6 Vegetarian Tapas Recipes to Try (2024)

Did you know that according to poll results, 165 million people in the US are vegetarians? Apart from that, afurther poll reveals that in the US, a third of people eat at least one vegetarian meal per week.

Did you also know that tapas can act as an ideal vegetarian dish, meal or snack?

Tapas recipes that do not incorporate meat are — like all tapas — delicious,whichis why we have rounded up five mouth-wateringvegetarian tapas recipes for you to try!

Andyou don’t have to be vegetarian to enjoy meat-free tapas. Tapas are inherently tasty and bursting with flavor — they don’t need meat to taste delectable!

If you want to snag six simple and flavorful vegetarian-friendly tapas, then read on, because we have some good ones for you.

1. Gilda

To start off with a boost of umami, Gildas are a simple and super savory tapa to try.

Hailing fromthe Basque country, these are comprised of spanish green olives, anchovies, and guindillapeppers wedged onto a skewer for easy eating.

This Spanish tapas dish actually gets its name from the American film Gilda. It wasone of the first American pop cultural influences in Spain after World War II.

2. Pimientos de Padrón Fritos

Pimientos de Padrón translated into English means fried Padrón Peppers.They are little, bright green peppers that come from Padrón, Galicia located in the northwestern part of Spain.

All you need for thiseasy vegetarian tapas recipe is padrón peppers and some salt. Simply give the peppers a quick fry and season with salt.

If you cannot get any padrón peppers you can substitute with Japanese shish*to peppers.

3. Patatas Bravas

Patatas Bravas translated means “fierce potatoes”. This tapas dish gets its name from its fierce heat! If you are a lover of spice and heat, then this is definitely a great tapa to try.

The basic recipe for Patatas Bravas is to fry up small wedges of potato until crispy and then top with a spicy sauce oftomato, garlic, paprika, and Tabasco.

4. Eggplant Rolls Stuffed with Feta Cheese

To make thisvegetarian tapas recipe, start by slicing up an eggplant lengthwise, then frying the slices in the pan and draining the oil off of them between two sheets of paper towel.

Then crumble up some feta into a bowl and season with thyme, salt, pepper and add a dash of olive oil.

Spoon this mixture onto the eggplant slices, roll them up, secure with a toothpick and enjoy!

5. Goat Cheese Combined with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Capers, Paprika and Garlic

Tostart making this vegetarian tapa you will need some queso de cabra, otherwise known asgoat’s cheese— one of the must-have cheeses for tapas— garlic, and paprika.

Roast the paprika and garlic, then mix this into the cheese, spread onto toast and top with sun-dried tomatoes and capers.

6. Escalivada

6 Vegetarian Tapas Recipes to Try (6)

Escalivada is a dish from Catalonia, Spain.

It is made with peppers and eggplant in the most basic version of the recipe, but other ingredients, like onion wedges or thick slices of tomato, can also be added.

Use a combination of yellow, orange, and red peppers to make it even more colorful.

Similar to ratatouille, escalivada is a delicious, easy-to-make recipe that’s sure to become a new comfort food.

Vegetarian Tapas Are Not Only Delicious — They Are Easy to Make!

As you can see,vegetarian tapas can be just as tasty and delectable as those that include meat.

And what’s more, many vegetarian tapas recipes are super easy to make and healthier too!

So what are you waiting for? Go on and try some of these vegetarian tapas recipes today.

Oh, and if you need something to wash those delicious tapas down with, check out these refreshing Spanish drinks.

And remember, if you need to stock up on prime imported Spanish ingredients, you can take advantage of our online Latin food store.

6 Vegetarian Tapas Recipes to Try (8)

Jorge Garcia

Our blog is all about sharing our love of Latin American foods & drinks. We’ll bring you articles and recipes of the very best Latin American & Spanish cuisine. Amigofoods was founded in 2003 and is the largest online grocery store offering a wide variety of hard to find freshly imported foods & drinks from all over Latin America and Spain.

Read more about the author & Amigofoods on our About Us page.

Related Posts

  • 7 Best Spanish Tapas Recipes

    If you've been to Spain or even parts of Mexico, you may have heard of tapas. Tapas are small dishes of food,…

  • Easy Tapas Recipes For a Worry-Free Spanish Fiesta With Friends

    Tapas are some of the most delicious Spanish foods that you can eat. If you want to serve some delicious tapas at…

  • The History of Spanish Tapas

    Tapas are a fundamental way of life in Spain. These tasty small dishes are found in every bar, cafe, restaurant and home…

6 Vegetarian Tapas Recipes to Try (2024)

FAQs

What are the most popular tapas dishes? ›

The 10 most popular Spanish tapas you need to try
  • Jamon Serrano. ...
  • Tortilla Española (Spanish Omelette) ...
  • Boquerones en Vinagre. ...
  • Albondigas en Salsa. ...
  • Patatas Bravas. ...
  • Croquetas (Croquettes) ...
  • Espinacas con Garbanzos (Spinach with Chickpeas) ...
  • Calamares fritos (Fried Squid Rings)
May 12, 2022

Is there vegetarian tapas? ›

While Spanish tapas are typically quite meaty, there are some great vegan & vegetarian tapas too like patatas bravas, delicious olives, or bread with tomato. This article showcases some of the tasty vegan and vegetarian tapas dishes that Spain has to offer.

What are three typical tapas? ›

Traditional tapas include mixed olives, garlicky shrimp, fried baby squid, meatballs, and chorizo.

What is traditional tapas? ›

Best way to describe a tapa is a small plate of food normally served as an accompaniment to a drink. Tapas vary greatly depending on the region of Spain, especially in terms of types of dishes and also quantity served. They can go from either a small snack, such as some olives or nuts to an authentic miniature feast.

What do you order when you want a meal of tapas? ›

Tapas: In addition to the options under pincho, above, most traditional spots will offer an array of croquettes (savory fried fritters), empanadas (fried stuffed pastries), pulgas (bite-size sandwiches with meat or cheese), and encurtidos (pickled items that include a wide array of olives), plus lots of specialties of ...

How many tapas dishes should you get? ›

Portion sizes will vary by restaurant, but typically, ordering 2 to 3 tapas per person gets the job done. So a party of 4 would order 8 to 12 tapas between them. Don't be afraid to ask your server if you haven't ordered enough food, and remember, your friends are there to help if you've ordered too much.

Is Spain OK for vegetarians? ›

Vegetarian tapas options are surprisingly common in Spain these days, even though it's a big meat-eating country. The Spanish tend to enjoy their legumes, so be prepared for your fair share of chickpeas, beans, and lentils. Vegans will be able to enjoy many vegetarian items on the menu.

What is a casual vegetarian? ›

A flexitarian is someone who follows a mainly plant based diet but who may occasionally choose to eat some meat, dairy products, fish or eggs. Flexitarianism is also called casual vegetarianism, thanks to its flexibility.

What is a vegetarian who eats tuna? ›

The pescatarian diet, or pescatarianism, involves eating a primarily vegetarian diet with the addition of fish and other seafood. This may offer potential health benefits. Eating a diet consisting mainly of plant-based foods has a variety of health benefits, which the addition of fish and fish products may enhance.

What are the rules for eating tapas? ›

There are no rules for what tapas can be; they are sometimes meant to be shared and eaten with toothpicks, but they can also be small individual dishes with their own cutlery, and other times its perfectly acceptable to eat tapas with your hands. They will also take different forms depending on where you are in Spain.

What is the most popular ingredient in tapas? ›

Olives and olive oil: Just about the most important ingredient in all tapas dishes, olives and olive oil are covered in detail in their own sections. Serrano ham (jamon): The best known of the Spanish jamónes is Serrano ham and the best jamón Serrano comes from the black Iberian pig.

How do you plan a tapas menu? ›

Pick a handful of tapas that provide a variety of textures, flavors, and time commitments. Mix cold and warm, meat and vegetable, and prepare-ahead and last-minute. And ask for help! No one would turn down an opportunity to help prepare the feast, especially if you offer a glass of wine for their service.

What are the best tapas dishes? ›

The Top 10 Tapas Dishes You Have To Try In Spain
  • Boquerones en Vinagre. ...
  • Tortilla Española. ...
  • Albondigas en Salsa. ...
  • Pulpo a la Gallega. ...
  • Patatas Bravas. ...
  • Croquetas. ...
  • Gambas al Ajillo. ...
  • Espinacas con Garbanzos.
Mar 3, 2020

What is the most widely served tapa? ›

Tortilla de Patatas might be the most common tapa out there. It's also known as a Spanish Omelette however it really has no relation to the classic French dish. Tortilla is a perfect mix of softened potato slices mixed with egg that are fried into a cake like shape.

Are tapas a snack or meal? ›

There are many other theories but whatever the origin, tapas are traditionally a light appetizer between meals enjoyed with some beer or wine. The most popular times for tapas is midday or early evening before dinner (la cena).

What is Spain's most famous dish? ›

Paella is perhaps the most famous Spanish dish of all, and certainly one of the most abused. Authentic paella originates from the region around Valencia, and comes in two varieties: Paella Valenciana, with rabbit and chicken; and seafood paella.

What is on a Spanish tapas menu? ›

  • Spain. 25,4 K suscriptores. Recipe for Spanish Omelette in 30" - Spain. ...
  • Patatas bravas. patatas bravas and patatas alioli. These are fried potatoes covered in a tasty sauce. ...
  • Iberian ham on bread. Cured ham. ...
  • Cheeses © El Carito. Cheese. ...
  • Olives. Olives. ...
  • Calamari “raciones” Calamari. ...
  • Croquettes. Croquettes. ...
  • Mussels. Mussels.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Allyn Kozey

Last Updated:

Views: 6292

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (43 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Allyn Kozey

Birthday: 1993-12-21

Address: Suite 454 40343 Larson Union, Port Melia, TX 16164

Phone: +2456904400762

Job: Investor Administrator

Hobby: Sketching, Puzzles, Pet, Mountaineering, Skydiving, Dowsing, Sports

Introduction: My name is Allyn Kozey, I am a outstanding, colorful, adventurous, encouraging, zealous, tender, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.