Gluten Free Tapas Recipes

Spanish tapas are not just appetizers. They're all the flavours of Spain in combinations you haven't tried before. Served on little plates, often with toothpicks, these gluten free tapas recipes will get you excited if you're tired of the same old party fare.

Tapas can also be part of a larger sit down dinner. My Spanish Menu features paella, the classic rice dish from the region of Valencia. This could be your next Dinner Club menu already made for you!

What Are Tapas?

Tapas can be hot or cold, in sauce or deep fried, wrapped in pastry or not; one thing is for sure, a culinary experience awaits you! Often referred to as the little dishes of Spain, they come in a variety of types from simple to complex.

These tapas recipes feature the flavours and ingredients popular to Spanish cuisine; paprika, saffron, almonds, olives and more.

7 Tapas Recipes

The following are seven of my favourite tapas recipes that I make and serve. Sometimes as tapas, as an appetizer or some of them we even make for dinner.

1

Manchego Cheese with Quince Paste

Quince paste may be a little hard to find but you can make this tapa substituting the paste with quince or fig jam.

Check out this recipe

2

Spanish Banderillas

These are perfect for gluten free eaters since pickles, olives and other condiments are gluten free. You need to read labels but starting with unopened jars avoids concern about cross contact.

Check out this recipe

3

Bacon-Wrapped Dates Stuffed with Chorizo

Chorizo Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates are a Spanish tapa and they fall into the popular and much loved category of bacon wrapped anything.

Check out this recipe

4

Shrimp in Garlic Sauce

This is an easy tapa recipe, one of those little dishes from Spain, that can also be served as a main course.

Check out this recipe

5

Meatballs in Almond Sauce

Served individually on a toothpick these meatballs are a tapa. In my house they are also an everyday dinner. If you plan well you can take them to a party as an appetizer and have enough leftover for dinner the next night.

Check out this recipe

6

Rice Salad with Tuna

This is a cold tapa, often served as an individual portion. I prefer to serve it as a molded salad for any picnic or buffet table.

Check out this recipe

7

Frittata (Tortilla Española)

In Spanish this dish is called tortilla Española and it is a popular potato tapa. In North America we think a tortilla is a Mexican flatbread/wrap so I used the Italian name, frittata. No matter what you call it or what you put in it, this can be cut into small squares and served on a toothpick with an array of tapas!

Check out this recipe

Tips for Gluten Free Entertaining

When you're new to gluten free people often suggest you host dinners while your friends and family learn what living gluten free means. For a Tapas Night I suggest you open a nice bottle of Tempranillo, set out jars of pickles and olives and start by assembling banderillas.

Here are some tips from everyday gluten free cooks I know.

• Make the same menu for different groups. This idea is a game changer! Once you've got a handful of menus you can repeat these dinners with ease.
• Adopt the acronym K.I.S.S. with the meaning Keep It Simple and Safe. Focus on casual conversation and whole food rather than reading labels and hidden gluten.
• Accept people where they are. Not everyone understands the challenges of a strict gluten free diet. Ask those people to bring wine (or any specific item you know will be safe). Make a short list on your phone and don't be cheap, ask for things you wouldn't usually buy. These items can be a gift in lieu of food and not part of the menu.
• When it's your party you get to make the rules. People tell me they have shared documents with brand names, lists of trusted stores and even pictures of specific items.

Let me know in the comments below if you made one of these recipes, have a question or a tip to share.