Spanish tapas are known by everyone. The little snacks on beautiful platters or in colourful cups that you share with others. A fun way of having a meal and especially handy for people, like myself, who can’t choose and want to try it all. It’s quite common to make a decent meal from tapas. But in the old days, a tapa was only served with a drink.
Are tapas a Dutch invention?
Tapa comes from the verb ‘tapar’ which means to cover. According to Wikipedia the origin of the ‘tapa’ is a bit controversial. But different sources mention that a tapa, a snack, was meant to cover a drink to protect flies into the glass. The tapa was a piece of bread or a slice of ham. Also, the tapa was used to stimulate the appetite.
It sounds a bit arrogant to think tapas were invented by the Dutch, whether you believe it or not, the story is nice. The story dates back to around 1500 when the Dutch emperor Charles V often sent riders from the South of Spain, where Margaretha from Parma was, to the southern Netherlands. These riders often made rest stops for a drink at inns. A diet Coke or non-alcoholic beer weren’t invented yet, and not occasionally the riders end back up drunk on their horses.
This was ridiculous thought Emperor Charles and he ordered all the inns in Spain to serve some food with their drinks. In this case, the riders never could drink on an empty stomach. And the tapa was born… Nice story don’t you think?
Para compartir
Still, you see on many counters in bars a display case with snacks. Often these are meatballs in tomato sauce, tortilla, Russian salad and a fish dish. In some cafes, you indeed get a free tapa with your drink. Often these are olives or a dish with peanuts or fried corn.
Also, you can order tapas in many restaurants. The Spanish love to share their food with others. It is quite common in a restaurant to order different dishes and share them with your party. On the menu, you can often find these dishes under the name of ‘para compartir’, which means sharing. You have the choice to order this as a ‘tapa; a small snack, or as a ‘ración; a bigger portion.
In a typical tapas bar, you can not only order from the menu, but you can also wait for what tapas will pass your table. The waiters regularly walk by with trays full of tapas. If you fancy any, you can take it and at the end of the night, your empty plates and picks will be counted to set the bill. Absolutely a joyful experience.
In our ebook restaurants, you will find tips about good tapas bars/restaurants in Málaga and its surroundings.
Of course, it is also fun to make your tapas. Which we do regularly. We like this way of eating. The tortilla may not be missed. My mom always hated to use processed food and thought it was better to make everything from scratch so that you know what you are eating. I have adopted that, but the tortilla from the supermarket still tasted better than my homemade tortilla, which was too dry. Time to follow a cooking class!
From whom we could better learn this than from our Spanish friend Toñi, the daughter of a chef! It became a tasteful tortilla, and my mom would have been proud of me! Below you find the recipe.
Just so you know. Pay attention to what you order in a restaurant. We didn’t, and you should have seen our faces when we waiter brought an omelette. We had asked for a ‘Tortilla Francesa’ and not a ‘Tortilla de patatas’!
Tortilla á la Toñi
Toñi has taught me two ways of making the tortilla. One with boiled/steamed potatoes and one with fried potatoes. It’s up to you to decide. You better use a small frying pan, as the tortilla will be a bit thicker. My frying pan had an intersection of about 16 cm.
fried potato option
2 diced potatoes
1 chopped onion
olive oil
2 eggs
salt
1. Pour quite an amount of oil into a small frying pan.
2. Add the raw potato and onion to the heated oil.
3. When the potatoes are soft, drain them and keep the oil.
4. Mix 2 eggs with some salt in a large bowl.
5. Mix the potatoes with onions with the eggs.
6. Leave the mixture for a few minutes to soak in.
7. Heat some of the olive oil in the frying pan.
8. Add the potatoes/onion/egg mixture and fry this over low heat.
9. Turn the tortilla when the top is not done yet. Use a plate to flip it.
10. And now the most important thing… press with your finger in the middle of the tortilla. You don’t want to have your tortilla very soft, but you don’t want it hard either. The tortilla has to bounce a bit when you press it. That is the moment your Tortilla a la Toñi is ready!
the healthier option
3 diced potatoes
1 chopped onion
5 eggs
salt
olive oil
1. Steam or cook the potatoes al dente.
2. Fry the chopped onion in some oil.
3. Add the diced potatoes and fry them for a few minutes.
4. Mix the 5 eggs with some salt.
5. Take the potatoes and onions from the stove and mix them with the eggs.
6. Leave the mixture a few minutes to soak in.
7. Heat some oil in a frying pan.
8. Add the mixture and cook over low heat.
9. Turn the tortilla when the top is not done yet. Use a plate to flip it.
10. And now the most important thing… press your finger in the middle of the tortilla. You don’t want to have your tortilla very soft, but you don’t want it hard either. The tortilla has to bounce a bit when you press it. That is the moment your Tortilla a la Toñi is ready!
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