Papas Aliñadas (Dressed Potatoes)
Papas aliñadas, also called papas aliñás, are simple dressed potatoes, served at every single tapas bar in Andalucía—the kind of easy plate you eat while drinking a beer. I’ve had versions with spring onions or green peppers, which give a nice crunch against the soft potatoes. The key for good papas aliñás is timing: Toss the potatoes in the dressing when they’re still warm, so they soak up as much dressing as possible, though you can serve them at room temperature—like they do at my friend Isi Medina’s restaurant Ramón Pipi (above) in the south of Spain.
Gilda (Olive, Anchovy, and Pepper Pintxo)
The Gilda is by far the most famous of the pintxos, the skewered bites that top bars across San Sebastián and the País Vasco. The legend of the Gilda says that it was the first pintxo, named for the Rita Hayworth character in the 1946 movie Gilda. I don’t know if it’s true—we may never know the first!—but it was an early one. It’s also one of the easiest to prepare at home ahead of a party—get long toothpicks and skewer olives, peppers, and anchovies, then keep them soaking in olive oil until it’s time to serve. And, of course, they go best ahead of the meal with a drink in hand, vermouth or a glass of very cold Txakoli.
Curry-Lime Cashews
These make a perfect snack, topping, or gift—sweet, spiced, and irresistibly crunchy.
Rainbow Carrot Goma-ae Salad
A staple at virtually all Japanese restaurants, the classic goma-ae salad is the perfect way to start a meal or complement a main course. The term “goma” means “sesame” in Japanese and the “ae” is a reference to sauce—the mixing of vegetables with sesame dressing.The most common way to make a goma-ae salad is to pour the dressing over wilted spinach, but any other fresh or cooked vegetables work equally well, including these lovely rainbow carrots. Shaved carrots not only look pretty on the plate, but create more surface area for the delicious dressing to cover!
Leek and Carbonara Quichettes
Break these into quarters for truly small bites, or serve one quichette per person for a slightly larger snacking event.
