Need Veggie Tapas Ideas

[bmonczka]

My cooking group will be doing Tapas for our theme this time, my pick is the vegetarian/veggie area. Does anyone have any recipes for some good tapas that are vegetarian? I also have to think of a spanish style desssert, flan is all that comes to mind. Any ideas? Thanks!

[bmonczka]

Before I get scolded, I went and searched past threads (I always forget to do that before I post a new thread) and did find some pretty good stuff. I'm thinking a Spanish Potato Omelet and for dessert an Orange-scented Flan with Roasted Pineapple that seemed well received on the thread about tapas.

Still open to other ideas, the potato dish just doesn't give me vegetable feelings!

[jena]

Perhaps one of these? Last one has anchovies, but I'm sure you could eliminate them.

Escalivada

Roasted vegetable salad
2 green peppers
2 red peppers
1 eggplant, peeled and thinly sliced
2 shallots
2 tomatoes
3/4 Cup Spanish olive oil
1/4 Cup sherry wine vinegar
12 slices country bread, toasted
Roast all the vegetables in a 350 oven for about 1 hour.
Peel and seed the peppers and tomatoes

Cut all the vegetables into strips and mix with the olive oil and vinegar.
Season with sea salt.
Chill and marinate for at least 6 hours and serve on the toast.



Champinones a la Plancha ( Grilled Mushrooms )

per person

6 - 8 mushrooms, stems removed
1 garlic clove, chopped
Spanish olive oil
1 Tbsp. chopped parsley

Salt the mushrooms and lightly coat with olive oil
Cook in a heavy skillet over high heat until done (about 3 min. per side)
sprinkle with garlic, olive oil and parsley and serve on a plate or with
toothpicks.


Spinach Empanadas

These Spanish Style almonds pack a pleasantly spicy punch

1/4 cup raisins, soaked in warm water, 15 minutes and drained
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, thickly sliced
4 anchovies
1/4 cup pine nuts
1 large egg
300 gram package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed of its
moisture
* salt and pepper to taste
* 375-450 gram pkg. frozen puff pastry, thawed
* egg wash (1 large beaten egg mixed with 2 tsp water)

Place the first six ingredients into a food processor and blend until
smooth. Place in a bowl and mix the spinach and salt and pepper to taste.
Roll out puff to about a 1/8-inch thickness. With a 3-inch round
cookie cutter, cut dough into rounds. Place a heaping teaspoon of
filling in the center of each round. Brush edges with egg wash, and
then fold over and seal by pinching the edges.
Place on a paper-lined parchment or non-stick baking sheet, leaving an
inch space between them to allow the puff pastry to expand. (Empanadas
can be made to this point, covered, stored in the refrigerator, and baked
later). Bake in a preheated 350 F Oven until puffed and golden, about
15-20 minutes.

Note: The weight of the brands of ready to use puff pastry vary.

[laughsandlaughs]

There was an article within the past year about veggie appetizers that seem tapas-like, what about one of those? someone can probably give you more specifics as to issue and recipe reviews.

[chefbecky]

My favorite tapas restaurant in the D.C. area, Jaleo, has some great veggie tapas. My absolute favorite is an apple and manchego cheese salad. For those who haven't had it, manchego is a hard-ish Spanish cheese -- a little like parmesan. Yum.

I've replicated the salad pretty closely before (it's pretty simple): Crush a garlic clove and let it soak with several tablespoons of olive oil while you prepare the cheese and apples. (I find that if you actually use the minced garlic, the flavor is too strong.) Cut Granny Smith apples and manchego cheese in julienne strips. Remove garlic from oil, mix with apples and cheese. Salt and pepper to taste.

Jaleo also a great dish: Endive leaves stuffed with goat cheese and mandarin oranges, drizzled with olive oil. So simple, but really good.

They also have good roasted red peppers stuffed with goat cheese and mushrooms.

You could also do a cheese plate with manchego and other Spanish cheeses. I'm sure if you go to a Whole Foods or similar store, they could direct you to some good choices.

Have fun!

[bmonczka]

Thank you for your ideas!! I'm off to the store:)

[sunberst]

i have had the potato-omelet at a tapas restaurant before and love it!

also, grilled mushrooms, baked goat cheese with toasted bread rubbed with pesto, marinated olives... i dont have recipes but i have eaten these for tapas and they are all good!