This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Trending Now: Tapas

Use these free recipes to grill up some delicious warm weather tapas dishes.

 

Find out what's happening in New Canaanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Do you have a hankering for lighter fare when the weather warms? I do. I find that heavy meals weigh me down when the mercury rises. So I turn to smaller sized dishes I can graze upon to satisfy my appetite. Of course I can’t lay claim to this idea. But neither can American chefs or the many restaurants now offering nibbles and starters. In fact, the small plates popping up on restaurant menus everywhere lately are probably inspired by Spanish tapas, which is a selection of small dishes, usually about 3-5 bites each.

 

Find out what's happening in New Canaanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Traditional tapas restaurants, and ones specializing in twists on tapas, have sprouted up all across the USA. I’m particularly fond of traditional tapas dishes. And I love the general concept of it. It is believed that the tradition was originated by King Alfonso X of Castille and Leon’s chef to treat the King’s exhaustion by feeding him small amounts of food throughout the day. Today tapas are a staple of Spanish bars that simply appear next to patrons’ served drinks. Iberian bars are family gathering places where one can stop for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and post-dinner repast with family and friends. Tapas dishes can have regional flair, but many are found all over Spain.

 

Here in America chefs have taken liberty with the genre and put their own stamps on it, sometimes simply calling them small plates. I’ve enjoyed lots of traditional tapas dishes, but am always interested in seeing where I, or others, can go with a concept. I like to make different tapas samplers. One I came up with last year when the weather started to heat up is a zucchini grill in which I grilled zucchini four different ways. I like the long, thin, green squash in the warm months because it is light and cooks quickly so the kitchen doesn’t get too hot. And it tastes good both raw and cooked, and in both hot and cold forms. It’s best to make the chilled ones first, and those to serve hot last.

 

To make my Warm Weather Tapas I grill zucchini 3 different ways:

 

Grilled Rounds

·      Cut 2 zucchinis into 1/2” rounds.

·      Brush each with Balsamic Vinegar and season with Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper.

·      Lay them flat on a greased grilling rack.

·      Grill them quickly over direct flame.

·      Remove when lightly charred.

·      Cover half of the rounds and keep them warm for serving.

·      Reheat them if necessary.

·      Refrigerate remaining half of rounds until cooled through and use in Zucchini Canapes.

 

Zucchini Canapes

·      Slice a few chilled, pimento-stuffed Spanish Olives into thin rounds.

·      Spread a thin layer of cream cheese onto each grilled and chilled zucchini round.

·      Top each with a smattering of pimento-stuffed green olive slices.

·      Serve cold.

 

Zucchini En Mini Brochette 

·      Emulsify:

o   2 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil  

o   1 T Fresh Lemon Juice

o   1 tsp Garlic Paste

·      Spear 4” long wooden brochettes each with one:

o   1/2”-thick Zucchini round

o   1” Red Pepper chunk

o   Small Button Mushroom

·      Brush brochettes lightly with olive oil mixture and grill over direct flame until just softened and lightly charred.

·      Serve hot.

 

Zucchini Canoes

·      Chop a few green olives.

·      Mix them into 1 C of Feta Cheese.

·      Peel green skin from 2 Zucchinis.

·      Remove tops and bottoms and halve them lengthwise.

·      Hollowed out each half into a canoe shape.

·      Stuffed each half with feta cheese mixture.

·      Place onto grilling rack and grill over direct flame until zucchini is lightly charred and cheese is melted.

·      Remove from grill.

·      Let rest for 5 minutes.

·      Cut each “canoe” into 4 horizontal slices and serve them warm.

 

 

If you can stand the heat in your kitchen, add one more dish to your Tapas, which you’ll find here.

 

If you plan to make a multi-dish meal, get yourself organized first for quick cooking, and enjoy our easy Green Grill with family and friends.

 

Featured Image Courtesy of Serge Bertasius Photography / Free Digital Photos

 

Find lots of other warm weather recipes, food info, and ideas from Colleen.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?