These little dishes are becoming the rage instead of playing second fiddle as appetizers only. For diners, it's a relaxed way to try several different dishes at a time instead of being stuck with a one-note meal.
Spanish Tapas are thought to have originated hundreds of years ago with a purpose: to cover a drink with a flat slice of bread or a slice of cheese or meat to keep the fruit flies out of the drinks. The word tapar in Spanish means "to cover". Today Tapas are served worldwide in a dizzying array of flavors and shapes.
Moroccan Chicken Brochettes with Preserved Lemon Rinds
Ingredients for Chicken:
- 1 lb of chicken thighs, skinned and boned
- 2 Tblsp olive oil
- 8 large pitted green olives (or red Moroccan olives or Greek olives)
- 8 bay leaves
- 2 preserved lemon rinds,(one oz) thinly sliced (directions for preserved lemon rinds will follow this recipe)
- 2 Tblsp chopped fresh cilantro
- wooden skewers
for the marinade:
- 1 crushed garlic clove
- 3 Tblsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 piece of ginger root ( 1-inch size), peeled and grated
Directions:
- Mix ingredients for marinade in bowl, add chicken thighs, cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight, if possible.
- Cut marinated chicken into bite-sized chunks. When ready to cook, heat olive oil in pan or place chicken on oiled grill for about five minutes, until nice and tender. Remove from heat and keep warm in oven.
- While pan is still hot, grill the bay leaves and olives lightly. Thread leaves and olives onto wooden skewers with chicken bites.
- Mix preserved lemons and cilantro and sprinkle over the brochettes when ready to serve.
Preserved Lemon Rinds
This process removes bitterness from the rind and leaves a sweet yet tart flavor. Preserved rinds can be bought at gourmet or ethnic markets but are simple to make at home. Be sure to prepare the rinds in advance of the recipe.
Ingredients:
- 6 lemons
- 1-2 Tblsp Kosher salt per lemon
- water
- jars with lids
Directions:
- Wash at least six lemons. Slice in half lengthwise without cutting all the way through. Repeat so lemon opens in quarters, opening like a flower.
- Liberally pour salt into each opened lemon, close and put into jar. Fill jar with as many lemons that will easily fit. Add water to jar, seal, and let sit for up to 30 days.
- Remove lemons one at a time, remove insides and discard. Slice remaining lemon rind into desired pieces for immediate use.
Greek Spanakopitas with Feta Cheese and Spinach
These little beauties can be made in advance and stored in the freezer for any spur-of-the-moment party for a week or two if covered well.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb Phyllo dough pastry sheets
- 1/2 lb butter
- 5 eggs
- 1 lb feta cheese
- 1 cup fresh wilted, pressed spinach
- 1 lb cottage cheese, dry
- 1/2 cup dill, finely chopped
Directions:
- Crumble feta cheese into small chunky pieces. Add cottage cheese and blend well. Add eggs and beat thoroughly. Mix in dill and spinach. Melt butter.
- Carefully cut Phyllo pastry dough into 6 equal portions of rectangular strips. Refrigerate all but 1/6th until needed and cover the 1/6th portion with a damp cloth.
- Remove one sheet of Phyllo pastry dough, place on a flat surface and butter well with pastry brush.
- Place 1 Tblsp or less of cheese and spinach mixture in the bottom right hand corner of strip and fold over into triangle shape. Continue folding and making sure with each fold that the bottom edge is parallel with the alternate side edge. Lightly butter finished triangle. Continue until all the Phyllo sheets are used.
- Bake triangles in 425° oven for 20 mins or until golden browned. Turn once.
- Allow to cool about 5 mins each before serving.
As they say in Greece, "Eeneh poli kalah!" It is very good!
Tapas party hosts: consider these two recipes as a great start with proteins and veggies. Having small bowls on hand to serve light salads would be a perfect go-along. The choices are endless, so start collecting some favorite Tapas recipes for the very next informal get-together!
Looking for another bite-sized finger food idea? For more Greek recipe ideas, read this. For another delicious skewered meat recipe, try this one.
