the Salted Almonds:

• Blanched  almonds
• Red  chilli powder
• Salt 
• Butter 
• Olive  oil 

Instructions

The initial prep:

• Blanch and peel the almonds. Set them on a towel or paper napkin to dry. (for blanching see notes below). As the almonds dry...
• Chop your garlic, parsley, and rosemary. Pound the coriander seeds and fennel coarsely. Set aside in separate containers.

Let us make the marinated olives first

• Traditionally, pitted whole olives are used. I had no intention of getting  2 other bottles of whole olives when I have perfectly good sliced ones. 
• Sherry vinegar is recommended, the price made me look for alternatives. I have used apple cider vinegar.
• In a small bowl, add the coarsely crushed coriander seeds and fennel.
• Mix with freshly chopped rosemary, parsley and garlic. Add the olive oil and vinegar.
• Pour over the olives, cover and set aside. Use within a week.

Next, let's work on the marinated cheese

• The recommended cheese is goat cheese, especially manchego. I went with the gouda cheese that I had.
• Make bite-sized pieces of cheese. Transfer to a medium-sized bowl where you have space to stir.
• In a small bowl, mix oil, vinegar, pepper, garlic and thyme springs.
• Pour over the cheese and stir.
• Cover and chill. Use within  3 days.

Lastly, make the salted almonds

• In a bowl mix chilli powder and salt. Set aside.
• Melt butter with olive oil in a frying pan.
• Add the almonds to the pan and stir fry for 5 minutes on medium-low flame or till the almonds are golden brown.
• Transfer the almonds to the salt and red chilli bowl. Toss around till the almonds are coated.
• Cool and store in an airtight container for about a week.

Substitutions

For the marinated olives

• Sherry vinegar is recommended. I have used apple cider but you can use rice wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, red wine or white wine vinegar.
•  I have used sliced olives; you can use the full ones.

For the marinated cheese

• If you have no access to goat cheese, use any hard cheese like gouda, sharp cheddar is fine.

For the salted almonds

Replace almonds with cashew nuts, pecans, walnuts and peanuts. Some raisins, cranberries and goji berries next time will make them a wonderful trail mix. 

Variations

• For the olives next time, I plan to use cayenne pepper or chilli powder. For an Indian touch, add garam masala powder, coriander leaves, and pudina or mint. ( I will use mint sparingly.)

Equipment

For the marinated olives

• Mortar pestle
• 2 Bowls 

For the marinated cheese

• 1 Bowl for mixing
• 1 bowl for storing
• Knife and board
• Spoon/ spatula for mixing

For the salted almonds

• Bowl to soak almonds
• Tea towel for drying the blanched almonds
• Frying pan
• Slotted spoon
• Bowls for salt and pepper 

Storage

• The olives and cheese stay in the fridge for 3–4 days.
• The almonds stay crunchy for a week.

Pro Tips

• Use the blanched almonds after drying them.
• Use fresh nuts and fry on medium to low flame till golden.
• Use hard cheese (my girls used processed cheese)

Time-Saving Tips for Busy People

Cooking can be stressful when you have a party and hardly any time to prepare for it. That is when you make these delightful and easy Almond, Olive, and Cheese Tapas. Here are some time-saving tricks!

 Prep Like a Pro: The Tapas Mise en Place Magic

Has this happened to you?  You are cooking for a party and the nagging thought is, have I forgotten something?

You suddenly realize you forgot the olives in the supermarket.

Help yourself by adopting the French culinary secret weapon, mise en place. This means having all your ingredients prepped, measured, and ready before you start cooking.

So, blanch and peel those almonds, check if have purchased the pitted olives and cube that cheese.

Your future cooking adventures will thank you for the organized chaos.

Tapas in Batches: The Marvel of Make-Ahead Magic

Let's be real: We often have no time or energy to whip up some snacks. So make ahead a batch of marinated olives, fry or roast extra almonds, and cube that cheese when you have time. 

Store them in separate containers with tight-fitting lids. When your guests arrive, you just need to tip the tapas in small dishes. 

The Substitute Game: Tapas without the Hassle

Face it you need to substitute ingredients to suit our pantry, wallet and taste. The key is to enjoy the process and the time spent with friends.

I do not get Manchego, so I used Gouda. You can use a sharp cheddar.

I always get the pre-pitted olives. Not only does it save time, but I guess my fingers love me. 

Quick and Easy Tapas Recipe Ideas

When short on time, embrace easy recipes! Here are some recipes you can try out:

• Feta-stuffed dates (If you are into ham, try wrapping it in some.).
• Spanish almond gazpacho, where I will be blending almonds, tomatoes, and a dash of olive oil.

Tapas with Minimal Cleanup Drama

Nobody enjoys a sink full of dishes. While making these tapas i have used just 1 frypan and 3 bowls to mix.

If you are using the oven to roast the almonds one sheet pan with the herbs and spices you like is enough.

This is my kind of cooking quick, easy, and delicious! A satisfied stomach and a practically spotless kitchen.

Tapas Remix: Leftovers, Reinvented

In the unlikely event of leftover tapas, reinvent your meal.

The last few almonds will end up in my Cauliflower Cheese with Walnuts and Bread Crumbs recipe. The bread crumbs and almonds I am crushing for the topping. 

The olives and two cheese pieces ended up in my pasta salad. If you have lots of cheese, melt it into a gooey dip. 

FAQ

Related

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Pairing

These are my favourite dishes to serve with Tapas:

To summarise: Cooking should be a joy, even in our fast-paced lives. With these time-saving tips, conquer tapas effortlessly. Put on your apron, play some music, and start the culinary adventure, the time-saving way!

This recipe is adapted from Mediterranean Food of the Sun.

For me, this Shhhh Secretly Cooking Party Appetizers theme suggested by Radha was a challenge. Hubby is on a diet and I was not too keen on making something he cannot indulge in.

Thankfully, Kalyani, my partner gave me parsley and garlic while I gave her soya and nutmeg powder. Her cutlets have my fingers itching to make some soon.

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