Top 10 Tapas Dishes to Cozy Up With This Winter

There’s nothing better than a few warming tapas dishes to cozy up with this winter. Here are our favorite tasty Spanish tapas dishes to choose from, some of them regional specialties, others found across the country. This top 10 list is going to focus on hot tapas dishes that are perfect for winter months and cooler weather. 

We’ve picked a variety of options with ingredients that are suitable for different diets. We also have dedicated pages for vegans, vegetarians, meat lovers, and seafood fans. 

These Spanish tapas dishes make our top 10 list for the colder months because they’re either the most popular, the tastiest, or both. Browse them all below, or jump to your favorite:

1. Papas Arrugadas (Canarian Potatoes) 🌿
2. Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp) 🦐
3. Calabacin al Ajillo (Garlic Zucchini)  🧀🌿
4. Paprika-Infused Pork Bites 🥓
5. Spinach and Chickpeas 🌿
6. Spicy Patatas Bravas 🌿
7. Albondigas (Meatballs) 🥩
8. Tortilla Española (Spanish Omelet) 🍳
9. Escalivada Catalan (Roasted Veg) 🌿
10. Andalusian Cod Fritters 🐟

1. Papas Arrugadas

• Prep time: 15 minutes
• Cook time: 30 minutes
• Ready in: 45 minutes
• 🌿 Vegan

Papas arrugadas, translated as “wrinkly potatoes,” comes from the beautiful Canary Islands. Potatoes are boiled in salty water and end up looking a little wrinkly, meaning they’re very tender on the inside and a little crunchier on the outside. 

They’re served with ridiculously delicious mojo sauces to dip them in. This recipe includes the green cilantro option and the spicy red mojo sauce. 

2. Gambas al Ajillo (Sizzling Garlic Shrimp)

• Prep time: 10 minutes
• Cook time: 10 minutes
• Ready in: 20 minutes
• 🦐 Seafood

Popular all over Spain, gambas al ajillo (sizzling garlic shrimp) is always a winner with seafood lovers. Juicy garlicky prawns with a dash of sherry wine, some lemon zest, and a few other choice ingredients are all you need to make this standout tapas dish.    

Another favorite to try that’s similar, is gambas al pil pil (chili garlic prawns), and it’s ready in just 13 minutes.

3. Calabacín al Ajillo (Garlic Zucchini)

• Prep time: 10 minutes
• Cook time: 10 minutes
• Ready in: 20 minutes
• 🧀🌿 Vegetarian or vegan

Calabacin al ajillo (garlic zucchini) is always a crowd pleaser. Golden zucchini rounds fried with plenty of olive oil, garlic, and fresh parsley, then topped with a little cheese…you know this is going to be tasty.  

We also have a vegan garlic zucchini recipe, if you prefer. 

4. Paprika-Infused Pork Bites

• Prep time: 10 minutes
• Marinate time: 30 minutes
• Cook time: 10 minutes
• Ready in: 50 minutes
• 🥓 Pork 

These paprika-infused pork bites are the perfect tapas dish to share with groups. Simply marinate little bites of pork in a smoky marinade, then shallow pan fry them, add a little squeeze of lemon, and serve. 

We also have a similar paprika-infused chicken tapa, which can be pan-fried or grilled. 

5. Espinacas con Garbanzos (Spinach with Chickpeas)

• Prep time: 15 minutes
• Cook time: 30 minutes
• Ready in: 45 minutes
• 🌿 Vegan

This spinach with chickpeas tapas dish is so comforting, filled with warming spices, apple cider vinegar, and a little ketchup. The result is a fabulously tasty, slightly zingy dish that all your friends and family will ask you to make on repeat. It’s also naturally budget friendly, so brilliant for groups. 

6. Spicy Patatas Bravas

• Prep time: 10 minutes
• Cook time: 20 minutes
• Ready in: 30 minutes
• 🌿 Vegan

One of the most iconic tapas dishes from Spain, spicy patatas bravas is served everywhere here, although many believe it originated in Madrid. Luckily, it’s easy to make at home, and you can tailor how spicy it is to suit your taste. 

This recipe includes two types of Spanish paprika, which is what gives the bravas sauce its characteristic smoky flavor. 

If you want to turn this into a hearty main meal to feed the family, check out our Spanish Chicken In Smoky Bravas Sauce recipe. 

7. Albondigas (Spanish Meatballs)

• Prep time: 25 minutes
• Cook time: 42 minutes
• Ready in: 67 minutes
• 🥓🥩 Pork or beef 

Spanish meatballs (albondigas) are also about as traditional as you get when it comes to tapas. The meatballs are made with pork or beef mince, and lightly simmered in a rich tomato sofrito sauce. A delicious tapa option that also makes the most of smoked paprika, giving the dish that lovely warm smoky flavor. 

We also made a vegetarian meatball recipe for veggies or meatless Mondays, which are super tasty. 

For the chicken lovers out there, check out our Chicken Meatballs with Almond Sauce recipe. 

8. Tortilla Española (Spanish Omelet)

• Prep time: 15 minutes
• Cook time: 30 minutes
• Resting time: 5 minutes
• Ready in: 50 minutes
• 🍳Vegetarian 

Spanish tortilla is a potato omelet that either comes with or without onions (always a big debate within Spain!). We always make ours with, and in this recipe we caramelize the onions first so it’s even more tasty than normal. This does take a little longer, but we also have a quicker, easier tortilla 2.0 recipe, which you can make in under 25 minutes. 

9. Escalivada Catalan (Roasted Veg)

• Prep time: 5 minutes
• Cook time: 40 minutes
• Cooling time: 10 minutes
• Ready in: 55 minutes
• 🌿 Vegan

Escalivada Catalan (Catalan roasted veg) is a deliciously healthy addition to any tapas party. Eggplants, bell peppers, and onions are roasted until soft and gooey, then mixed with sherry vinegar, raw garlic, and fresh parsley. It’s lovely smeared over fresh bread to soak in all the tender veg and juices. 

From the Catalonia region, it can be served as a tapa or a side dish. Serve it with plenty of fresh bread to scoop up the delicious roast veggies.

10. Andalusian Cod Fritters

• Prep time: 10 minutes
• Cook time: 20 minutes
• Resting time: 10 minutes
• Ready in: 40 minutes
• 🐟 Fish

These Spanish cod fritters come from Andalusia, arguably the birthplace of tapas. The recipe combines codfish, onion, garlic, herbs, and a tasty beer batter. You can use frozen cod fillets, just thaw before use. Serve them as they are or with a complementary seafood sauce like aioli or tartar, or a squeeze of lemon.  

Looking for Some Warming Main Dishes?

We also have plenty of Spanish mains that are perfect for winter and cooler months. Think comfort food like stews, casseroles, and one-pot wonders that warm up the kitchen. Here’s just a sample:

• Creamy Mustard Chicken (Pollo a la Mostaza) – creamy, rich, and beautifully simple, this dish oozes comfort food. 
• Garlic Soup (Sopa de Ajo) – a full-flavored soup that’s ready in 30 minutes, vegetarian, and includes whisked eggs added gently at the end. 
• Chickpea Stew (Potaje de Garbanzos) – a vegan one-pot that’s loaded with warming herbs and spices. 
• Catalan Beef Stew (Estofado a la Catalana) – a beef stew with a hint of chocolate, cinnamon, and nutmeg. 
• Chickpeas with Spinach and Eggs – a hearty vegetarian dish that’s loaded with veg and spices, then finished with eggs. 
• Spicy Chicken and Chorizo Rice – a super satisfying chicken casserole with chorizo and rice that can be made as spicy (or not) as you want.