Have Tapas for Dinner! 5 Delicious Tapas Recipes

The name of this dish means fierce or angry potatoes, but don't be scared of this Spanish restaurant staple, which involves roasted or fried potato chunks in a spicy tomato sauce. You can easily make the sauce hot or mild, and when it's party time, heat-loving guests can dip their patatas into more of the tomato sauce. Those with milder palates might appreciate the potatoes with a cooler mayonnaise-based sauce that sometimes accompanies the dish.

It might be hard to find, but smoked paprika (as opposed to the more common sweet version) is a must for any Spanish tapas chef. It adds depth to a batch of patatas bravas, and it's a perfect match with shellfish. If you want to be really authentic, use octopus, but we have a feeling you'll have more takers if you make this recipe with shrimp. Sauté with olive oil, garlic, a healthy heaping of smoked paprika, and serve with crusty bread.

Spinach and chickpeas -- espinacas y garbanzos if you want to sound fancy -- involves the titular ingredients and fried, torn up bread (we know it sounds a bit weird but go with it). Garlic, red wine vinegar and cumin also play pivotal roles here, as does the same smoked paprika from the previously mentioned shrimp dish. Serve the spinach and chickpeas with toast.

Tortilla Española -- sometimes referred to as a Spanish omelet -- is another classic tapas dish. This mixture of thinly sliced potatoes (and sometimes onions) and eggs is partially cooked in a cast-iron skillet and then baked until it's puffed and fluffy. All you'll need for seasoning is salt and pepper. Sliced into wedges, it's the perfect finger food.

Look no farther than garlic mushrooms if you want an easy addition to your tapas spread. They involve just four ingredients, and the prep work is little more than chopping a few cloves of garlic. Sauté the garlic in olive oil, toss in a few pounds of whole white mushrooms, add a splash of Spanish sherry and serve immediately.

Delicioso!