7 Spanish Recipes You Can Easily Make at Home

Spanish food is a popular cuisine thanks to bold color, taste, and character. Often, you’ll see Spanish dishes in the form of tapas. These small plates are perfect for familiarizing yourself with the cuisine and are often pretty simple to prepare, making them the perfect fare for a dinner party. We’re rounding up seven great Spanish recipes that are aimed to please eaters of all preferences. Some are more indulgent than others, but they’re all tasty. And the beauty of tapas is if one guest doesn’t like a certain dish, there are many others at the ready.

1. Shrimp Fritters

First up are shrimp fritters from Saveur. These rustic fried snacks are sure to become a fast favorite. There’s also no need to fear deep frying when you have fool-proof instructions to follow. Grab your flour, oil, and shrimp, then get started.

Ingredients:

• 1⁄3 cup olive oil
• ½ small yellow onion, finely chopped
• 12 ouces raw medium shrimp, peeled, deveined, and finely chopped
• ¼ cup chickpea flour
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons roughly chopped parsley
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon hot paprika
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• Lemon wedges, for serving

Head to Saveur for the full recipe. 

2. Lamb Meatballs with Mint

Now for a sophisticated spin on comfort food. Take meatballs to a different country with this lamb version from Food & Wine. Meatballs are easy to serve, eat , and, when you rely on the traditional combination of lamb and mint, they can’t be beat. Best of all, this recipe comes together in less than an hour.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound lean ground lamb
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• ¼ cup dry bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped mint
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
• ½ cup dry white wine
• ½ cup beef broth
• 1 cup tomato puree

 

Head to Food & Wine for the full recipe.

3. Patatas Bravas

Patatas bravas is a favorite dish at Spanish restaurants, and BBC Good Food makes them easy to pull off at home. The key is perfecting the spicy tomato sauce made from garlic, onions, tomatoes, and chili powder. After that, all you have to do is cube and cook your potatoes, then plate them with the delicious sauce.

Ingredients:

Sauce

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 garlic clove, chopped
• 1 can chopped tomato
• 1 tablespoon tomato purée
• 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
• Good pinch chilli powder
• Pinch sugar
• Chopped fresh parsley, to garnish

Potatoes

• 2 pounds potato
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

 

Head to BBC Good Food for the full recipe.

4. Veggie Empanadas

Good news for your vegetarian friends, these empanadas from The Simple Kitchen are meat-free. The recipe is also simple because it enlists a shortcut by using store-bought empanada wrappers. No one will know (or care) about your secret when they try a bite. This is healthy comfort food at its finest.

Ingredients:

• ½ butternut squash, seeded (can leave skin on)
• Drizzle of olive oil
• 1 ear of corn
• 2 cups frozen spinach, thawed (or use fresh and cook ahead)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes
• 1 (12-count) package empanada wrappers
• 1 cup grated melting cheese

 

Head to The Simple Kitchen for the full recipe. 

5. Cheese-Stuffed Peppers

This Robert Irvine recipe, featured on Food Network, is definitely for those who love cheese. Anaheim peppers get filled with Monterey Jack cheese, goat cheese, thyme, rosemary, and fresh sage leaves. The packed peppers will take you 25 minutes to prepare, which isn’t bad for something that sounds so fancy.

Ingredients:

• 16 (8-inch) Anaheim peppers, stems and seeds removed
• 4 tablespoons grapeseed oil
• 1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 cup crumbled goat cheese
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary leaves
• 3 large fresh sage leaves, minced
• 1 cup blue cornmeal

 

Head to Food Network for the Full Recipe.

6. Spanish Ham with Olives and Oranges

For meat lovers, we have this recipe for ham with oranges and olives from Martha Stewart. The Spanish dry-cured ham pairs perfectly with a sauce made with sweet oranges, salty olives, orange juice, olive oil, and vinegar. The combination is served on pieces of fresh toast that make for delectable finger food.

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup imported green olives, such as Provencal, pitted
• ½ small shallot, sliced into very thin rounds
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
• 1 teaspoon sherry vinegar
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
• 1 round loaf of country bread (about 1 pound and 10 inches in diameter)
• 8 very thin slices serrano ham (about 2 ounces)

 

Head to Martha Stewart Living for the full recipe. 

7. Flank Steak with Goat Cheese on Toast

For those with a more ferocious appetite, these steak toasts are the perfect nibble. The recipe, which is from Steamy Kitchen, will take you only 15 minutes to make. Trust us, no one will complain about this delicious appetizer.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 2 teaspoons red chili pepper flakes
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1½ pound flank steak (or skirt steak)
• 1 (8-ounce) jar roasted red bell peppers, sliced
• 6 ounces goat cheese
• ½ cup fig jam
• 1 to 2 loaves baguette

Head to Steamy Kitchen for the full recipe.