Marinated Green Olives

Marinated Green Olives

Aceitunas Verdes Aliñadas
In Spain, olives are a beloved accompaniment, often served as a complimentary snack at tapas bars. This recipe elevates the flavor of green olives by infusing them with garlic, thyme, rosemary, and oregano.
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Equipment

  • In Spain, olives are a beloved accompaniment, often served as a complimentary snack at tapas bars. This recipe elevates the flavor of green olives by infusing them with garlic, thyme, rosemary, and oregano.

Ingredients

  • Makes 6 to 8 Servings
  • 1 jar 7 ounces of green olives with pits, preferably Spanish, lightly crushed
  • 6 garlic cloves lightly smashed
  • 1 strip of orange peel 2 inches long, orange part only
  • 2 sprigs of thyme
  • 2 sprigs of rosemary
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon of fennel seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano
  • 1/4 cup of vinegar

Instructions

  • Combine all the ingredients in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.
  • Add enough water to cover the olives, ensuring they are fully submerged.
  • Shake the jar well to mix the ingredients and distribute the flavors evenly.
  • Place the jar in the refrigerator and let the olives marinate for at least 3 days.
  • During this time, the olives will soak up the delicious flavors.
  • Before serving, remove and discard the bay leaves.
  • These marinated green olives can be enjoyed either cold or at room temperature, making them a delightful addition to your tapas experience.

Notes & Wine Advice

With these Aceitunas Verdes Aliñadas, you can savor the authentic flavors of Spain, adding a touch of Mediterranean flair to your table.
Prepare at least 3 days in advance.
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Course; Tapas
Cuisine; European / Spain

Aceitunas con Pimentón

Aceitunas con Pimentón

Olives and pimentón (paprika) are two staple ingredients in Spanish cuisine, featured in numerous dishes. In this recipe, they come together with various spices and herbs commonly found in Spanish cooking to create a flavorful tapa. The best part is that these olives get even more delicious with time. You can prepare them at least 3 days in advance, and they’ll keep well in the refrigerator.
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Ingredients

Makes 4 Servings

Instructions

  • Combine all the ingredients in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.
  • Shake the jar well to ensure all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed and the olives are coated with the flavorful mixture.
  • Place the jar in the refrigerator and let the olives marinate for at least 3 days.
  • They’ll continue to absorb the delicious flavors.
  • When you’re ready to enjoy them, serve the olives cold or at room temperature as a tasty tapa.

Notes & Wine Advice

These Aceitunas con Pimentón are a simple yet delightful addition to your Spanish culinary repertoire, showcasing the rich flavors of Spain in a convenient and delicious form.
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Course; Tapas
Cuisine; European / Spain

Aceitunas Negras con Mojo

Aceitunas Negras con Mojo

Black Olives Marinated in Paprika
In Spain, black olives take center stage when it comes to tapas, and this well-seasoned marinade with a hint of cumin, reflecting Moorish influence, enhances their flavor. Prepare this delightful marinated black olive dish at least 10 days in advance to savor the rich and complex flavors.
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Ingredients

Makes 6 to 8 Servings

  • 1 jar 7 ounces of black olives, preferably Spanish, drained
  • 5 garlic cloves lightly smashed
  • 1/2 teaspoon of ground hot paprika such as Spanish smoked
  • 1 tablespoon of ground bittersweet paprika such as Spanish smoked
  • 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
  • 2 sprigs of thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon of ground cumin
  • 1 strip of orange peel 2 inches long, orange part only
  • 2 sprigs of fresh parsley
  • 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/3 cup of vinegar

Instructions

  • Combine all the ingredients in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.
  • Add enough water to cover the ingredients, ensuring they are fully submerged.
  • Shake the jar well to mix all the ingredients and distribute the flavors evenly.
  • Place the jar in the refrigerator and let the olives marinate for at least 10 days, stirring occasionally to ensure the flavors meld.
  • When ready to serve, you can enjoy these marinated black olives either cold or at room temperature as a delectable tapa.

Notes & Wine Advice

These Aceitunas Negras con Mojo make for a delightful and flavorful addition to your tapas selection, offering a taste of Spain’s culinary heritage.
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Course; Tapas
Cuisine; European / Spain

Banderilla Dressing  

Banderilla Dressing  

Picada Sauce This Picada sauce recipe hails from Tito of the renowned Bar Cascabel in Madrid, specializing in the art of crafting delicious banderillas. Picada is a finely chopped blend of garlic, parsley, pickle, and oil, which adds a captivating flavor to a wide variety of banderillas. To achieve the best results, it’s recommended to prepare Picada sauce in a food processor and process it until it reaches a smooth consistency.
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Ingredients

Makes Enough to Dress 20 Banderillas

  • 3 tablespoons of finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 3 garlic cloves finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons of finely chopped dill or cornichon pickle
  • 3 tablespoons of olive oil

Instructions

  • Place the finely chopped parsley, garlic, and pickle in a food processor.
  • Process the mixture until it becomes smooth and well blended.
  • While the food processor is running, slowly add the olive oil to the mixture.
  • Continue processing until the Picada sauce reaches a smooth and uniform consistency.
  • You can serve the sauce at room temperature, making it a perfect accompaniment for your banderillas.
  • If you have any leftovers, store the Picada sauce in a covered container in the refrigerator, and it can be kept for up to 5 days.
  • Just remember to bring it to room temperature before serving.
  • This delightful Picada sauce will enhance the flavors of your banderillas and add an extra layer of taste to your tapas experience.
  • Enjoy!
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Course; Dressing / Sauce
Cuisine; European / Spain

Spanish Tapas Skewers

Spanish Tapas Skewers

Here are four delightful examples of traditional Spanish banderillas – bite-sized ingredient stacks perfect for serving with drinks or at parties, typically threaded onto toothpicks. Feel free to customize the ingredients based on your preferences, as each combination offers a unique flavor. Experiment to discover your favorite variation.
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Ingredients

Green Olive Delight:

  • 1 pitted green olive preferably Spanish, with or without pimiento
  • 1 crosswise slice of dill or cornichon pickle about ¼ inch
  • 1 piece of jarred piquillo pepper or pimiento approximately ¾ inch
  • 1 chunk of canned or jarred white or light meat tuna well-drained (about ¾ inch)
  • 1 cooked shrimp peeled and deveined
  • 1 asparagus tip cooked and about 2 inches long
  • Mayonnaise mayonesa, to taste
  • 1 small wedge of hard-boiled egg
  • 1 rolled anchovy fillet with or without capers
  • 1 pitted black olive preferably Spanish
  • Mayonnaise mayonesa, to taste
  • Egg & Ham Fusion:
  • 1/2 small hard-boiled egg sliced crosswise and trimmed at the base to ensure it sits flat
  • 1 small cooked shrimp peeled and deveined
  • 1 square piece of Serrano ham or prosciutto cut from a slice about 1/8 inch thick (approximately ¾ inch)
  • Mayonnaise mayonesa, to taste
  • Fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

  • For each tapa, assemble the ingredients in the order they are listed on a skewer, following the specific combination you prefer.
  • Adjust the quantities of ingredients as needed for the number of tapas you wish to serve.
  • These delectable treats are typically enjoyed at room temperature.
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Course; Tapas
Cuisine; European / Spain

Sweet Potato and Caramelized Onion Tartlets

Sweet Potato and Caramelized Onion Tartlets

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Ingredients

Instructions

  • Peel and cube the sweet potatoes into about ½-inch cubes.
  • Boil them in a pot of 6 cups of lightly salted water for about 20-30 minutes.
  • Dice the onions and add them to a medium-hot pan with the butter.
  • Caramelize the onions for 20-30 minutes, or until they are soft and browned.
  • Keep stirring them in the pan to prevent charring.
  • After the onions are caramelized and the sweet potatoes are soft enough to be broken with a fork, add them to a large glass mixing bowl.
  • Add the Parmesan, salt, and cracked black pepper.
  • Blend the ingredients with an immersion blender, food processor, or normal blender.
  • Blend until everything is combined and smooth.
  • Place the filling in a piping bag and pipe it into the tartlet shells until they are filled.

Notes & Wine Advice

Top with more Parmesan and chopped parsley, if desired.
Enjoy your sweet potato and caramelized onion tartlets!
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Course; Tarts
Diets; Gluten-Free

Maple Carrot Tartlets

Maple Carrot Tartlets

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Ingredients

Makes 8-10 Tartlets

Instructions

  • Peel and cube the carrots into small chunks.
  • Add them to a pot of 6 cups of boiling salted water and cook for about 20 minutes.
  • While the carrots are cooking, mix the maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt together.
  • When the carrots are done, add them to either a bowl or a blender with the syrup mixture.
  • If you add them to a bowl, you will need an immersion blender.
  • Blend until smooth.
  • Heat a pan to medium heat and fry the prosciutto for 30-45 seconds on each side.
  • Fill a piping bag with the carrot mixture and fill tartlet shells.

Notes & Wine Advice

Chop the prosciutto and sprinkle it onto the tartlets along with parsley, if desired.
Enjoy your delicious maple carrot tartlets!
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Course; Tarts

Tartlet Shells

Tartlet Shells

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Equipment

  • 1 mini-muffin tin
  • oven

Ingredients

  • 1 package gluten-free puff pastry dough e.g., GeeFree Gluten-Free Puff Pastry

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F.
  • Flip the mini-muffin tin over, so the convex areas are facing up, and grease them.
  • Roll out the gluten-free puff pastry dough until it’s approximately 1/8-inch thick.
  • Use a circle cutter with a 3-inch diameter to cut out rounds from the puff pastry dough.
  • Carefully place the puff pastry rounds over the inverted mini-muffin tin cups, shaping them to form tartlet shells.
  • Bake the tartlet shells in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes or until they are golden brown.

Notes & Wine Advice

These tartlet shells can be used as a base for various sweet or savory tartlets. Enjoy!
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Course; Tarts
Diets; Gluten-Free

Make-Ahead Cheese Ball

Make-Ahead Cheese Ball

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Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, softened butter, shredded Swiss cheese, ground mustard, sea salt, pepper, and dried minced onion.
  • Use an electric mixer to blend the ingredients together until thoroughly combined.
  • Scoop the mixture onto a large sheet of clear plastic wrap and quickly shape it into a ball.
  • Seal the plastic wrap around the cheese ball and freeze it for up to 3 months.
  • To Serve:
  • Thaw the cheese ball in the refrigerator overnight when you’re ready to serve.
  • Roll the cheese ball in a mixture of toasted and crushed walnuts, combined with shredded gruyere or Swiss cheese.

Notes & Wine Advice

Serve your cheese ball with crackers and/or fresh vegetables.
If you prefer not to freeze the cheese ball, you can store it in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours (up to 3 days) to allow the flavors to develop. Roll it in the toppings just before serving.
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Course; Cheese
Diets; Gluten-Free

Savory Butter Shortbread Freezer Cookies

Savory Butter Shortbread Freezer Cookies

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Ingredients

Instructions

  • Using a hand mixer, beat together the butter and honey until they become fluffy and light in color.
  • Add the remaining ingredients, including almond flour, arrowroot powder, baking powder, sea salt, crumbled blue cheese, vanilla bean powder, and chopped rosemary.
  • Mix until all the ingredients are well combined.
  • The dough will be thick and crumbly.
  • Scoop the dough onto a long piece of parchment paper and shape it into a log, wrapping it with parchment as you go.
  • Wrap the dough log with clear plastic wrap and refrigerate it for 1 hour or freeze it for up to 3 weeks.

To Bake:

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
  • Line a rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  • Remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator (if frozen, allow it to thaw for 1 hour) and slice it into cookies.
  • Place the slices on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
  • Bake for about 12 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies turn golden.

Notes & Wine Advice

Allow the cookies to cool completely on the pan before handling to prevent them from breaking.
These savory butter shortbread cookies are a delightful treat that combines the rich flavors of blue cheese and rosemary. Enjoy!
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