Vámonos de TAPAS! Let´s have some TAPAS!

Today is Saturday. It is cold and windy  so I´ve decided  I´ll cook something different: An easy  "TAPAS" dinner for my friends. We just need a few cupboard ingredients, a few bottles of wine and beer....And a good company to enjoy the evening!!!!

These are two very popular "tapas" in Madrid ( the lovely city where I come from). I hope you like them.



GAMBAS AL ABUELO)(Prawns in garlic and chilli sauce)

Ingredients (Serves 4)

-Olive oil (10  tablespoons)
-4 garlic cloves (thinly sliced)
-2 red chillies, thinly sliced (or 1 tablespoon of chilli flakes)
-Prawns  (500grs, frozen or fresh)
-Chopped flat leaves parsley (2 tablespoons)
-Sea salt to season
-Crusty bread




Preparation

Put the oil in a deep frying pan over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the garlic and chilli and cook for about 30 seconds over low heat. Add the prawns and cook them over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes (until the prawns are pink).
Sprinkle with a bit of sea salt and garnish with some chopped parsley.
Delicious with crusty bread to dip in the oil!!!!




BANDERILLAS

This tapa is usually served when you order a "caña" (small glass of beer). People from Madrid loves "ir de cañas" (going from bar to bar to drink beer and have tapas) with friends, especially on Sundays before lunch.


Ingredients (Serves 4)

-1 box of toothpicks
-1 jar of pickled gherkins (small ones)
-1 jar of cocktail onions
-Cheddar cheese (100grs, diced)
-1 tin of anchovies
-1 tin of olives
-Roasted red pepper (cut into small chunks)


Preparation

Choose 3 or 4 ingredients to slide onto a toothpick. Pick ingredients that you think will go well together. Lay each one on a plate until you have a nice, colourful presentation.

The good thing about this tapa is that it is very versatile. You can add the ingredients you prefer and as many as you like!!!!