Quick bites - Tapas
Tapas are a wide variety of appetizers, or snacks, in Spanish cuisine which may be served cold or hot. Though the primary meaning of tapa is cover or lid, it has in Spain become a term for this style of food.
In the earlier Spanish days, Tapas was usually bread often placed on top of a drink to protect it from fruit flies and at some point it became a habit to top this "cover" with a snack.
These tapas are not at all authentic Spanish ones, but just a few mix and match of some ingredients which go well together. A great party pleaser and quick to make when you have guests coming over at a short notice
I made these two varieties of tapas, both having almost raw ingredients except for the cooked beans which I already had in the fridge - Mango and olives, guacamole and kidney beans. These tapas cups are store brought and I really was amazed to see these in the grocery store. As usual I bought them without even thinking what to do and now after a month when I open the kitchen cupboard, it is lying in wait for me to use them: D You really do not need a tapas cup to serve this. A plain cracker or a Monaca biscuit will do just fine.
Mango & Olive tapas
1 ripe mango cut into small cubes
1 tbsp of lime juice
10 baby mint leaves
3-4 whole olives sliced in rounds
A pinch of salt
Guacamole and kidney beans tapas
1 medium size avocado cut into very small pieces
1 small shallot finely diced
1/2 tomato finely sliced (after removing the seeds)
1 tbsp of lime juice
A pinch of salt
Crushed pepper
Cooked kidney beans
How to:
There is no method as such if you have got all the ingredients ready and put it in a bowl. Just mix well and place a spoonful in each cup and you are ready!
