Help with finding an easy Spanish dish

Linda0818 · Jul 23, 2024

My son has a party to go to this Friday evening where everyone brings a dish from a country they have been assigned. He got Spain. I know nothing of Spanish cooking, unless you count packets of Spanish rice you can buy in the store.

I have no idea what I'm going to send with him to this party. I only have until Friday to figure it out. I've searched for "easy Spanish recipes" but none of them look easy to me. Paella? Forget it. Fancy Spanish desserts? Nope. Most all of them I've found, I'm like "Nope nope and nope."

Not to mention I'm dealing with awful sciatic nerve pain and can't stand in the kitchen for too long before having to go sit down. So this is becoming a nightmare for me. I don't want to just send him with nothing in hand.

The party coordinator has said to bring anything, even if it's something premade. But I don't know of any grocery stores that sell frozen Spanish dishes. Lots of Mexican foods, but not Spanish.

Is there anything uncomplicated that I could make? I'm at a complete and total loss.

Silversage · Jul 23, 2024

A Spanish tortilla is basically an omelette or fritatta, and it's ubiquitous in tapas bars. The ingredients are simple - eggs, onions, potatoes.You cut it up into small squares and serve at room temperature.

Here's one example recipe:

Spanish Tortilla Recipe | Tortilla Española (Spanish Omelette)

A few tips make all the difference in this all-star Spanish Tortilla recipe made with eggs and potatoes, gently cooked in olive oil.

www.themediterraneandish.com

Silversage · Jul 23, 2024

Here are a few more ideas. Don't google dinners, look for tapas.

https://www.foodandwine.com/appetizers/tapas/tapas-recipes

Linda0818 · Jul 23, 2024

Silversage said:
Here are a few more ideas. Don't google dinners, look for tapas.

https://www.foodandwine.com/appetizers/tapas/tapas-recipes

Great looking recipes. Thanks much! They look fairly easy and hopefully something I can pull off.

blissful · Jul 23, 2024

Tarta de Santiago from spain.

Tarta de Santiago (Spanish almond cake) - Caroline's Cooking

Tarta de Santiago is an almond cake from Spain that couldn't be easier to make. It's naturally gluten free, sweet and bright from the lemon.

www.carolinescooking.com

4 eggs
1 cup sugar (caster sugar is better, if possible)
2 cups almond flour (or ground almonds)
1 lemon zest ie from 1 lemon
½ teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoon confectioners sugar approx, to dust (icing sugar)

Linda0818 · Jul 23, 2024

blissful said:
Tarta de Santiago from spain.

Tarta de Santiago (Spanish almond cake) - Caroline's Cooking

Tarta de Santiago is an almond cake from Spain that couldn't be easier to make. It's naturally gluten free, sweet and bright from the lemon.

www.carolinescooking.com

4 eggs

1 cup sugar (caster sugar is better, if possible)

2 cups almond flour (or ground almonds)

1 lemon zest ie from 1 lemon

½ teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoon confectioners sugar approx, to dust (icing sugar)

Oooo! Yes, perfect. I think that I may be able to pull off. Thank you.

blissful · Jul 23, 2024

@Linda0818 , your son can look up the history of the cake, it was made in the 1500's....Galicia maybe, for the Jacobean Way, pilgrimage celebrating, honoring the remains of St. James.
The cross: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_of_Saint_James

Linda0818 · Jul 23, 2024

blissful said:
@Linda0818 , your son can look up the history of the cake, it was made in the 1500's....Galicia maybe, for the Jacobean Way, pilgrimage celebrating, honoring the remains of St. James.
The cross: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_of_Saint_James

He will love that, as he's always been a history buff.

Thanks so much.

pepperhead212 · Jul 23, 2024

Gazpacho! Good thing for hot weather, and for parties, as it doesn't go bad. And you might be growing most of it. The only thing I do different from the old way I learned how to do it when I was growing up for a few years in Spain, is I don't use bread as the thickener - that seems to separate, though it does mix together again. I now use a couple tb of chia seeds - let them gel 5 minutes or so, then blend smooth. A small amount of xantham gum works too.

caseydog · Jul 23, 2024

Silversage said:
A Spanish tortilla is basically an omelette or fritatta, and it's ubiquitous in tapas bars. The ingredients are simple - eggs, onions, potatoes.You cut it up into small squares and serve at room temperature.

Here's one example recipe:

Spanish Tortilla Recipe | Tortilla Española (Spanish Omelette)

A few tips make all the difference in this all-star Spanish Tortilla recipe made with eggs and potatoes, gently cooked in olive oil.

www.themediterraneandish.com

Yup. That's easy, and very good.

CD

Linda0818 · Jul 23, 2024

pepperhead212 said:
Gazpacho! Good thing for hot weather, and for parties, as it doesn't go bad. And you might be growing most of it. The only thing I do different from the old way I learned how to do it when I was growing up for a few years in Spain, is I don't use bread as the thickener - that seems to separate, though it does mix together again. I now use a couple tb of chia seeds - let them gel 5 minutes or so, then blend smooth. A small amount of xantham gum works too.

I thought about that, but I know this crowd and doubt they would eat it. If I had the strength, I could do both. But I don't think I'll be able to do that.

Badjak · Jul 23, 2024

Tapas....
Small meatbals
Marinated mushrooms
Marinated olives
Just google a bit.

But also empanadas or empanadillas

It's actually a nice choice for small sharable dishes

caseydog · Jul 23, 2024

Linda0818 said:
I thought about that, but I know this crowd and doubt they would eat it. If I had the strength, I could do both. But I don't think I'll be able to do that.

Gazpacho is risky, because some people love it, and others... not so much. I'm not a big fan, and I've had it in Spain, so I know it was made correctly. It's just one of those foods that is not for everyone.

That tarta, or the tortilla (AKA Spanish omelet) are easy and safe.

CD

Linda0818 · Jul 23, 2024

Thanks, all, for your suggestions. I think I'm going to go with the Tarta (cake). No doubt there will be plenty of main dishes available, so a nice dessert would be perfect.

Badjak · Jul 24, 2024

Talking desserts....
Flan caramel

But not really doable to take to a party, but if you get into this Spanish cooking, check it out

caseydog · Jul 24, 2024

Badjak said:
Talking desserts....
Flan caramel
But not really doable to take to a party, but if you get into this Spanish cooking, check it out

Flan was one I was going to mention, but as you say, not an easy one to take to a party.

CD

Linda0818 · Jul 24, 2024

Sounds great. But yeah, I think the cake would be much easier to transport.

CharlieD · Jul 24, 2024

I liked the taps idea. Definitely good for a crowed.

Sir_Loin_of_Beef · Jul 25, 2024

Do you have access to a whole bunch of tomatoes?

Linda0818 · Jul 26, 2024

Sir_Loin_of_Beef said:
Do you have access to a whole bunch of tomatoes?

Oh my gosh!

That's funny, yet heartbreaking at the same time, seeing all of those beautiful tomatoes wasted on a food fight, lol. I was like "Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"

Give them all to me instead! :w00t2:

Help with finding an easy Spanish dish

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